Wednesday, November 26, 2014

When is the best time to turn yourself in on a warrant for a missed court date? / AVVO / Michael A. Haber, Esq. **ARRESTED / **305DUI

Q:     When is the best time to turn yourself in on a warrant for a missed court date?  I missed a court day due to ride cancelling at the last minute sent a fax to the judge explaining no ride asking for a new court day - a warrant was still issued- when is the best time to turn yourself in to see the original judge as quick as possible and spend the least time in jail waiting currently on probation for dui on another offense have children and am trying to make this a quick as possible.


A:     
Michael Adam Haber

PRO

Contributor Level 20

8

Lawyers agree
Answered You are - and are in - a mess. The bottom line is that warrants suck and that oftentimes they end up in incarceration. That said, when it comes to warrants, anyone anywhere who has knowledge of the existence of the warrant has 2 choices: Either they can deal with it proactively, in an offensive manner or they can live day to day, waiting until it is ultimately served, and then play catch-up (defense).

In this light warrants can be likened to cancer. If it exists (whether it is a warrant or cancer) then you have a problem. You can either choose deal with the problem and hope for the best or you can wait for the problem to deal with you in its own natural fashion. In the former event it may or may not work out favorably for you, but, in the case of a warrant, at least the State and the Judge will have to acknowledge that you voluntarily hose to bring the matter to them, an undeniable fact that even an average defense lawyer should be able to use to your advantage during the pendency of your case. In the later event however, as with cancer, the longer that you choose to wait (whether in denial, self-pity or simply lost in hope and prayer that it'll heal itself / go away) then more time that it has to metasticize and destroy you from within.

My advise: Don't do anything yourself. Get an experienced Edgewater area criminal defense lawyer to arrange an in court surrender and argue to keep you out pending a global resolution of all of your outstanding matters. Also, don't miss court. I don't care (nor will the Judge care) about your ride. Walk, take a bus, get there late if you must, whatever... Just get to Court.

I hope that this has been helpful and wish you the best of luck!
First, second and third: No attorney-client relationship exists by virtue of any Q&A with Michael A. Haber, Esq. on Avvo. Fourth: Anything that you post on Avvo (or on similar sites) or on any social media is by its nature public. It is essentially an admission / confession and can be introduced into evidence as a statement against your interest in a subsequent legal proceeding. Once posted you lose any reasonable expectation of privacy, so, as this is an open forum (with no privilege attached), please be extra careful when considering what to post online (forewarned is forearmed.)


Since 1991 Michael A. Haber, P.A. has been creatively, effectively and zealously representing clients, both juvenile and adult, in both State and Federal Courts, in criminal cases ranging from DUI to drug trafficking and from misdemeanors to first degree murder.

At Michael A. Haber, P.A. "Its all about reasonable doubt"! 

Michael A. Haber, Esq. is prepared to speak with you about your case!


1-888-SHARK-8-1, 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.

Like @ www.facebook.com/haberpa / Follow @ http://habercriminallaw.blogspot.com / Twitter @Sharky910 / Call @ **ARRESTED or **305DUI


Will my Public Defender represent me as effectively as a private criminal defense lawyer? / AVVO / Michael A. Haber, Esq. **ARRESTED / **305DUI

Q:      What can I do to save myself? How helpful are public defenders?  I got arrested in Florida for possession of drug paraphernalia, this is the second time that I've gotten arrested for this. For the first time I pleaded no contest and had to pay a court fine. This is the second time and I have my court date soon. I'm only 19 and do not have much money to pay for a lawyer.


A:     
Michael Adam Haber

PRO

Contributor Level 20

8

Lawyers agree
Answered Although they generally cannot afford to offer up the time and personalized attention that a private lawyer brings to the table (albeit at a price), PD's are almost all excellent attorneys, generally being extremely well-versed in both the law and their courtrooms.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not easy to either get hired as, or to remain employed as, a PD. It takes brains, ethics, effort and commitment. It is an often times thankless job and attorney's who are not committed to it simply do not last. For those who do, however, their client's benefit not only from the day-to-day knowledge of their individual courtrooms (including but not limited to knowing the tendencies of their Judge, their prosecutors and the other instrumental court personnel) but also from the vast resources that the PD brings to the table (investigators, experts, etcetera) without further expense to the client.

