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Criminal law news for Miami-Dade and South Florida

New Florida laws, court rulings and local enforcement changes, explained for the people who are facing them.

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Prison corridor with rows of cell doors seen through metal bars

Immigration Arrested in Miami-Dade Without Legal Status: ICE Holds at the Jail

Miami-Dade jails honor ICE detainers and hold inmates up to 48 hours past release. How the county's 287(g) agreements work and what to do at booking.

November 13, 2026

Police car light bar flashing red and blue on a city street at night

Policing Can You Resist an Unlawful Arrest in Florida? Not After the Raynor Act

Since June 16, 2026, Florida law bars using force to resist any arrest by an officer acting in good faith, even one a court later rules unlawful.

November 13, 2026

Solar-powered license plate reader camera mounted on a pole

Policing Flock Plate Readers in Miami-Dade: What the 2026 State Order Changed

Florida revoked plate reader permits on state roads Aug. 31, 2026, and the Miami-Dade Sheriff suspended its program. City cameras still run. What it means.

November 13, 2026

The Miami-Dade County Courthouse tower in downtown Miami

Courts and bond Florida Bond Schedule 2026: Who Can Bond Out of Jail Before Bond Court

Florida's 2026 statewide bond schedule sets jail release amounts from $150 to $5,000 before first appearance and lists who must wait for a judge.

November 13, 2026

Loose white pills scattered on a blue surface

Drug laws Florida Xylazine (Tranq) Penalties 2026 and Fentanyl Test Strip Law

Since October 1, 2026, 28 grams of xylazine means a 3-year mandatory minimum in Florida. Fentanyl test strips became legal July 1. Here are the numbers.

November 13, 2026

Front of the United States Supreme Court building

Juries and trials Florida's 6-Person Juries Go to the Supreme Court: What to Do Now

Florida still tries felonies to six jurors. The Supreme Court hears Kian v. Florida on January 13, 2027. Anyone with a pending felony should demand 12 now.

November 13, 2026

Handgun in a belt holster worn openly on a person's hip

Gun laws Is Open Carry Legal in Miami? Where You Can Still Be Arrested

Open carry is legal in Florida after McDaniels v. State, but guns stay banned in bars, schools and courthouses, and improper exhibition is still a crime.

November 13, 2026

Driver's view of the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys

DUI and traffic Isaiah's Law: No License Convictions Now Count as Habitual Offender

Since July 1, 2026, three no-valid-license convictions in five years make you a Florida habitual traffic offender: 5-year revocation, felony if you drive.

November 13, 2026

School zone speed limit 20 sign against a blue sky

DUI and traffic Miami-Dade School Zone Camera Ticket: How $100 Becomes a Suspension

An unpaid $100 school-zone camera notice in Miami-Dade becomes a citation after 30 days and can suspend your license. 34,000 so far. How to contest it.

November 13, 2026

Dimly lit prison corridor lined with barred cells

Courts and bond Missy's Law: Plead to a Dangerous Crime in Florida, Go to Jail Now

Since July 1, 2026, a guilty or no contest plea to a dangerous crime in Florida means immediate custody, no bond until sentencing, even with a withhold.

November 13, 2026

Police car light bar flashing red and blue at night

DUI and traffic Refusing a Breath Test in Florida Is Now a Crime: Trenton's Law

Since Oct. 1, 2025, a first breath test refusal in Florida is a misdemeanor: up to 60 days in jail plus a one-year license suspension. Miami-Dade details.

November 13, 2026

Empty wood-paneled courtroom with witness stand

Courts and bond Violating a No-Contact Order on Bond Is Now a Crime in Florida

Since October 1, 2026, breaking a no-contact order on bond for a violent charge is its own Florida crime: up to a year in jail, held until bond court.

November 13, 2026