The Khonsari Law Firm Blog

Boating Under the Influence (BUI)

Most of us are familiar with the term DUI, which stands for “driving under the influence (of drugs or alcohol).” Nautical aficionados usually know about the corollary BUI—boating under the influence. The United States Coast Guard reports a sobering fact: alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, causing 15 per [...]

Rohom Khonsari June 6, 2018

a man in a bandana is holding another man's neck

Bar Fights in Florida

Bar fights are common. Mix alcohol with an inadvertent bump or a disparaging insult, and tempers flare. Usually fueled with overblown testosterone, that’s a powder keg ready to ignite. And bar fights can be violent, whether intentionally or inadvertently. If you were involved in a Florida bar fight, you could face the following charges: Disor [...]

Rohom Khonsari June 4, 2018

Bail and Jail in Florida

There’s much talk about the injustice of bail. It is estimated that 70% of jailed inmates have not been convicted of a crime, but they simply cannot afford bail. It’s no surprise that the conversation about bail reform is sweeping cities and states throughout the U.S. As one California Supreme Court Justice said, “We must not penalize the poo [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 28, 2018

a red sports car driving on a road with light trails

Are My Car’s Tricked-out Neon Wheels Illegal?

Americans love their cars. Collectively, people in the United States own approximately 264 million passenger vehicles. That’s nearly one car per person. Cars are designed to have mass appeal, and car companies aim to sell to as many consumers as possible. It’s no surprise that year after year, car body colors consistently remain the same: black [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 25, 2018

a person laying in bed using a cell phone

Flirty or “Sexting”? Racy Teen Texts and Florida Law

Electronics are everywhere, and we all use them: smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers. Teenage cellphone use now outpaces adult use. A few years ago, nearly 80 percent of all teenagers had a cell phone (according to the Pew Research Center). The numbers are even greater today. It’s so easy to search, click, forward, and send amusing j [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 23, 2018

I Was Arrested With Rolling Papers—Now What?

So many products have everyday, common uses. Plastic bags are used to wrap sandwiches. Rolling papers and pipes are used for smoking ordinary tobacco. How do rolling papers become illegal drug paraphernalia when used (or intended to be used) to ingest, store, or contain a controlled substance. Drug Paraphernalia Defined Florida Statutes 893.145 d [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 21, 2018

Help! My High School Student’s Locker Was Searched

We’re all aware of the recent senseless school shooting in Parkland, Florida. This has resulted in more calls for beefing up school security. With that, tensions flare between privacy, freedom, and individual rights versus the school’s need for safety. Fourth Amendment and Search and Seizure Watch CNN, Law & Order, or any television police, [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 18, 2018

a woman is holding her purse in her hand

Shoplifting Is Big Business

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) reports some staggering statistics. There are 27 million shoplifters in the United States today. This averages to about one out of every 11 persons. You might think shoplifting is a crime associated with teenagers, but out of this group, 75 percent are adults, and only 25 percent are minors [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 16, 2018

What Is Manslaughter?

In Florida, manslaughter is a killing of another human being that does not meet the requirements of murder. Unlike murder, manslaughter does not require premeditation. Florida breaks manslaughter into two different categories: voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. What are the elements of voluntary manslaughter? For voluntary mansl [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 14, 2018

a yellow sign with the word plea bargain on it

What is a Plea Bargain?

A plea bargain is an agreement between the defendant and prosecutor that involves the prosecutor recommending a lighter sentence or bringing less serious charges in exchange for the defendant pleading guilty. According to the Department of Justice, 90 percent to 95 percent of all cases are resolved through plea-bargaining. Some defendants choose no [...]

Rohom Khonsari May 11, 2018