I hope that this has been helpful.
First, second and third: No attorney-client relationship exists by virtue of any Q&A with Michael A. Haber, Esq. on Avvo. Fourth: Anything that you post on Avvo (or on similar sites) or on any social media is by its nature public. It is essentially an admission / confession and can be introduced into evidence as a statement against your interest in a subsequent legal proceeding. Once posted you lose any reasonable expectation of privacy, so, as this is an open forum (with no privilege attached), please be extra careful when considering what to post online (forewarned is forearmed.)


Since 1991 Michael A. Haber, P.A. has an unblemished record of providing boutique criminal defense litigation services to many folks who have been accused of criminality. 

Michael A. Haber, Esq. has creatively, effectively and zealously represented clients on a wide variety of criminal matters ranging from DUI to drug trafficking and from misdemeanors to first degree murder. 

Michael A. Haber, Esq. is prepared to speak with you about your case!  

At Michael A. Haber, P.A. "its all about reasonable doubt"!


1-888-SHARK-8-1, 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.

Like @ www.facebook.com/haberpa / Follow @ http://habercriminallaw.blogspot.com / Twitter @Sharky910 / Call @ **ARRESTED or **305DUI


Can I seal multiple criminal cases? What are the rules for sealing criminal records in Florida? / AVVO / Michael A. Haber, Esq. **ARRESTED / **305DUI

Q:     Can I seal my criminal record?  Here is my history:  I have a 2008 poss of cannabis case with a withhold of adjudication.  Then in 2012 I had resisting with violence, possession of cannabis, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  I got a with hold on all three counts in the same case.  Can i seal the entire 2012 case?  All three counts were in the same case thanks, generally whats the range and the timeline to get it sealed>


A:     
Michael Adam Haber

PRO

Contributor Level 20

8

Lawyers agree
Answered You can seal one or the other but not both.


If you look at the following website you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the sealing / expunction process:
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/content/getdoc/c83dd888-ef7a-448e-9a96-ba69fc4181f7/Seal-and-Expunge-Home.aspx  

The procedure is both quite detailed and somewhat painstaking but is also far from being rocket science. You can attempt to navigate it yourself (FDLE has tried to simplify it - again I refer you to the website above) but, assuming your eligibility, any criminal defense lawyer (anywhere in Florida - this can be done remotely and does not necessarily require a local attorney, although a local attorney may or may not be less expensive) will be able to accomplish the task with greater ease and likely in a shorter time period.

That said I suspect that it doesn't much matter where you were arrested, what you were arrested for, what the final disposition was or whether or not you sealed / expunged the record. This is 2014 and we are forehead deep into the internet age, where nothing is private, sacred or truly hidden from public scrutiny.

Sadly, sealing (and expunging) only applies to certain (not even to all) government agencies and has no effect whatsoever on private (er, extortionist) enterprise, who compile and maintain arrest information and then demand that you pay them off to remove your information from their database and public access. Worse still, after you "buy back your information", then you can count on there being another private company lurking, somewhere, sometime, somehow, just waiting for you to pay them off as well. Its a seemingly never-ending vicious cycle.
For better or for worse you are probably best advised to take the wind out of the sails by admitting your past issues / indiscretions to your present (or potential) employer, lender, landlord, etcetera, rather than waiting for them to find out on their own. 

I hope that this has been helpful.
First, second and third: No attorney-client relationship exists by virtue of any Q&A with Michael A. Haber, Esq. on Avvo. Fourth: Anything that you post on Avvo (or on similar sites) or on any social media is by its nature public. It is essentially an admission / confession and can be introduced into evidence as a statement against your interest in a subsequent legal proceeding. Once posted you lose any reasonable expectation of privacy, so, as this is an open forum (with no privilege attached), please be extra careful when considering what to post online (forewarned is forearmed.)


