Panama City Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer
An arrest in Panama City Beach is prosecuted in Bay County and heard at the courthouse in Panama City.
Arrested in Panama City Beach?
The Beach is its own city with its own police department, and enforcement there runs on a season. Spring and summer bring a visible presence on Front Beach Road and around Pier Park, and a lot of the people arrested are visitors who have to answer a Florida charge from another state.
Who makes the arrest, and where the case goes
An arrest in Panama City Beach is usually made by the Panama City Beach Police Department, with the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol on the highways. Traffic stops happen on Front Beach Road, Thomas Drive, Back Beach Road and the Hathaway Bridge. Wherever the stop was, the charge is filed in Bay County and heard at the courthouse in Panama City, in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
The part most people get wrong
If you were arrested at the Beach and you live somewhere else, you usually do not have to fly back for every court date. An attorney can appear for you on many hearings, and that is worth asking about before you book anything.
What happens in the first 24 hours
First appearance is usually the morning after the arrest, and bond is set there. Between now and then, the two useful things you can do are to stay silent about the facts and to get an attorney involved. Early intervention may result in charges never being filed, or dismissed entirely.
Charges we defend for Panama City Beach clients
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Crimes
- DUI
- Drug DUI
- Felony DUI
- Underage DUI
- BUI
- Cyber Crimes
- Misdemeanors
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The sooner you call, the sooner we can get to work
Early intervention may result in charges never being filed or dismissed entirely. The first consultation is free and the phone is answered 24 hours.