Spring and summer are around the corner, which means there may be more people visiting Florida. These people may decide to forego flying in favor of driving and being around strangers for an extended period. This brings up an important question to consider for any out-of-state drivers that may only have their learner’s license permit: can they legally drive in Florida?

Learner’s permit vacationers can breathe a sigh of relief as they can indeed drive legally in Florida with the permit. However, they should remember that they are bound by and must abide by the same learner’s license permit rules as that of a Florida resident. This means, for example, that a licensed driver must accompany the driver with the learner’s permit while they are operating the vehicle.

If you’re planning on navigating the South Florida roads this spring and summer, please exercise caution and remain at all times. South Florida is well-known for having drivers that may often be distracted or fail to follow the rules of the road and proper driving etiquette.

This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with one of the Miami criminal traffic lawyers today.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.

Miami is gearing up to host the second presidential debate later this month, and that means security will be extra tight and there will likely be road closures. Indeed, one of these roads will be the MacArthur Causeway, one of the arterial roadways connected to Miami’s downtown area and the barrier island of Miami Beach.

The MacArthur Causeway will be closed entirely to traffic coming from the east and west and that also includes any pedestrian or bicycle traffic. Its closure will begin on the 15^th of October from 8 am to 1 am on the 16^th.

If you frequently use the MacArthur Causeway to get to places such as work, for example, you are encouraged to use the Julia Tuttle Causeway (I-195) or the 79^th Street Causeway should you need to visit Miami Beach. Drivers also have the option of using the Venetian Causeway but it’s being predicted that there will likely be heavy traffic on this roadway.

To read more, please visit https://www.miamiherald.com/news/traffic/article246088360.html.

This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with one of the Miami criminal traffic lawyers today.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.

Chances are you’ve noticed the signs throughout Florida with the words “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”. These signs are often electronic and are part of a campaign while also serving as a reminder of the importance of not getting behind the wheel if you’ve had too much to drink.

In a bizarre coincidence, a Florida driver is making the news after he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) when he hit one of these signs informing drivers not to drive under the influence. The 22-year-old man hit the digital sign and was arrested after law enforcement officers discovered him inside of a Mazda that had sustained damage following the crash into the sign. The man claimed that he was speaking to a friend on the phone when the crash occurred and after taking a breathalyzer, his blood-alcohol level was twice Florida’s legal limit.

Besides being charged with DUI, the man is also facing charges of property damage as a result of hitting the sign.

To read more, please visit https://www.thedrive.com/news/36152/florida-man-arrested-for-dui-after-hitting-a-drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over-sign.

This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with one of the Miami criminal traffic lawyers today.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.

Florida has strict laws in place for drivers that fail to practice proper safety measures when they are in a work or construction. Back in 2016, the Florida Department of Transportation reported high numbers of fatalities that occurred in construction zones.

In construction zone crashes, as a result of the costs involved, usually double fines are levied when drivers are caught violating the rules of such zones, especially if there are workers present. These violations can be caused by dangerous practices that frequently occur in construction areas, including driving beyond speed limits, merging the moment a lane ends, driving distracted, and failing to slow down when an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road.

Speeding fines in work zones can be heavy and the violations can also lead to driving record points being received. If you receive a citation for a violation in a construction zone, an experienced traffic ticket lawyer may be able to assist in lowering the charges or potentially completely dismissing your case.

This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with one of the Miami criminal traffic lawyers today.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.

As COVID-19 continues to be a major concern in Florida, there may be drivers curious about traffic tickets or how the courts are operating.

Back in March, most court proceedings necessitating face-to-face interaction were temporarily suspended as a way to promote social distancing. Because of those conditions, if you have a court date in the state of Florida after March 16, you’re not supposed to appear until the state government requests otherwise.

As for traffic tickets, yes you can still receive a traffic ticket. Traffic violations are deemed discretionary, meaning the police officer observing the violation can decide whether to issue a ticket based on the severity or recklessness of the violation. Although Florida is in an emergency state, officers may decide to adopt greater leniency for less severe violations, such as expired registration, for example. These decisions remain solely with the officer, however. Nonetheless, officers will be taking extra care when they issue tickets and respond to violations to ensure the protection and the safety of the public.

If you have received a traffic ticket and intend to contest it in court, you’re required to obey the usual rules and inform the courts of your plans via writing within the 30-day timeframe or online. It is important to remember that failure to respond to a summons is still a criminal offense even during the court’s suspension of face-to-face transactions, which may result in heavier penalties and having your driver’s license suspended.

This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with one of the Miami criminal traffic lawyers today.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.

With local, countywide, and national stay-at-home directives in effect as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to escalate throughout Florida, some municipal governments have reduced the number of parking tickets they issue, knowing people are using their vehicles sparingly for critical activities. For example, in the city of Miami, the Miami Parking Authority has entirely ceased issuing meter tickets since March 19. The decision became important as daily business in Miami began to see a significant slowdown.

Miami Beach, on the other hand, continues to issue parking citations. However, the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 has resulted in substantial cuts within the department and a less strict approach when it comes to enforcing parking laws. The city has gotten rid of all pay stations on the curbside and off-street, making mobile payments as the only alternative.

A few cities have made changes so people can park without while picking up food or purchasing critical items. In Coral Gables, for example, residents are allowed about ten minutes to park for free when they visit Miracle Mile, typically with a degree of leeway. Miami Parking Authority has reinvented the curbside spots typically meant for valets into zones for delivery pickup.

Some rules are still being enforced. County police continue to respond to any complaints regarding vehicles being parked in condominium loading zones.

To read more, visit https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241710726.html.

This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with one of the Miami criminal traffic lawyers today.