Stopped For Drugs At The Airport

Airports are places where safety is understandably paramount. Very often, being charged with a crime that happened to take place in an airport means that the defendant may face additional charges because of the location of the alleged offense. One of the most common scenarios when this occurs is when a person is stopped on suspicion of possessing drugs at one of Florida’s airports, and if you have been through this situation, it is absolutely crucial that you understand the potential fallout. The right attorney can help guide you through the legal process.

Possession Or Trafficking

Anyone who has drugs found in their luggage at an airport may be charged with either drug possession or trafficking, depending on how much of the substance in question was found. Florida law does not require intent in order to charge someone with drug trafficking; instead, if enough of a substance (or a mixture containing the substance) is found, the person will be charged with trafficking regardless of intent. For example, if a person is found to have 7 grams or more of oxycodone, they will be charged with trafficking in oxycodone.

Florida has some of the strictest drug laws in the United States, but very often, the crime of possessing or transporting drugs through an airport will lead to federal charges first. U.S. federal law governs alleged offenses that take place over state lines, and if a flight is coming into Palm Beach International Airport from outside Florida, federal law will apply to any offense of this nature. If a person is stopped for carrying drugs on a domestic flight, it is more likely that Florida law will apply, but regardless, this is a serious offense.

Serious Consequences

If you have been charged with a drug offense in Florida, know that even a misdemeanor charge can lead to up to 1 year in jail for a first offense, with the potential jail time increasing for a second and third. Both the federal system and the Florida system enforce the concept of mandatory minimums as well, meaning that if you are convicted, your sentence is already set in stone at the low end (but of course, a judge may add more time, if the sentencing guidelines permit it!).

That said, it may be possible in some cases to negotiate a plea-bargain or entry into a pretrial detention program for drug offenders (for possession cases; trafficking cases are generally tried). This is particularly true for first-time offenders, though Palm Beach County is one of the rare Florida counties that allows those with more than one offense on their record in some cases. While it is not a good idea to count on such options being granted to you, it may be possible to take this route.

Contact A West Palm Beach Drug Crimes Attorney

If you have been stopped by law enforcement after landing in Florida, you need the right West Palm Beach drug crimes attorney on your side to protect your rights. The firm of Perlet & Shiner, P.A. will ensure that you get your day in court. Call our office today at (561) 721-0552 to speak to an attorney.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0800-0899/0893/Sections/0893.135.html