Fort Lauderdale Criminal Attorney Blog
Fort Lauderdale is built for a good time. The beach is walkable, the nightlife is packed, and you can go from poolside to rooftop to late night tacos without ever moving your car. That convenience is also why visitors get arrested here so often. A quick weekend can turn into a booking number when alcohol, crowds, rideshares, and unfamiliar rules collide.
Arrests involving tourists tend to cluster around the same high traffic places: Fort Lauderdale Beach and A1A, Las Olas Boulevard and Las Olas Beach, Himmarshee Village and the bars near the Riverwalk, and popular shopping and restaurant areas like The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. If you are visiting and you get charged, the case is still real life. You may have a flight home, a job that runs background checks, professional licensing concerns, or immigration issues. The court does not pause your case because you are from out of town.
Why Tourist Arrests Happen In The Same Few Areas
Fort Lauderdale’s “tourist footprint” is predictable. People bounce between the beach, nightlife, and the Riverwalk corridor, typically on foot or via rideshare. Most visitor arrests are not preplanned crimes. They are fast, messy situations: a loud argument outside a bar, a wrong turn into a hotel’s restricted area, a pocket sized vape or pill bottle that is not legally yours in Florida, or a decision to drive “just a few blocks” after drinks.
Officers also know where the calls come from. High density areas generate more 911 calls, more security reports, and more eyes on everything. If you are in a crowded nightlife zone, it takes very little for a misunderstanding to become an arrest.
DUI, And Why Beach Weekends Make It Worse
DUI after drinks on Las Olas or A1A
DUI is one of the most common visitor charges, especially after nights on Las Olas Boulevard, along A1A near Fort Lauderdale Beach, or after events around the Riverwalk. Under Florida law, DUI is generally charged under Florida Statute 316.193 when the state alleges you drove or were in actual physical control of a vehicle while impaired, or with an unlawful breath or blood alcohol level.
Tourists get caught in a few predictable ways. Some assume a short drive is safer than waiting for a rideshare surge. Others think sleeping in the car is a loophole. Florida cases can still involve “actual physical control,” depending on the facts. DUI is also one of the fastest ways to create travel problems, because you may be required to appear in court, comply with license restrictions, and handle conditions that do not fit neatly into a return flight home.
BUI on the Intracoastal and sandbar days
Fort Lauderdale is a boating city. If your trip includes a boat day on the Intracoastal Waterway, a party pontoon, or a sandbar stop, you also need to know about BUI. Boating Under the Influence is commonly charged under Florida Statute 327.35. Visitors are often surprised that boating enforcement can be aggressive and that the consequences can mirror a DUI case in important ways.
Disorderly Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct
Disorderly intoxication
In Florida, “disorderly intoxication” is often charged under Florida Statute 856.011. This is the classic tourist arrest that begins with someone being drunk in public and escalates when the person is loud, unsteady, or causing a scene outside a bar or hotel. Fort Lauderdale Beach, Himmarshee Village, and the bar heavy blocks near the Riverwalk are common settings for these cases.
Many people believe they can talk their way out of this charge. The better move is to stay calm and stop adding facts to the report. The narrative usually matters more than visitors realize, especially when the police report claims you were endangering yourself or others.
Disorderly conduct
Florida’s disorderly conduct statute is Florida Statute 877.03. This charge can show up when a situation draws a crowd, becomes confrontational, or involves allegations of fighting words, yelling, or refusing to disperse. Tourists often get charged with disorderly conduct when the underlying issue is really alcohol and the environment, not a genuine intent to cause trouble.
Drug Possession
Marijuana, edibles, and vape pens
Florida’s drug laws do not work like the laws in every other state, and tourists get burned by assumptions. Simple possession charges are commonly filed under Florida Statute 893.13. Even when someone says, “It’s legal where I live,” that does not resolve what Florida law allows, what is prohibited, and what is treated as contraband.
Another common tourist scenario is the shared rental house or hotel room. Someone leaves something behind, and the wrong person ends up holding the bag when police arrive after a noise complaint or a separate incident. Possession cases can turn on knowledge, control, and proximity, which means the details matter.
Prescription pills without the right container
Visitors also get arrested for controlled substances that were not in a proper prescription container, or for medication that is not prescribed to them. Even if you believe you have a harmless explanation, it is smart to treat that moment as a legal situation, not a conversation.
Trespass At Hotels, Clubs, And Beach Access Points
Trespass charges are extremely common for tourists because the boundaries are not obvious. You might follow a crowd through a “residents only” gate, reenter a nightclub after being told you are cut off, or wander into a hotel pool area because it looks like public space.
In Florida, trespass in a structure or conveyance is often charged under Florida Statute 810.08. Trespass on property is often charged under Florida Statute 810.09. These cases can look small until you realize the consequences: a criminal record, conditions of release, and in some situations, an immediate ban from a property or venue you already paid to access.
Battery Charges Arising From Nightlife Altercations
Battery is one of the most common charges filed against tourists in Fort Lauderdale, especially in crowded nightlife areas such as Las Olas Boulevard, Himmarshee Village, and the Riverwalk bar district. Under Florida Statute 784.03, a person can be charged with battery for intentionally touching or striking another individual, even when no serious injury occurs. Visitors are often surprised to learn that what felt like a reflexive shove, an attempt to regain balance, or a heated reaction to a spill can meet the legal definition of battery when alcohol and close quarters are involved.