For more than 23 years Michael A. Haber, P.A. has been providing creative, effective and zealous advocacy and counsel in cases ranging from DUI to drug trafficking and from misdemeanors to first degree murder.  

At Michael A. Haber, P.A. "Its all about reasonable doubt"!

Michael A. Haber, Esq. is prepared to speak with you about your case!


1-888-SHARK-8-1, 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.

Like @ www.facebook.com/haberpa / Follow @ http://habercriminallaw.blogspot.com / Twitter @Sharky910 / Call @ **ARRESTED or **305DUI


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Back on Track (BOT) ~ Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office's DUI Diversion Program, a Practical Guide / Michael A. Haber, Esq. **ARRESTED / **305DUI

Diversion & B.O.T. (Back on Track - the D.U.I. Diversion Program offered by the Miami-Dade County, State Attorney Office):  A Practical Guide by Michael A. Haber, P.A.





What is "Diversion"?     Diversion is a program - a mechanism - which is designed to make you think twice about future criminality by way of having you jump through a series of proverbial hoops, during a period of supervision, and the successful completion of which will result in a dismissal of your charge.

Who controls diversionary programs?     Diversion programs are all exclusively owned and operated by the State Attorney's Office, thus they (the State) enjoy absolute and unequivocal discretion as to whether to admit you, keep you or "graduate" you from their program.  

How do I get into a diversionary program?     You have no "right" to diversion and a Judge cannot Order you into a diversionary program.  You only gain admittance if the program is offered to you by the State Attorney.   

What are the criteria for admission into diversion?     Each State Attorney's Office sets it own criteria, and the criteria can vary not only from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but also within the same jurisdiction (i.e. different counties may have different criteria for same offense, or the SAO may offer programs with varying criteria within its own jurisdiction).

How do I know whether to enter a diversionary program?    Even though successful completion of diversion will result in a dismissal, it behooves you to be sure that diversion is right for you, given the facts and circumstances of your unique case.  There may or may not be viable defenses to the charges, affirmative or otherwise, or there may be factual, legal, procedural or substantive mechanisms by which to attack and beat the charges without going through diversion.  You are not likely to get diversion twice, so if you have a viable alternative to taking diversion then you should consider the same, and the only way that you will know is to first discuss the case with a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer.

What is BOT?    BOT, or "Back on Track", is the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office DUI diversionary program.  Successful completion of BOT results in a dismissal of your DUI charge (and, almost always but not necessarily, also dismissal of all charges which were filed concurrent with your DUI).  If you successfully complete the program then, instead of having a permanent criminal conviction for DUI on your record, you will receive a "withhold of adjudication" (no points / no conviction) for the reduced charge of "reckless driving", which will naturally vanish off of your Florida driver history in due time.

What does BOT involve?    There are 2 tiers for BOT known as Tiers 1 and 2 (the details will be listed below).  Tier 1 applies to folks who are not disqualified (the details of disqualification will be listed below) and who's breath reading was below .15.  Tier 2  applies to folks who are not disqualified and who's breath reading was between .15 and .25, or to folks who refused to provide a breath sample.  Tier 1 is a 6 month program and Tier 2 is a 12 month program.

What are the "disqualifers" for BOT?     If you had a prior DUI arrest, regardless of the outcome of that case, then you are not eligible for BOT.  If your DUI involved an accident either for which you were "at fault" or in which someone (including you) was injured, then your are not eligible for BOT.  If you had minor children in the car at the time of your DUI arrest then you are not eligible for BOT.  If your breath was over .25 then you are not eligible for BOT.  If you were driving on a suspended license at the time of your DUI arrest then you are not eligible for BOT.  If you have any felony arrests which were not dismissed (this would include a withhold of adjudication) then you are not eligible for BOT.  If you have more than 2 misdemeanor convictions then you are not eligible for BOT.  If you have completed more than one diversionary program before, regardless of the underlying offense, then you are not eligible for BOT.  If you have any history of "aggressive driving" (i.e. prior reckless, fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of an accident, etc.) then you are not eligible for BOT.  In a nutshell, BOT is offered to first time, non-complicated, plain Jane DUI arrestees.

