Arrested on Halloween

Many of you will go out on Halloween night and will have a great time.  Sadly, some of you will have a run-in with the police that may lead to your arrest.

Cops are out in full swing on Halloween night.  This is because alcohol and destructive behavior are often associated with the holiday.

While I didn't hear of any, there may be DUI checkpoints on Halloween night throughout Miami-Dade and Broward.  If you are stopped during a DUI checkpoint, it not only gives the officer a chance to see if you are intoxicated (or at least if they think you are intoxicated, but it gives the cop a chance to detain you for a period of time.  In that time, they may be able to arrest you for a number of other crimes.

For instance, if you have a suspended driver's license, they can arrest you for driving while license suspended (DWLS).

If you have marijuana or other drugs in the car, they may be able to arrest you for possession of marijuana.

Aside from being out on the road stopping cars, the cops will be out in neighborhoods looking for acts of vandalism.  In Florida, vandalism is called "criminal mischief."

Criminal mischief is the unlawful and intentional destruction or devaluation of somebody elses property.  The severity of the crime is based on the amount of the damage caused.

If the damage caused is less than $200, the crime is a second-degree misdemeanor,

If $200 - $1000, it is a first-degree misdemeanor.

If $1000 or more, the crime is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Acts of vandalism on Halloween are silly juvenile pranks, usually.  Egging cars or destroying mailboxes.  Those silly pranks can lead to criminal charges.

Both juveniles and adults can be arrested on Halloween.

However, some hardcore cops can actually charge you with burglary if you enter somebody's property to commit an act of vandalism.  So be careful.

Other crimes typical on Halloween night are disorderly intoxication and disorderly conduct.

I practice in all areas of criminal defense in Miami-Dade and Broward County.  I am a criminal defense attorney who would like to help you should you find yourself in legal trouble on Halloween night.

If you are in need of legal representation due to a criminal charge, call me.