As college students begin arriving in droves, finding law violators can be like “fishing in a barrel” for local police along Treasure Island, Sunset Beach and nearby “Caddy’s on the Beach.” Unfortunately, each Spring, many students “arrive on vacation” and “leave on probation.”
Local Residents Pressure Police for Greater Enforcement
Treasure Island residents have grown weary of dealing with what they describe as disruptive and often intoxicated crowds. The City Commission has been under pressure to react to these complaints by progressively escalating the police presence in the area. Heated complaints at city commission meetings and YouTube videos depicting spring breakers’ antics and the resulting disturbances drove the passage of new city ordinances that banned glass containers and beer kegs from Sunset Beach.
Police to Take a “No Nonsense” Approach
Law enforcement has not been shy in announcing that there will be a “heavy police presence” and “high police visibility” as thousands of youth descend on Pinellas county’s beach communities. This extra effort is being made to both deter unlawful activity and to apprehend those observed committing criminal offenses.
In most cases, students are not simply given a “notice to appear” in court for their law violation. Rather, they are arrested by law enforcement who adopt a zero tolerance policy during this enormous social gathering and party scene. Local police departments have theorized that an arrest, as opposed to, a “notice to appear” will send a strong message to other spring break attendees that inappropriate conduct will be dealt with in a firm and immediate fashion.
Location of Stepped-Up Enforcement
Caddy’s on Sunset Beach will be the obvious epicenter of police activity. However, the Treasure Island Police Department intends to extend their active patrol to the north of that location all the way to Sun Vista Park. The agency intends to also focus on the beach area to the south of the popular bar and restaurant.
Surreptitious Surveillance Techniques to be Employed
Local police are anxiously awaiting the arrival of “Spring Breakers.” You can anticipate DUI checkpoints along Gulf Boulevard and the deployment of an increased number of uniformed police officers and marked cruiser. But surveillance won’t end there. The Treasure Island Police Department will be using undercover patrol officers who are casually dressed in an effort to better blend in with the throngs of beach goers. Undercover officers working alongside Florida Division of Alcohol and Tobacco agents will target underage drinkers. The Treasure Island Police Department has also installed high resolution video cameras in close proximity to Caddy’s and the Treasure Island drawbridge. These are monitored by additional personnel back at police headquarters. For example, after a highly intoxicated person is spotted on video, a radio dispatch is sent to officers at the location to further investigate.
Arrested Students Often Make a Bad Situation Worse
When a college student is arrested and incarcerated while on Spring Break, they often perceive it to be a devastating event in their life. Many young people will have two immediate objectives in mind:
1. Keeping their parents from finding out; and
2. Getting released as soon as possible from the Pinellas County Jail
Unfortunately, in their haste to achieve these two objectives, the young person will often take a bad situation and make it worse. Here is why…
Without the benefit of advice from a family member who possesses greater life experience, the student will often seek to resolve the case as quickly as possible without considering the long term ramifications. This is a tremendous mistake.
In our experience, we often deal with cases where the morning after an arrest a student will plead “guilty” or “no contest” to the charge at his in-custody “advisory hearing.” He is typically motivated to do so when the judge indicates that in exchange for his admission to the offense, the judge will summarily impose a “time served” disposition or sentence. What this means, is that the case will be officially concluded and the college student’s sentence will be the jail time he has already served. When the student hears that this course of action will result in his immediate release from jail…he can’t help but jump at the opportunity. It is only sometime later that the student suddenly realizes that he now must suffer the consequences of a having “criminal conviction” on his record for the rest of his life. Many young people who contact us are surprised and dismayed to learn that their decision to enter a plea to a criminal charge at the first court date, without the advice of a lawyer, have now placed themselves in a situation where they have acquired a permanent criminal record. Clearly, having a criminal record places a young person, who may just be starting their higher education or career at a tremendous disadvantage when one considers that background checks are now routinely conducted on persons applying to college, a postgraduate institution or for employment.
What to Do if You are Arrested During Spring Break
1. Be polite and courteous with law enforcement. Avoid being disrespectful or confrontational. Your attorney can often later use your positive attitude to your advantage;
2. Have a friend or family member contact a local criminal defense attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in handling cases for out of town offenders;
See also: How to handle a call from a family member or friend from the jail
3. Ask the lawyer about securing an R.O.R. (Release on your own recognizance) which if granted by the court, would cause you to be released from jail without the need to post a cash or surety bond;
4. Discuss with the attorney your eligibility for entry into a diversion program such as "Pre-Trial Intervention" or "PTI" that will result in the dismissal of the criminal charge. In the alternative, ask the lawyer about a withholding of adjudication, which would avoid a formal conviction;
5. Ask your attorney about ways that your case may be resolved without your need to return to Florida to attend court.
6. Talk to your lawyer about ways you can avoid post arrest publicity;
7. Tell the attorney you want to make every effort to resolve your case in such a way that you will thereafter qualify to have your criminal arrest sealed or expunged.
We Routinely Represent College Students on Charges Including:
- Driving on a Suspended Drivers License
- Felony Drug Possession
- Open Alcohol Container
- Possession of Alcohol by Person Under 21 years of age
Helping the Out of Town Client and the First Time Offender
Our office is accustomed to helping people who reside out of town and have been charged with a criminal offense in Pinellas County or are first time offenders. In many situations, we can often resolve the case without the need for our client to return to the State of Florida. In addition, we make every effort to avoid conviction, avoid jail, and to safeguard our client’s criminal record from the background checks that employers routinely conduct.
Arrested During Spring Break in Treasure Island or St. Pete Beach?
We are local Pinellas County criminal defense lawyers who regularly represent college students, tourists and out of town business clients facing criminal charges.
You can contact our office for a free consultation at: (727) 578-0303
Visit our Criminal Defense website at: www.defensehelp.com
Visit our Drunk Driving website at: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Related Links:
Treasure Island Police Blotter
Sixteen Residents Sue Caddy's Beach Bar
Judge's Ruling Threatens Off-Site Parking for Caddy's
Florida Agents Arrested 1,092 Underage Spring Break Drinkers in 2010
Understanding Your Miranda Rights
Avoid a Spring Break Arrest - Take a Free Taxi
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