Why is getting into BOT important to me?   The Florida Legislature has made DUI convictions a lifelong stigmata which can never be sealed or expunged and which will follow you through out your life, wherever you go and whatever you do.  The permanent criminal conviction can effect you in many ways, including but not limited to: insurance premiums, work,  housing, loans, education, professional licensing, and so on.  

What can I do if I do not qualify for admission into BOT?   Sometimes it is possible to secure a waiver and get someone who is initially disqualified admitted into BOT nonetheless.  This process involves negotiation and in depth persuasive discussions with the State by a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer.  While there are no guarantees in either life or litigation, Michael A. Haber, PA has successfully assisted seemingly ineligible client's to secure admission into BOT not withstanding at fault accidents, exaggerated breath readings and concurrent possession charges.  Again, a skilled and experienced lawyer can make all the difference in the world.

What does BOT involve?    The Miami-Dade SAO has essentially made completing BOT the functional equivalent of performing the various "minimum mandatory" penalties associated with a DUI conviction prior to your case being closed.   In Miami-Dade County the SAO uses 2 different private companies to administer the program.  They are called "The Advocate Program" and "Court Options".   Following are the conditions for the various Tiers.

What does Tier 1 involve?     As of November, 2014, Tier 1 is a 6 month program for non-disqualified persons with a BAC (breath reading) of less than .15.  Monetarily there is a $500 cost of supervision, a $300 "donation", $252 for DUI School and a mandatory substance abuse evaluation (note that "treatment" is usually required and each "session" involves additional costs which are generally in the $250-$500 range), $40 for the "Victim Impact Class", $50 for "costs of prosecution" and potential "costs recovery" for the arresting police department (yes, you can be required, as a condition to successfully completing BOT, to reimburse the cops who arrested you).  The total costs associated with Tier 1, EXCLUDING LEGAL FEES, FEES ASSOCIATED WITH DMV and COURT COSTS, is usually $1,500-$2,000.00.  In addition to the financial costs you must complete the DUI school, the Victim Impact Panel, the substance abuse evaluation and treatment if required, plus complete 40 community service hours and also survive 90 days with an Ignition Interlock Device installed on your vehicle.

What does Tier 2 involve?     As of November, 2014, Tier 1 is a 12 month program for non-disqualified persons with a BAC (breath reading) of in between .15. and .25 or for anyone who refused to provide a breath sample.  Monetarily there is a $650 cost of supervision, a $500 "donation", $387 for DUI School and a mandatory substance abuse evaluation (note that "treatment" is usually required and each "session" involves additional costs which are generally in the $250-$500 range), $40 for the "Victim Impact Class", $50 for "costs of prosecution" and potential "costs recovery" for the arresting police department (yes, you can be required, as a condition to successfully completing BOT, to reimburse the cops who arrested you).  The total costs associated with Tier 1, EXCLUDING LEGAL FEES, FEES ASSOCIATED WITH DMV and COURT COSTS, is usually $2,250-$3,000.00.  In addition to the financial costs you must complete the DUI school, the Victim Impact Panel, the substance abuse evaluation and treatment if required, plus complete 60 community service hours and also survive 180 days with an Ignition Interlock Device installed on your vehicle.

What else do I need to know?    BOT is only 1/2 of the DUI equation.  Picking up a DUI charge in Florida simultaneously begins 2 processes, one in court (involving the Constitution and "rights") and the other in DMV (involving the Administrative Code and "privileges").  There are both immediate and after-the-fact DMV-related consequences of a DUI arrest which effect your driving privilege, and which must be addressed in a timely fashion.  Michael A. Haber, PA will assist you with both aspects of your DUI arrest, making things as simple as possible, but ultimately it all falls upon you to both do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it and, equally importantly, to not do what you are not supposed to do while you are in BOT.  In this sense you will either be your own best friend or your own worst enemy.






