Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Does Florida Have More Drunk Drivers Than Other States?
Drunk driving is dangerous all year round, but especially so during the holidays. When you consider a whole year’s worth of data, then about one of out every three fatal traffic collisions involves alcohol. If you only count the accidents that happen during the holiday season, that is, from Thanksgiving weekend until New Year’s,… Read More »
South Florida Man Faces Criminal Charges After Pouring Chemicals Into Koi Pond
Florida has never stopped trying to live up to its reputation as a fountain of youth. The people of Aventura, in particular, are famous for their longevity, but believe it or not, Floridians are not the longest-lived creatures on earth. For some species of tortoise, supercentenarians are a dime a dozen. Lonesome George lived… Read More »
How Scary Is It That Florida Does Not Have Parole?
People come to Florida expecting the unexpected. In Florida, you can walk into a doctor’s office, swipe your credit card, and, as long as you don’t ask too many questions, come out looking 15 years younger. You don’t know whether the next creature to cross the road and cause you to hit the brakes… Read More »
Was There More Crime During The Holidays?
People in certain occupations and certain stages of life are noticeably busier during the holiday season, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, than at other times of the year. Retail workers’ busiest day is Black Friday, and restaurants are swamped with delivery orders on the day before Thanksgiving. Postal workers and Amazon… Read More »
Florida Men Face Charges For Fraudulent COVID Relief Funds Application
Now that winter travel is in full swing and Florida’s beaches are packed with locals and tourists, it is hard to believe that it was only two-and-a-half years ago that COVID restrictions were forcing businesses to close and the owners of businesses of all sizes were panicking about how they could afford to pay… Read More »
The CDC’s New Guidelines On Opioid Prescribing Do Not Directly Address Illicit Drugs But Could Represent A New Chapter In The Opioid Epidemic
In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines regarding the prescribing of opioid painkillers. The 2016 guidelines encouraged doctors only to prescribe short courses of the drugs and to taper doses or discontinue the prescription after several weeks in almost all cases. This was a stark contrast with the 1990s… Read More »
DUI Is Not The Only Reason The Court Can Take Away Your Driver’s License
When you meet with a criminal defense lawyer, it is a relief to find out that, with or without a plea deal, a conviction for the charges you are facing will not result in jail time. If driver’s license suspension is part of your sentence, though, it can still feel like you are losing… Read More »
Is Domestic Violence Ever A Misdemeanor?
The term domestic violence refers not to one crime but to a large group of crimes, some of which are more serious than others. Crimes such as assault, battery, stalking, and sexual assault can all be categorized as domestic violence. The identifying characteristic of domestic violence is the relationship between the victim and the… Read More »
Over-The-Counter Antihistamines And The Opioid Epidemic
This month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report detailing a disturbing recent trend in opioid overdoses. It reported that approximately 15 percent of the patients whose deaths were attributed to opioid overdose in 2019 and 2020 also tested positive for over-the-counter antihistamines. Many of these overdoses were accidental, as… Read More »
It Is Illegal To Drive Under The Influence Of Cannabis, But How Do You Prove It?
State laws about cannabis interact with each other in ways that make it possible to face charges for cannabis crimes even when your mere possession of the marijuana or edibles is not a violation of the law. For example, you can get charges for DUI if you drive under the influence of cannabis, even… Read More »
