Category Archives: Criminal Law

Criminal Defense Attorney | Arrest | Detention

cop.previewAn encounter with law enforcement can be very intimidating, and it is natural to feel nervous that you are in some way violating the law. However, an arrest and a detention are very distinctive situations that have different conditions as far as your rights. It is very important to remember the distinction between a detention and an arrest, so that you understand what your rights are should one of these situations occur.

It is important to understand that if law enforcement confronts you, this does not always mean that you are under arrest. Remaining calm and maintaining civility are the best actions to take when being questioned by the police. It is also important to avoid running away, and always keep your hands visible to that the police can see them. The police need reasonable suspicion to detain an individual, and you have the right to ask the police why you have been detained. If you are not under arrest, you have the right to walk away. If the police still proceed to arrest you, you have the right to speak with an criminal defense attorney.

Law enforcement must have probable cause or a warrant to make an arrest. If a law enforcement officer has a reasonable belief, that there is in fact a high probability that you have been involved in criminal activity, the police officer may arrest you. If you are arrested, this means that you are officially being charged with a crime. As opposed to a detainment, you do not have the right to leave once an arrest has taken place. Once the arrest has been made, you can be held in jail for up to 24 hours, and you may have to pay bail to be released from custody.

It is important to quickly seek legal representation upon an arrest to protect your rights. A Criminal Defense Attorney can provide you with legal counsel, and advise you in regards to your rights. An experienced lawyer can also advise you in the actions and procedures that need to take place going forward. If you have been arrested, or issued a traffic citation, call Blick Law Firm today for a free 15-minute consultation. Think Quick, Call Blick!

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Arrest | Toddler Arrested | Justice System

CRIMINAL-DEFENSE-ATTORNEY, CRIMINAL-LAW, JUSTICE-SYSTEM, ARRESTIn recent news, a nine month old baby was arrested for attempted murder in Pakistan. Due to a confrontation with the police over an unpaid bill, an entire Pakistani family was accused of attempted murder during a protest against gas cuts and price increases, along with their nine month old child. The child cried as his grandfather held him while the police took his fingerprints. The charges against the nine month old were eventually dropped however, it is deeply troubling that Pakistan’s criminal justice system would even allow something like this to happen.

Unfortunately, terrible situations such as this one occur every day in different parts of the world. As American’s, we are extremely fortunate to have a justice system designed to protect us from such unthinkable situations.

As a democratic nation, our constitution safeguards us from government abuse and Constitution safeguards us from government abuse and oppression. The American criminal justice system upholds the legal rights of American citizens that are accused and convicted of committing a crime. The civil rights and liberties expressed within the American constitution are heavily enforced in the United States; they must be upheld in order to protect the natural birthright of freedom and liberty that belongs to all people.

The American justice system entitles all citizens the right to a fair and unbiased trial in the event of an arrest. In the United States, all individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in the court of Law. Every citizen of the United States also has the right to a criminal defense attorney.

Blick Law Firm strives to protect the rights of all its clients by providing exceptional legal representation in criminal law. The experienced attorneys at Blick Law Firm are dedicated to “helping the hurting”, and diligently work hard to provide excellent legal counsel. Founded on Christian values, Blick law firm strives not only to meet the legal needs of clients, but also aims to instill hope for the future through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer holds over 25 years of legal experience, call Blick Law Firm today for a free consultation. call

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Justin Bieber | Deposition | Behavior for Legal Proceedings


Often times you may be asked a wide range of questions during a deposition. However, there may be instances where questions asked have nothing to do with the case at hand. The nature of these questions can sometimes be extremely personal to provoke the one being questioned.

Should this situation arise, it is important not to feel pressured or intimidated, and to practice maintaining a high level of professionalism and poise despite emotional stimulation.

If you are asked a question that makes you feel like you are being harassed or baited, you have the right to consult your criminal defense attorney before answering the question. An experienced lawyer can object the question, and advise you in whether or not your answer is necessary.

As an example, pop star Justin Bieber recently underwent a deposition where he was questioned repeatedly about his career and personal life. The annoyed pop star quickly responded with sarcasm and aggression. Bieber proceeded to sarcastically answer questions, wink at the camera, and display an uninterested and arrogant attitude throughout the entire deposition. This type of behavior is not recommended as it can hinder your character and credibility, which can complicate  and possibly affect the outcome of your case.

Arrive Prepared

Here are few tips for proper deposition preparation:

  • Be sure to talk with your attorney beforehand
  • Make sure that you are fully aware and knowledgeable about what is going on with your case
  • Have a discussion with your attorney about how to handle such questions should they arise

Attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer has over 25 years’ legal experience, and is dedicated to serving his clients. Grounded in Christian values, Blick Law Firm strives to provide excellent legal representation while instilling hope for the future through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Contact Blick Law Firm today for a free case evaluation. Think Quick, Call Blick!

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Driving with Suspended License | Criminal Traffic Offense | HTO

If your driving license is suspended or revoked, it is important that you proceed to have your license reinstated before you get behind the wheel to avoid a possible arrest. It is important to be mindful of the expiration date on your license, because driving with an expired license can also lead to an arrest. There are many instances where your license can be suspended, cancelled, or revoked without your knowledge. These types of arrests can cause complications in the reinstatement process.