These cases escalate quickly because police officers responding to bar disturbances are often forced to make decisions with limited context. Surveillance footage may capture only a brief moment of contact without showing the verbal exchanges or repeated provocation that led up to it. Even when both parties are intoxicated and arguing, law enforcement frequently arrests one individual to restore order. For tourists, this can be especially frustrating, as mutual involvement does not prevent charges, and the legal consequences follow them home long after the night ends.
Resisting And Obstruction Charges During Police Encounters
Resisting without violence, charged under Florida Statute 843.02, and resisting with violence, charged under Florida Statute 843.01, are among the most misunderstood offenses tourists face. These charges often arise during late night encounters when visitors are tired, intoxicated, or confused about why they are being detained. What feels like a reasonable request for explanation can quickly escalate when officers interpret hesitation, questioning, or delayed compliance as interference.
Many resisting arrests stem from instinctive reactions rather than intentional defiance. Pulling an arm away during handcuffing, stepping back instead of forward, or failing to immediately follow shouted commands can all be framed as resistance in a police report. In court, the focus shifts away from how justified the individual felt in the moment and toward whether the officer was lawfully performing their duties and whether the defendant’s actions impeded that process. For tourists, resisting charges can significantly increase the seriousness of an otherwise minor case.
Theft And Shoplifting Arrests In Tourist Shopping Areas
Theft charges frequently involve visitors shopping in high traffic areas such as The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, beachside stores, and retail centers near major hotels. Petit theft is commonly charged under Florida Statute 812.014 and can be filed even when the item involved is inexpensive. Tourists often claim the incident was a mistake, caused by distractions like holding multiple items, managing children, or being rushed. While these explanations may be sincere, they do not automatically prevent an arrest or prosecution.
Retailers in Fort Lauderdale take theft allegations seriously and often rely on detailed surveillance footage and loss prevention reports to support criminal charges. Once law enforcement becomes involved, the store’s documentation typically drives the case forward. Visitors are often caught off guard by how quickly a minor incident turns into a criminal matter with lasting consequences. A theft conviction can affect employment, professional licensing, and future travel, making early legal guidance especially important for out of state defendants.
Weapons Charges And Vacation Carry Misunderstandings
Florida firearms law is not a “do whatever you want” system, and tourists get into trouble when they travel with a weapon, store it incorrectly in a vehicle, or carry it into places where it is prohibited. Carrying a concealed weapon is commonly charged under Florida Statute 790.01. Even when someone believes they are lawfully carrying, the surrounding facts matter: where it was, how it was carried, and what law enforcement believes you were doing at the time.
Prostitution Related Arrests And Undercover Stings
Visitors also get arrested in prostitution related investigations, including solicitation. These cases are commonly charged under Florida Statute 796.07. Beyond the criminal penalties, they can be devastating personally and professionally, especially when the arrest becomes public or when someone’s employer finds out.
What To Do If You Are Arrested While Visiting Fort Lauderdale
If you are arrested, your first priority is to stop the damage from spreading. Do not try to “explain” your way out of it after you are detained. Do not consent to searches you do not have to consent to. Do not text friends a play by play that can be screenshotted later. Get counsel involved early, because timing matters in criminal cases, especially for DUI investigations, surveillance video, and witness preservation.
The Ansara Law Firm emphasizes close client communication and aggressive representation for people accused of crimes in South Florida, including Broward County. That matters for tourists, because you often need a plan that addresses two realities at once: the court process in Fort Lauderdale and your life back home.
Why Visitors Hire The Ansara Law Firm
Richard Ansara is a South Florida native who earned his undergraduate degree at Florida Atlantic University and graduated with honors from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law School. He also served in the Fort Lauderdale Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of the State Attorney in Broward County, experience that can be valuable when a defense strategy depends on understanding how the other side evaluates cases and decides what to file.
He has been recognized by the Broward County Association of Criminal Attorneys with the “Hat Trick Award” for three consecutive not guilty verdicts, an accomplishment that reflects real trial results, not just marketing language. The firm also notes that it offers free consultations and that prospective clients can call or text 24/7, which can be crucial when you are trying to make decisions quickly from out of state.
The Bottom Line For Tourists
Fort Lauderdale is fun, but the legal system is not. Most tourist arrests come from a handful of predictable choices and misunderstandings, and they concentrate in the same high energy areas: the beach, Las Olas, Himmarshee, and the Riverwalk corridor. If you are charged, treat it like a real case from the start. A quick, informed response can be the difference between a resolved Florida incident and a long term problem that follows you home.
If you or someone you are traveling with has been arrested while visiting Fort Lauderdale, speak with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The Ansara Law Firm represents tourists and out of state visitors who need immediate guidance, clear communication, and a strategy that works around travel schedules and return dates. Early intervention can protect your record, your freedom, and your ability to move forward once your vacation ends. Contact The Ansara Law Firm to discuss your case and take the first step toward resolving the charges efficiently and intelligently.
