Panama City Beach Florida Marijuana Possesion

[DrazyHaze]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

My son was stopped last night in Panama City Beach, Florida for having passengers hanging out the window. They found 24.5 grams of marijuana in a mason jar confiscated it and wrote him the citation and released him to my custody. They said the DA will contact us for court dates etc..

What i want to know is how harsh is florida on minors, hes 17, and we live in Georgia. Will they make us drive there for court? Or will they just send us a fee notification thay we have to pay and give my son probation, community service or something? I just need sone insight on whats gonna happen.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[mistoffolees]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

My son was stopped last night in Panama City Beach, Florida for having passengers hanging out the window. They found 24.5 grams of marijuana in a mason jar confiscated it and wrote him the citation and released him to my custody. They said the DA will contact us for court dates etc..

What i want to know is how harsh is florida on minors, hes 17, and we live in Georgia. Will they make us drive there for court? Or will they just send us a fee notification thay we have to pay and give my son probation, community service or something? I just need sone insight on whats gonna happen.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Bad news:
Florida Marijuana Laws - FL Marijuana Possession Penalties - Florida Drug Charge Defense Lawyer
"Florida marijuana possession laws are among the toughest in the county, and the penalties the most severe. "

He's lucky it was 24.5 g and not 25, but even 24.5 g could lead to serious consequences - up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

You need to hire an attorney for him NOW.

 

[DrazyHaze]

So you mean to tell me he can face 5 years in prison at the age of 17?

 

[mistoffolees]

So you mean to tell me he can face 5 years in prison at the age of 17?

Do you want to find out the hard way?

Now, I doubt that a court will send a 17 year old to jail for 5 years for a first offense (it IS a first offense, I hope), but it's well within their rights to do so. 24.5 g is a LOT of pot. For comparison, the penalty for possession of 24 g has the same penalty as growing 25 POUNDS of pot. They take possession seriously there.

Hire an attorney.

 

[CreativeBlock]

Do you want to find out the hard way?

Now, I doubt that a court will send a 17 year old to jail for 5 years for a first offense (it IS a first offense, I hope), but it's well within their rights to do so. 24.5 g is a LOT of pot. For comparison, the penalty for possession of 24 g has the same penalty as growing 25 POUNDS of pot. They take possession seriously there.

Hire an attorney.

As someone who lives in PCB and knows Sheriff McKeithen (whose department likely arrested your son) personally, I agree whole-heartedly. He's quite notorious for his stance on cracking down on drug abuse ~ even to the extent where several groups have complained about the legality of his tactics.

Do you know if it was the Panama City Beach Police Department or the Sheriff's Department? While they both take possession VERY seriously, one takes it more so than the other.

 

[DrazyHaze]

This was Panama City Police and not the sherrif. this is a first offense for him, idk if it matters but this happened during spring break.

He also pleaded no contest and told them where it was and was very respectful tovthe officers. At this point i dont think i will hire him an attorney as i want him to see what its like to go thru a court system as a juvenile.

They also didnt find any scales or anything so i dont think he'll get intent to distribute. The officer also said its very unlikely the courts will send him jail.

Is it just a terribly stupid idea to let him go thru this without a hired attorney?

Idk whats gonna happen to him.

 

[mistoffolees]

This was Panama City Police and not the sherrif. this is a first offense for him, idk if it matters but this happened during spring break.

He also pleaded no contest and told them where it was and was very respectful tovthe officers. At this point i dont think i will hire him an attorney as i want him to see what its like to go thru a court system as a juvenile.

They also didnt find any scales or anything so i dont think he'll get intent to distribute. The officer also said its very unlikely the courts will send him jail.

Is it just a terribly stupid idea to let him go thru this without a hired attorney?

Idk whats gonna happen to him.

How many more times do you need to be told?

He could be facing up to 5 years in jail. The officer can say whatever he wants - it's what the judge decides that matters. And even if he doesn't go to jail, he'll have a permanent record. An attorney may be able to get that wiped clean.

He needs an attorney. Now. Not next week. Not after the trial to attempt to appeal. NOW.

If you like, fell free to copy and past that last paragraph into a word processor about 10,000 times and print it out. Then wallpaper your house with it.

 

[dmcc10880]

Sonny boy will get a good taste of the judicial system even with an attorney.

Who did he plead to? The cop? Hahahahaha.

And what the heck is a 17 year old from Georgia going down to Panama City during spring break? Oh yeah, act stupid. You're even stupider for allowing it to happen.

 

[CreativeBlock]

This was Panama City Police and not the sherrif. this is a first offense for him, idk if it matters but this happened during spring break.

He also pleaded no contest and told them where it was and was very respectful tovthe officers. At this point i dont think i will hire him an attorney as i want him to see what its like to go thru a court system as a juvenile.

They also didnt find any scales or anything so i dont think he'll get intent to distribute. The officer also said its very unlikely the courts will send him jail.

