Florida’s Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) designation carries severe consequences that can permanently alter your driving privileges and freedom. This classification triggers an automatic five-year driver’s license revocation and creates criminal penalties for any future driving violations. Understanding these laws can help you avoid HTO status or challenge an existing designation. Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Gabriel…
For some people, driving professionally can blossom into a rewarding career. A person who hopes to obtain their commercial driver’s license, or CDL, must meet strict qualifications. Not everyone meets the requirements to become a commercial driver. Truck drivers and others who drive for a living are held to a much higher standard than everyone…
Car accidents are chaotic and distressing events, often leaving those involved feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their next steps. In the aftermath of a collision, emotions run high, and it is not uncommon for individuals to make impulsive decisions, including leaving the scene of the accident. However, fleeing the scene of a car accident, also…
You may have heard that a police officer in Florida needs probable cause before they can legally pull you over. However, this is untrue as Florida police officers only need what is known as “reasonable suspicion” to perform a traffic stop. Although probable cause and reasonable suspicion are similar, there is a notable difference that…
Not long after you pass your driving test and receive your first Florida driver’s license, traffic stops become a part of life. Whether you’re pegged for running a stop sign or become involved in a car accident, you will interact with a police officer sooner or later. Routine traffic stops tend to be predictable, starting…
Florida became one of the very last states in the U.S. to adopt a traffic law that prohibits texting and driving. Distracted driving is one of the three leading causes of car accidents in the country, and texting is one of the most prevalent distractions in any vehicle. In July of 2019, the state implemented…
Have you recently been pulled over for a traffic violation and were unable to show proof of auto insurance? If so, you may have been issued a citation for “no proof of insurance,” which will lead to a PIP suspension of your driver’s license. You Must Have Proof of Insurance When Driving in Florida Driving…
License suspensions are frustrating and confusing situations, particularly when your only method of reliable transportation is your car. When your license gets suspended, it becomes nearly impossible to avoid a financial burden. The state may impose several fees for committing a traffic violation, failing to pay fines, and other actions that may have led to…
Did you know that the State of Florida suspended 10% of driver’s licenses in 2023? Millions of drivers in the Sunshine State have had their licenses suspended not because of any traffic-related issue, but because they could not afford to pay court fees or appear in court. The practice hurts people who have not demonstrated…
Receiving a traffic ticket is a stressful situation that many of us just want to move past. Although the quickest way to respond to a traffic ticket in South Florida is to pay the fine, this is rarely the most reasonable course of action. Paying a ticket can bring trouble down the road, which is…
