The Khonsari Law Firm Blog

St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney

Is it Possible to “Pass” the Standard Field Sobriety Test?

What is the Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST)? The Standardized Field Sobriety Test, or “SFST,” is a battery of tests by law enforcement used to determine whether a person is under the influence of alcohol. The tasks used in the SFST include: Walk-and-Turn--Taking nine “heel-to-toe” steps in a straight line, then turning and walking in [...]

Rohom Khonsari September 6, 2017

Three Things to Look for in a Criminal Defense Lawyer

When people are charged with crimes in Florida and other places, they oftentimes do not know where to turn. In many cases, the person charged is not sure what they did, what they are charged with, what the law says, or what the possible sentences and penalties upon conviction are. In those instances, it is absolutely essential that you retain the s [...]

Rohom Khonsari September 5, 2017

The Benefits of Expungement

Records expungements can be extremely beneficial to criminal defendants on many different fronts. A complete records expungement means that a defendant’s criminal record is completely sealed or erased and is not ordinarily visible to the general public. As a result, post-expungement, a criminal defendant will not ordinarily have to report a crim [...]

Rohom Khonsari September 1, 2017

a person sitting in a car with a beer and steering wheel

No Tolerance Law for Underage DUI

In the State of Florida, the legal drinking age is 21. Possession of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21 is illegal, without exception. All-in-all, the standards are stricter and the penalties are harsher for DUI offenders under the age of 21. If you or someone you love has been charged with an underage DUI, it is essential that you have experien [...]

Rohom Khonsari September 1, 2017

St. Petersburg Florida Criminal Defense Attorney

How Does the Fourth Amendment Affect My Criminal Case?

Pursuant to the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, any police officer who conducts a search of a person’s home or vehicle must have ordinarily obtained a search warrant prior to doing so. In order to issue a search warrant, there must be probable cause that criminal activity was afoot and that the defendant committed or participa [...]

Rohom Khonsari August 30, 2017

teen drinking and driving St. Petersburg DUI Defense Attorney

A Criminal Record Can Limit Your Professional Options

In today’s marketplace, school admission and job placement are extremely difficult and competitive – even for those with excellent credentials. However, a criminal record (particularly a lengthy one) can put a damper on a person’s professional options. Generally speaking, a criminal record can have a very negative impact on a person’s educ [...]

Rohom Khonsari August 28, 2017

Graduation Season Results in DUI Arrests

Graduation is a time for celebration as children begin to transition from childhood to young adulthood. For many teenagers who have survived the rigors of high school, graduation can make them feel invincible, and, in combination with a multitude of parties, this may drastically increase teen drinking and driving and their risk of being charged wi [...]

Rohom Khonsari August 23, 2017

Were Your Rights Violated at a DUI Stop?

Most of the time, the real reason why Florida police officers pull drivers over is not for texting, speeding, running a stop sign, or failing to use a turn signal. In most cases, the traffic stop occurs because the officer suspects that the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Pretextual traffic stops are constitutional, even if the o [...]

Rohom Khonsari August 21, 2017

Do You Need an Attorney for a First-Time DUI?

Being charged and convicted of a DUI (or driving under the influence) in Florida can have significant legal ramifications, up to and including fines and jail time. If this is your first time being charged with a DUI, you may be tempted to go-it-alone, represent yourself in court, and not seek the services of an experienced DUI defense lawyer. Howe [...]

Rohom Khonsari August 18, 2017

What is Embezzlement?

Florida property crimes all fall under the umbrella of theft offenses. Under the Florida criminal statute, theft is defined as the unauthorized taking or use of another person’s property, with the intent of depriving that person of the property on either a temporary or permanent basis. Embezzlement is one type of theft offense under Florida law [...]

Rohom Khonsari August 9, 2017