Legal Blog

Starting October 1, 2026, Florida’s new license plate frame law makes clear that a license plate frame or decorative border is not a crime, as long as it doesn’t cover the parts of the plate that matter. The change comes from Senate Bill 488, which added subsection (2) to section 320.061, Florida Statutes. Why the Change…

Florida’s new email notice law lets the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) notify drivers of a license suspension by email starting October 1, 2026. The change comes from Senate Bill 488, which amended section 322.251, Florida Statutes. What the New Law Does FLHSMV must give notice of an order canceling, suspending, revoking,…

Starting October 1, 2026, Florida drivers have to notify law enforcement of a crash involving only property damage when the apparent damage is at least $2,000. The previous threshold was $500. The change comes from Senate Bill 488, which amended section 316.065(1), Florida Statutes. Crashes involving any injury or death must still be reported immediately, regardless…

TSA checkpoint interference can turn a joke at airport security into a federal case. Under 49 CFR § 1540.109, it’s illegal to interfere with, assault, threaten, or intimidate TSA screening personnel while they’re doing their job. This applies at the checkpoint, during a pat-down, or at baggage screening. More Than a Warning This isn’t just a…

Police misconduct mediation is where most of these cases actually get resolved. This often happens after months or years of litigation, in a single long day spent in separate conference rooms with a mediator carrying offers back and forth. By the time a client gets to that day, one question matters more than almost any…

An administrative expungement in Florida offers a faster path to clear your record when you never should have been arrested in the first place. Most people know that Florida lets you clear certain criminal records through expungement or sealing. Fewer people know about this separate process, and section 943.0581 of the Florida Statutes governs it. Who Qualifies…

Yes. When you fly into or out of the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can look through your phone, laptop, or tablet without a warrant, and in many cases without any suspicion at all. It can also hold onto your device for days, and keep it for good if officers find evidence…

Most people picture mediation as a negotiation over a number. One side names a figure, the other counters, and somewhere in the middle a deal gets made. Deals like that do happen, but they’re only the surface. What actually decides whether a case settles, and whether it settles on fair terms, is a set of…

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and Article I, Section 16 of the Florida Constitution, guarantee every person accused of a crime the right to a speedy trial. This protection exists because delay can be its own punishment. It can keep you in jail before you’ve been convicted. It can hang serious charges over…

Excessive force by law enforcement occurs when an officer uses more force than is reasonably necessary during an arrest, detention, or other interaction. This can violate your constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment. This amendment protects the right to be free from unreasonable seizures. Under the federal civil rights statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, you…