Practical guides on Florida criminal defense, personal injury, and civil litigation from the Law Offices of Andre A. Rouviere. Written for people facing a legal situation right now, not abstract overviews.
Florida’s CS/HB 429 took effect on October 1, 2026, as chapter 2026-156, Laws of Florida. It rewrites the criteria in Fla. Stat. § 874.03(3) that decide who is a criminal gang member, adds criteria for being claimed by a gang and for gang-related language on social media, and cuts the sightings with known gang members
Florida’s New Criminal Gang Member Definition: What HB 429 Changes Read More »
Dangerous excessive speeding under Fla. Stat. § 316.1922, the super speeder law, is a criminal charge. In our practice in Miami-Dade County court, the State Attorney’s Office is not offering pretrial diversion on these charges, and the plea on offer is a no contest plea with a withhold of adjudication. Florida generally treats a withhold
Florida’s SB 1332, chapter 2026-151, Laws of Florida, took effect on October 1, 2026. Florida has required career offender registration since 2002 under Fla. Stat. § 775.261, and failing to register was already a third-degree felony. SB 1332 tightens nearly every part of the system. Deadlines shrink from two working days to 48 hours. Registrants
Florida’s Career Offender Registration Law: What SB 1332 Changes Read More »
Florida’s SB 432, chapter 2026-148, Laws of Florida, was approved on June 16, 2026. Xylazine has been a Schedule I controlled substance in Florida since 2016, and the act keeps it there. What the act adds is a first-degree felony with a 3-year mandatory minimum for xylazine disguised as a food product or carrying a
Florida’s SB 432 (Meg’s Law): New Felonies for Xylazine and Nitrous Oxide Read More »
Florida’s HB 1293 (chapter 2026-143, Laws of Florida) took effect October 1, 2026. Fla. Stat. § 817.537 makes it a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, to take possession of a rental through a false written statement about identity, forged or counterfeit documents, or impersonation. A landlord
Florida’s New Rental Application Fraud Felony: What HB 1293 Says Read More »
If you have a juvenile record in Florida for a felony-level offense, you may be barred from owning a gun until you turn 24, even when the judge withheld adjudication and placed you on probation. The rule is Fla. Stat. Section 790.23(1)(b). It ends at 24 for a case that stayed in juvenile court, an
Can I Own a Gun in Florida With a Juvenile Record? Read More »
No. A domestic violence injunction and a criminal domestic violence charge are two separate court cases in Florida, and both can proceed from the same incident at the same time. Who Files Each One The alleged victim files the injunction directly with the circuit court, with no filing fee required. The criminal charge works differently:
Is a Domestic Violence Injunction the Same as a Criminal Charge in Florida? Read More »
As of today, October 1, 2026, violating a no-contact order while out on bond is a separate crime in Florida. The new Victim Safety in Pretrial Release Act applies to certain violent charges and took effect today. What a No-Contact Order Covers A no-contact order set as a condition of pretrial release bars any contact
What Happens If You Violate a No-Contact Order While on Bond in Florida? Read More »
No, not by itself, in most of Florida. For decades, an officer who smelled marijuana coming from a car had all the legal justification needed to search it. Florida’s legalization of hemp broke that rule, because hemp and marijuana smell identical, and two Florida appeals courts have now said so directly. Miami-Dade sits in a
Can Police Search My Car Because They Smell Marijuana in Florida? Read More »
No. In Florida, a crime victim cannot personally drop criminal charges once they have been filed. The decision belongs to the State Attorney’s Office, and a victim’s wishes are one factor among several, not the final word. Questions About Dropping Charges in Florida Can a victim drop criminal charges in Florida? No. Once the State
Can a Victim Drop Charges in Florida? Read More »