When it comes to the subject of drinking and driving, the best advice that you are ever going to hear is:  "Don't do it!  Get a DD (Designated Driver), not a DUI".

Be smart: Don't drink and drive, but, if you do, just say "NO{thing}", don't blow (in FL your 2nd subsequent refusal is a crime) and call me stat at 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.

Michael A. Haber, P.A.: Providing creative, effective and zealous criminal defense litigation services primarily in SoFlo since 1991.

At Michael A. Haber, P.A. "Its all about reasonable doubt"! 

Michael A. Haber, Esq. is prepared to speak with you about your case!

1-888-SHARK-8-1, 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.

Like @ www.facebook.com/haberpa / Follow @ http://habercriminallaw.blogspot.com / Twitter @Sharky910 / Call **ARRESTED or**305DUI




  



What's the Difference between Lewd & Lascivious Conduct & Exhibition? / Florida Statute 800.04 / AVVO / Michael A. Haber, Esq. **ARRESTED / **305DUI

Q:     What's the difference between lewd and lacavious conduct and lewd and lacavious exhibition?  What are the difference between the conduct and exhibition does one have more of a punishment then the other? What exactly does lewd an lacavious exhibition mean?



A:     Chosen as "Best Answer" by Asker!
Michael Adam Haber

PRO

Contributor Level 20

6

Lawyers agree
Best Answer
chosen by asker
Answered Essentially the difference is that exhibition is showing your "stuff" whereas conduct is using it. (Note that you have not inquired about either L&L battery or L&L molestation - see FS 800.04(4)&(5).)

In the case of either L&L conduct or exhibition (the penalties are the same - FS 800.04(6)&(7), respectively), if you are over 18 then its a 2nd degree felony (punishable by 15 years in state prison) and if you are under 18 then its a 3rd degree felony (punishable by 5 years in state prison).

L&L conduct requires that you either touch someone under 16 in a L&L manner or that you solicit someone under 16 to commit an L&L act. L&L exhibition requires that you either masturbate, expose your genitals in a L&L manner or engage in some "deviant" behavior (like S&M, bestiality, etc)in the presence of someone less than 16 years old.

In FL both "lewdness" and "lascivious" are identically defined as "any indecent or obscene act" (and "indecent" is defined as "wicked, lustful, unchaste, licentious, or sensual intention on the part of the person doing the act").

In FL (and I suppose these days pretty much anywhere) if you are "branded" either a sexual offender or a sexual predator then the rest of your life may very well be a living hell. If you have been charged with either then seek counsel, experienced counsel, stat.

Although I practice primarily in Miami-Dade County you are welcome to contact my office for a referral or two, or you can search either Avvo or the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers website by locality (please seehttp://www.facdl.org/ - and click on the "Find A Lawyer" tab).

Either way best of luck!
First, second and third: No attorney-client relationship exists by virtue of any Q&A with Michael A. Haber, Esq. on Avvo. Fourth: Anything that you post on Avvo (or on similar sites) or on any social media is by its nature public. It is essentially an admission / confession and can be introduced into evidence as a statement against your interest in a subsequent legal proceeding. Once posted you lose any reasonable expectation of privacy, so, as this is an open forum (with no privilege attached), please be extra careful when considering what to post online (forewarned is forearmed.) 

For more than 23 years Michael A. Haber, P.A. has been providing creative, effective and zealous advocacy and counsel in cases ranging from DUI to drug trafficking and from misdemeanors to first degree murder.  


At Michael A. Haber, P.A. "Its all about reasonable doubt"!

Michael A. Haber, Esq. is prepared to speak with you about your case!


1-888-SHARK-8-1, 305-381-8686, 305-798-2220, **ARRESTED, **305DUI, **MIAMIDUI, **MIAMILAW or **HABERLAW.

Like @ www.facebook.com/haberpa / Follow @ http://habercriminallaw.blogspot.com / Call **ARRESTED / **305DUI