Your license can be suspended for the following reasons:

  • Failing to pay child support
  • Multiple traffic violations or speeding tickets
  • Accumulating too many driving record points
  • Failing to appear in court or pay fees
  • Driving under the influence

There are serious penalties for driving with a suspended license. Whether you are aware that your license is suspended or not, you can still be arrested by law enforcement. This can cause complications when it comes to reinstating your driver’s license. Penalties for driving with a suspended license include but are not limited to; reinstatement fees, traffic school, and loss of driving privileges.

It is a criminal traffic offense if a driver operates a motor vehicle with knowledge that their driver’s license is cancelled, suspended, or revoked in the state of Florida.

Driving with knowledge of a suspended license may result in the following charges:

  • First conviction is a second-degree misdemeanor
  • Second conviction is a first-degree misdemeanor
  • Third, or subsequent conviction, is a third degree felony and can result in possible jail time

If you have been convicted of driving on a suspended license multiple times, you can be recorded as a Habitual Traffic Offender in the county or state. It is important to be aware of the consequences that result from multiple infractions for driving with a suspended license. Recurrent violations may cause you to loose your driving privileges as well as face jail time.

Michael C Blickensderfer holds over 25 years’ legal experience, and is dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation for all of his clients. If you or a loved one has been arrested or issued a traffic citation for driving with a suspended license, call Blick Law Firm today to receive a case evaluation. Think quick, Call Blick!

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Driving Under The Influence | DUI | Consequences

Driving under the influence is a common arrest in the sate of Florida; many Florida drivers are unfamiliar with the definition of a DUI, or what the consequences are if arrested for one. It is essential to be familiar with the full description what a DUI is, as well as what to do if pulled over for suspicion of these actions.

Driving Under the Influence is the act or crime of driving while impaired by:

  •     Any type of drug
  •     Alcohol
  •     Illicit drugs
  •     Prescription medication

If your normal faculties are impaired by alcohol, or any of the substances previously listed while having physical control of a vehicle, you can be arrested for driving under the influence.

In Florida, a blood alcohol level of .08 or more constitutes alcohol impairment beyond the legal limit. Nonetheless, if law enforcement suspects that you are driving under the influence, you may still be arrested if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below the legal limit. If you are arrested for a DUI and your BAC is under 0.8, this can decrease the outcome of a DUI conviction. However, you will still have to bear several inconveniences that accompany battling a DUI charge.

Once pulled over, police officers look for several symptoms of impairment. A driver will initially be pulled over for a minor traffic violation, then the officer will immediately proceed with dialogue in order to determine if the driver is impaired. This procedure may result in a DUI conviction.

Some of the common signs law enforcement will look for to determine the potential impairment of a driver include:

  •     The ability to maintain eye contact
  •     Slurred speech
  •     The smell of alcohol on a driver’s breathe
  •     Bloodshot eyes.

UNDER-THE-INFLUENCE, IS-A-DUI-A-FELONY, DUI-LAWYER, JUSTIN-BEIBERIt is indeed your right to refrain from answering any questions without a lawyer present however; not doing so will surely rouse the police officer’s suspicions, which will likely consummate a further investigation.

If the police officer asks you to exit your vehicle, you must do so. However, if asked to submit to a sobriety test, you may kindly refuse. If you are confident that you can pass a sobriety test, it is still in your best interest to refrain from doing so because the officer will determine if you have passed or not solely on his or her own judgment.

The consequences for driving under the influence in the state of Florida may include:

  •        Suspension of drivers license
  •        Radical Insurance increases
  •       Present and future employment complications
  •       Driving restrictions requiring additional costs
  •       Probation
  •       Legal fees
  •       Court Fees

When disputing a DUI charge, these consequences are among a multitude of difficulties that one can encounter. Fully understanding the severity of these consequences is very important, and it is crucial to be familiar with the precautions needed to avoid being arrested for a DUI.

It is important to immediately seek legal counsel if you are charged with a DUI. If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI, Call Blick Law Firm today for a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer.

Think Quick Call Blick!

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Suspended License | Tampa Criminal Lawyer | Felony

SUSPENDED-LICENSE-LAWYER, TAMPA-CRIMINAL-LAWYER, TRAFFIC-TICKET, FELONY, DRIVING-WITH-A-SUSPENDED-LICENSEOften times Florida drivers are unaware when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle that their driving privileges have been suspended, cancelled, or revoked; and unsure of what to do. Law enforcement officers arrest drivers daily for driving with a suspended license. Arrests of this nature can lead to complications when trying to reinstate your driving privileges.

In Florida, it is a criminal traffic offense if a driver operates a motor vehicle with knowledge that their driver’s license is cancelled, suspended, or revoked.

The following charges may result from Driving with a Suspended License with knowledge of the suspension:

(1) First conviction is a second degree misdemeanor;

(2) Second conviction is a first degree misdemeanor;

(3) Third, or subsequent conviction, is a third degree felony and possible jail time may have to be served.

In this case, it is important to know that multiple infractions of Driving with a Suspended License can lead to consequences, and drivers with repeated violations can be listed as a Habitual Traffic Offender in the county or state.

The penalty of driving with your license suspended, whether you have knowledge or not, may be serious and generally leads to complications with your future driving privilege.SUSPENDED-LICENSE-LAWYER, TAMPA-CRIMINAL-LAWYER, TRAFFIC-TICKET, DRIVING-WITH-A-SUSPENDED-LICENSE

If you or a loved one have been arrested or issued a traffic ticket/citation for driving with a suspended license, call Blick Law Firm today to receive a case evaluation with a Tampa Criminal Lawyer that has over 26 years legal experience.

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