When police want to question a suspect, by law they should read a Miranda warning. Often, individuals refer to this as being read their “rights.” A Miranda warning in Florida should include the following: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of…
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Seth Shapiro, Attorney at Law, Owner at the Morris Law Firm has been awarded the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award for 2020. See Seth Shapiro’s Avvo Profile here. The Avvo Clients’ Choice Award is presented each year to attorneys based on their positive relationships with their clients. Recipients of the Clients’ Choice Award are primarily evaluated…
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If you are arrested by local law enforcement, or charged with a crime by the State Attorney’s Office, you have a choice as to how you can defend yourself in court. You can represent yourself (from Latin called “pro se,” meaning “for oneself” which in law means to argue on one’s own behalf in a…
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What Is Sealing or Expunging A Criminal History Record: A criminal history record is created when a person is arrested or charged with a crime and includes the details of the arrest, a record of court proceedings in the matter, and the disposition of the case (dismissal of charges before trial, not guilty, guilty, or…
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Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampa Bay law enforcement agencies to monitor our local waterways for impaired boaters. Boating Under the Influence applies to drugs, as well as alcohol. Operation Dry Water (ODW) is a year-round boating under the influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement campaign. The stated goal of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the…
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St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay, Florida Attorney Melinda Morris of the Morris Law Firm has been rated one of the Top 3 Criminal Defense Lawyers in St. Petersburg by ThreeBestRated.com for 2020. The ThreeBestRated review team selected Melinda Morris for the accolade using a 50-Point Inspection that includes everything from checking reputation, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction,…
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The breath test machine or instrument used in Florida, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater in Pinellas County, Florida, is called the Intoxilyzer 8000 manufactured by CMI Inc. The Intoxilyzer 8000 has been used in Florida since 2006. A 2014 Court ruling in Florida referred to the Intoxilyzer 8000 DUI breath test machine this way:…
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At the intersection of illegal cannabis, legal hemp, and medical marijuana Florida is in a haze of legal confusion. What is Legal? Medical Marijuana In 2016, 71 percent of Floridians voted to legalize medical marijuana. The 2017 bill signed into law by then-governor Scott says “a licensed medical marijuana treatment center shall cultivate, process, transport…
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Florida criminal defendants facing excessive penalties or seized property can thank Indiana resident Tyson Timbs for relief via the US Supreme Court. Tyson Timbs struggled with drug addiction. A painkiller prescription had escalated to heroin abuse. In an unfortunate turn he was arrested selling heroin to undercover officers to fund his addiction. Timbs pled guilty…
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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is targeting unlicensed contractors in Pinellas County with continued sting operations. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has been conducting sting operations to catch unlicensed contractors for nearly two years. Going by the creative names such as “Operation Drop the Hammer” and “Operation Punch List” the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office sets…
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