Cited for being a Racing Spectator? 6/24/09
Did you know that not only can you receive a criminal charge for Racing on the Highways if you are caught racing another vehicle on a Florida highway, roadway, or parking lot, but a new Florida law now allows officers to cite you as a Racing Spectator if you are knowingly present at and view a drag race? That provision carries with it penalties of three points on your driver's license if adjudicated guilty and a $151.00 fine. If you or someone you know has been cited for being a Racing Spectator, call our office to discuss your options and ways to protect your driving privilege and avoid insurance increases.
Don't Wait to Seal or Expunge Your Record 12/18/08
There are several steps involved in having your record sealed or expunged. The first one involves determining whether or not the charges you want sealed or expunged are eligible and for which process. This is based not only on the charges to be sealed or expunged, but also the disposition in those cases as well as any others on your record. Some cases must first be sealed and later can be expunged. However, depending on the disposition of a case, it may be able to be expunged, meaning destroyed, at the outset, instead of sealing alone.
Often, people attempt the process without first consulting with an attorney only to discover that something on their record has caused their application for a Certificate of Eligibility to Seal or Expunge to be denied. Our attorneys can pull your records for you and review them with you to determine your chances of success in having your record sealed or expunged. We can also explain to you the entire process and keep you informed as your case goes from the initial information gathering stage, through the FDLE process, and finally through the local court system where we finalize the sealing or expunction.
At Busciglio & Sheridan Law Group, our attorneys help simplify the entire process. And don't wait to get the process started. We've had clients work hard to get a Certificate of Eligibility on their own, only to learn that they have missed a deadline within which they should have submitted documentation to the local courts. Also, the sooner you seal a case, the sooner you will be eligible to expunge it down the road. Let's get started on clearing your record today.
Move Over Act 9/30/08
Have you ever heard of Florida's Move Over Act? Most people probably haven't. And unfortunately, many others don't learn of it until they're stopped by law enforcement and given a traffic citation for it. The law was enacted in 2002 yet hasn't been well advertised or explained to Florida's drivers. The law requires that when a driver is on a highway with two or more lanes and there is an emergency vehicle or wrecker on the roadside, the driver must vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle or wrecker and must slow to a speed that is 20 mph below the speed limit if the speed limit is over 25 mph or travel at 5 mph if the speed limit is 20 mph or less. If you've been cited under this law, contact us to discuss the mitigating facts of your case and present you with all your legal options.
Civil Penalties in Theft Cases 9/30/08
Did you know that being charged with criminal theft can have civil consequences? Florida law allows retailers to seek damages and attorney's fees in a civil action against you regardless of the dollar value of the alleged property stolen. They can seek money from a person accused with criminal theft even if the item was recovered by the store. We can explain your options to you in all aspects of a theft case and work to protect you from increasing damage claims and restitution.