Is it just a terribly stupid idea to let him go thru this without a hired attorney?

Idk whats gonna happen to him.

Not that Mistoffolees needs any back up, but you need a lawyer.

Believe me, our judges here are scary enough that they will, indeed, put the fear of the Creator into him. Have no fear about that.

He needs a lawyer. Now.

As for our juvenile offenders program, no, you do not want him to go through that. Our juvie system has been under quite a bit of fire here of late. While I'm sure they all suffer from negative reviews, ours has been quite ... troublesome.

I do not mean to scare you. But you do need to see the seriousness of the situation.

As Mist said, you need a lawyer, tout de suit.

 

[CreativeBlock]

And what the heck is a 17 year old from Georgia going down to Panama City during spring break? Oh yeah, act stupid. You're even stupider for allowing it to happen.

Would you like numbers? As a resident of PCB, I can give you the (frightening) statistics on how many kids are admitted to the hospital in a single month for alcohol poisoning, drug overdose, violence, etc.

I can also get you some numbers on how many kids dive off of 3 story motel balconies, get raped, beaten, or run over (usually by their drunken friends).

It's frightening. It really is.

And if Junior did incur his offense during Spring Break, he's even more at risk than usual as re the legal issues. It will be election time here soon. And locals are notorious for not re-electing judges who are soft on Spring Breakers gone bad.

Google Joe Francis (he of Girls Gone Wild fame). He's been wrangling with our legal system for (I believe) over 8 years. All because when McKeithen said "Get out of my town," he said "make me." And one of his campaign promises (which helped re-elect him) was to make sure that Francis' life is made a living hell and that he never forgets PCB.

Just sayin'.

 

[dmcc10880]

Hey CB. I'm familiar with PC and the same thing happens all along the gulf coast during spring break from Florida to Texas and even worse in Mexico.

If one thinks LE doesn't have its' antennae up is a 100% certifiable dolt.

On the other hand, between sales taxes and fines, it's an excellent way of raising revenue despite the public safety implications and the ability for LE to protect residents like you.

 

[CreativeBlock]

Hey CB. I'm familiar with PC and the same thing happens all along the gulf coast during spring break from Florida to Texas and even worse in Mexico.

*sigh* I figured. I've been here ten years and each SB, it's still a total shocker. Shocking that people can even *act* this way.

Last year (and I kid not), I was at a busy intersection's stoplight whereupon a car load of college boys got out of their car, ran up to the car in front of them (which was directly behind me), dropped trou, and began humping the car enthusiastically.

Not only did *I* have the misfortune of witnessing the debacle, so did a bus full of elementary school students.

If one thinks LE doesn't have its' antennae up is a 100% certifiable dolt.

Yup. Can you say "roadblocks?" Now, say it a gazillion times. Depending on how much breath your lungs can hold, you may have been able to say the word as many times as existing roadblocks.

On the other hand, between sales taxes and fines, it's an excellent way of raising revenue despite the public safety implications and the ability for LE to protect residents like you.

Did you hear about the riot (literally, a RIOT) we had here last year? Or how about the lovely viral video of the woman assaulting the workers at a Burger King restaurant?

What kills me is that I'm sure (from talking to those who send their kids down here online) the parents fully expect that Junior and Daughter are such wonderful kids (which they likely are) that they will be able to restrain themselves from the endless supply of alcohol, drugs, bath salts, sex, and foolishness. And then, their child ends up doing a header off a 5th story balcony into eternity and they are faced with the choices of a pine or mahogany coffin.

Again, frightening. :/

Sorry, just needed to vent. This year's SB isn't even a memory yet.

 

[DrazyHaze]

I cant afford to pay another attorney again, i havent even paid off the last attorney for his sisters's mistake.

He might have to take whatever they give him. We live in Georgia, so can they send him.to juvie in Florida or would it be here?


Scary situation, i dont want my sons life ruined on this one.

 

[dmcc10880]

Boys will be boys? Ugh! America's future leaders. Hmmmm.

Just saw the video. Looked (and sounded) like feeding time at the primates exhibit at (insert zoo name here).

It would be interesting to see the stats on how many people arrested are NOT college students, but collateral damage by fools who think it's the redneck riviera.

Hang in there. It'll all be sleepy and quiet by the end of the month when the kids and collateral accompaniment along with the snow birdies go home.

 

[dmcc10880]

I cant afford to pay another attorney again, i havent even paid off the last attorney for his sisters's mistake.

He might have to take whatever they give him. We live in Georgia, so can they send him.to juvie in Florida or would it be here?


Scary situation, i dont want my sons life ruined on this one.

Scary is right. Without an attorney, his life may not be ruined, but he'll be starting out in a nice hole.

Have junior get a job and work out a payment plan with a lawyer. He'll probably need to pay the fine, drug programs, etc. with or without jail.

Sure got a couple of shining stars there! You must be proud.

And yes, Juvenile Detention likely in Bay County. Once he's 18, he will likely go where the big boys are.