Defending Drug Offense Charges in Plantation, FL
Drug offense defense in Plantation, FL requires challenging search legality, chain-of-custody procedures, and prosecutor evidence to protect clients from Florida's strict narcotics penalties.
What Types of Drug Charges Can Be Defended?
Defense strategies apply to possession, trafficking, paraphernalia, prescription fraud, and juvenile drug cases across misdemeanor and felony classifications.
Each charge carries different penalties and defenses. Simple possession may qualify for diversion programs, while trafficking accusations require immediate evidence review and aggressive representation.
Your attorney will assess whether the amount, intent, and circumstances support the charge filed. Prescription drug cases often hinge on documentation and whether you had a legitimate medical reason for possession.
How Do Search and Seizure Rules Protect You?
Law enforcement must have probable cause or a valid warrant to search your vehicle, home, or person for controlled substances.
Any search conducted without proper legal authority can result in suppression of evidence, which may lead to dismissal of charges. Your defense team will examine the circumstances of the stop, detention, and search to identify constitutional violations.
Officers sometimes rely on consent searches or claim they detected odors to justify a search. Your lawyer will challenge these claims and determine whether your rights were respected during the encounter.
Do Airport and Highway Patrols Increase Arrests?
Plantation, FL sits near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and I-95, both hotspots for drug interdiction and narcotics task force operations.
You may be stopped based on travel patterns, rental car profiles, or canine alerts that are later proven unreliable. Airport searches often involve luggage inspections and questioning that exceed lawful boundaries.
Highway patrol units conduct stops for minor traffic violations and use them as pretexts to search for drugs. Your defense will scrutinize whether the stop was justified and whether officers exceeded their authority during the investigation.
Can Evidence Be Suppressed in Drug Cases?
Yes, evidence obtained through illegal searches, improper handling, or broken chain-of-custody protocols can be excluded from trial.
Your attorney will file motions to suppress evidence that was collected in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights. Lab results, field tests, and witness statements must all meet legal standards to be admissible.
Chain-of-custody errors occur when drugs are not properly logged, stored, or transferred between officers and lab technicians. Any gap in documentation can cast doubt on whether the evidence is reliable or even belongs to your case.
Golburgh Law offers experienced defense for drug offense charges with a focus on protecting your constitutional rights and challenging weak evidence. Connect with our team at 954-608-3200 to discuss your case and explore your defense options without delay.