South Florida - traditionally referring to the Palm Beaches, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami areas - is a hub of entertainment, sun, and great experiences. World class resorts, restaurants, beaches, and great year-round weather draw millions of tourists every year. And cruise passengers frequently embark on their Caribbean adventures from Port Everglades and Port of Miami.
In sum, South Florida IS tourism.
However, your vacation can quickly become a nightmare if you find yourself in trouble with the law.
Even though you came to have some fun, local law enforcement doesn't care if you live here or if you are visiting. The law is the law.
Nevertheless, getting arrested on vacation poses a number of issues as opposed to getting arrested in your hometown.
First and foremost, how do I get home?
Well...if you've been physically arrested - as opposed to being issued a criminal citation - you will have to post a bond. Once you post a bond, your case will be given a court date. Now if you don't live in South Florida, you may be wondering - Do I have to travel back to South Florida to attend my court date?
Most of the time, as long as you've retained a criminal defense attorney, your presence in court can be waived.
Now what if you've been arrested for a domestic violence charge while traveling with the alleged victim?
This is also not an uncommon scenario. Alcohol, the stress of travel, staying in close quarters like a hotel room with family or a loved one can create tension. And if you are arrested for any domestic violence offense, you CANNOT return to the same hotel room/Airbnb as the alleged victim. This can create tremendous inconvenience as well as added expense. Furthermore, you cannot be near the alleged victim unless the Judge permits such contact (usually a domestic violence stay away order will not be modified for at least two weeks after the arrest). And if you have a flight scheduled to return home together, you cannot be on the same flight as the alleged victim. Again, this will create a headache and added expense as you rush to re-book your flights last minute.
These are just a few of a number problems that you may face if arrested on vacation - not the least of which is getting arrested in and of itself.
But there is hope. You can seek professional assistance to resolve your case and mitigate any time, travel, and inconvenience that an arrest on vacation could cost you.
If you or a loved one have been arrested in South Florida while on vacation, call me to discuss your options.