Helping Out of State Clients
Tampa Attorney for Tourist Crimes
If you live outside of Florida or the county in which you were arrested then it may be particularly important for you to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in the Tampa Bay area. Defending yourself against any criminal accusation is a stressful experience, but these difficulties are increased if you live out of state. First, traveling back to Florida for various court dates can be expensive and take you away from your responsibilities at home and work.
At the Sammis Law Firm, we work hard to help our out of state client's avoid any unnecessary court appearances. If you were arrested in the Tampa Bay area, including Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Polk County, or Pasco County, but live out of the State of Florida, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss ways to effectively handle your criminal defense.
If you need information about extradition on a felony fugitive warrant to Florida, including Tampa, Hillsborough County, or a surrounding area throughout Florida, visit our information center on Extradition to Florida on a Fugitive Warrant.
Diversion Programs
If this is your first offense, or if you do not have any other similar offenses on your record, discuss with your attorney the possibility of entering a diversion programs without ever returning to the State of Florida. Successful completion of these diversion programs then require the prosecutor to drop all of the charges against you. Once the charges are dropped you may then be eligible to expunge your criminal record.
Diversion programs are not right for everyone. Certain professionals should discuss the implications of entering a diversion program with an attorney, especially college and graduate students, lawyers, pilots and commercial drivers, members of the military, teachers, and health care professionals such as doctors and nurses.
Waiving your Appearance at All Pre-trial Court Dates and Hearings
It may also be possible for your attorney to waive your appearance at all pre-trial court dates and hearings, meaning that you may only have to travel back to Florida on one or two occasions even if you would like to resolve your case during a jury or bench trial. Aggressively litigating pre-trial motions to suppress and motions to dismiss are especially important for out of town clients, because winning such a motion may result in the charges being dropped without the client ever returning to the State of Florida for trial.
Plea in Absentia
In the event that favorable plea negotiations take place and the prosecutor is willing to reduce the charges against you, you may be able to enter a "plea in absentia" to a misdemeanor offense which means that your attorney can enter the plea on your behalf after you sign a "plea form." The plea in absentia is particularly beneficial if the prosecutor is reducing the charges, allowing you a withhold of adjudication to avoid a conviction, and not requiring any probation.
Transferring Probation Out of State
The first goal in any criminal case is getting the charges dropped or dismissed. This is particularly important if you live out of the state because getting probation transferred out of Florida to your home state can create a bureaucratic nightmare particularly in felony probation cases supervised by the Department of Corrections.
Fighting your Criminal Case
Many people are arrested in the Tampa Bay area while visiting friends or family, traveling for business, attending a sporting event or vacationing. Those cases require special attention because of the inconvenience and expense of traveling back to the Tampa Bay area to fight the charges. Contact a Tampa criminal defense attorney for a free evaluation of your case over the phone or in our office. If you live out of state or out of county, we may be able to aggressively defend you against the charges while still being able to handle your case without your presence.
Common arrests involving tourist or visitors in Tampa Bay Area include:
Arrested at Tampa International Airport?
The number of arrests at Tampa International Airport has risen dramatically since September 11, 2001. New rules issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now expand the official list of prohibited items that will result in criminal or civil prosecution if those banned items are brought to the airport, screening checkpoint, or aboard an airplane. Prosecutions can occur even if those items were possessed accidentally. Passengers arrive at the airport with baggage that unknowingly contains some type of contraband. Even items not specifically listed in the TSA rules are illegal if they could be considered dangerous.
Other changes since September 11, 2001, include a more aggressive stance on arresting and prosecuting individuals for disorderly conduct, public intoxication, trespass, resisting arrest with or without violence, or even making terrorist threats for simple disputes concerning loss luggage, long delays, canceled flights, and other similar frustrations common with airport travel. If you have been arrested while visiting the Tampa Bay area, contact an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney who can talk with you about what lead up to the arrest, ways to aggressively fight your case, and the likelihood that your case could be handled without your presence if you live out of the area.
Arrested at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Hotel and Casino?
If you have been arrested or charged with a crime at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Hotel and Casino, contact a Tampa criminal defense attorney to discuss your case. Under the Seminole Tribe of Florida's sovereign immunity provisions, the Hard Rock Cafe can refuse to release information that can normally be subpoenaed. Extra care must be taken in these cases to obtain the necessary documents and evidence needed to fight the charges, including video tape evidence.
Other Tourist Locations
When an arrest is made at a popular tourist locations, special considerations apply.
- Tampa- Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Hotel and Casino,
- University of South Florida;
- University of Tampa;
- Raymond James Stadium;
- Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center;
- Tampa Museum of Art;
- St. Pete Times Forum;
- Lowry Park Zoo;
- Seminole Cultural Center;
- Tampa Bay - Busch Gardens;
- Tampa Bay- Adventure Island;
- Tampa Bay History Center; or
- Tampa Theatre.
Contact an experienced Tampa Tourist Criminal Defense attorney to discuss ways to aggressively fight the charges against you while you minimize the stress and aggravation of traveling back to the Tampa Bay area for court appearances. If you were arrested in the Tampa Bay area but live out of county or out of state, contact us today for more information about your criminal defense.
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