Navigating Criminal Defense for Airport Arrests: What You Need to Know

If You Get Arrested at a South Florida Airport, What Do You Need to Know?

Let’s say you are placed under arrest at an airport in South Florida, and you are subsequently charged with a crime. If that happens, you must be represented by a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer, and you must reach out to that lawyer as quickly as possible after your arrest.

As a response to hijackings, terrorism, and drug trafficking, airports and law enforcement agencies throughout the United States now enforce a zero-tolerance policy regarding airport-related criminal activity. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is no exception.

What Are the Most Common Crimes at South Florida Airports?

Law enforcement officers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and other South Florida airports do not hesitate to issue citations and make arrests, especially for common airport-related offenses such as:

having prohibited items in carry-on luggage (the most common crime at airports)
drug trafficking
unlawful drug possession
assault
“unruly” behavior and disorderly conduct
attempting to use fraudulent travel documents

Prohibited items in carry-on luggage include but are not limited to guns, knives, baseball bats, box cutters, unlawful drugs, and flammable materials. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website provides an up-to-date list of prohibited carry-on items.

Who Enforces the Law at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International?

The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) is the primary agency providing Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport law enforcement services. The BSO works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to ensure airport passengers, visitors, and businesses have a secure, safe, pleasant environment.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office investigates criminal activity on airport property, patrols terminal buildings, provides traffic and parking enforcement, and helps travelers and motorists. The BSO deploys these units at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International:

a Criminal Investigations Unit
an Incident Containment Team
an Explosive Detection Canine Unit
a Motorcycle Unit

What to Expect During an Airport Arrest

An arrest at an airport can be quite frightening and confusing. Don’t panic. Be cooperative and polite to the officers, but insist on your constitutional rights. You may be arrested at a security checkpoint, a gate, or even on a plane if illegal items are found in your possession.

Law enforcement officers may search your person, luggage, or vehicle if they reasonably suspect you are engaging in an illegal activity. A customs arrest can happen if contraband items are found in your luggage or on your person during a re-entry search. Never give the police your verbal consent to a search.

If law enforcement officers arrest you, they will take you to an airport police holding area. After you have identified yourself, you have the right to remain silent. You can simply say, “I prefer not to answer questions before consulting my lawyer,” and then say nothing more.

Arrested at an Airport? What is the Most Important Thing to Remember?

Most importantly, if law enforcement officers place you under arrest at a South Florida airport, insist on your right to speak with a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney who can help you get released from custody.

Your defense lawyer will review the details of your arrest and the charge against you, and your lawyer will then develop a strategy for your legal defense. Whether you have been charged with a felony or a misdemeanor, a criminal conviction can have serious, long-term consequences.

If you are convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in South Florida, you could be fined, placed on probation, jailed or imprisoned, and you will establish a permanent criminal record that may show up for years to come in background checks for employment or housing.

Being arrested at an airport, even if the charge is later dismissed or you’re acquitted at trial, may also have a substantial impact on your future right to travel. You will receive increased scrutiny from airport security personnel, and in some cases, you may even be prevented from boarding.

How Will Your Attorney Help?

If law enforcement officers place you under arrest at any South Florida airport, it is essential to have an experienced criminal defense attorney working on your side and helping you navigate the legal process. How will a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer handle your case?

The police cannot search your person, luggage, or vehicle without probable cause. If the police conducted an unlawful search and seizure, or if you were wrongfully or improperly arrested, your defense attorney can insist that the charges against you should be reduced or dismissed.

If you were arrested at a South Florida airport, but you were unaware that you were violating the law, or if you had no criminal intent, your defense attorney will explain to the court exactly what happened and why you were arrested and charged. Your defense lawyer may:

ask the prosecution to drop the charge or charges
ask the court to dismiss the case
negotiate a plea arrangement that reduces the charge or charges and penalties, or
ask the jury to return a not-guilty verdict

Arrested at the Airport? Call George Reres Law

If law enforcement officers arrest you at a South Florida airport and charge you with a felony or misdemeanor, immediately call the award-winning team at George Reres Law. We will fight for the justice you need, protect your rights, and bring your case to its best possible resolution.

No matter what kind of crime you’ve been charged with, George Reres Law will work tirelessly to develop a strong defense on your behalf and win positive results.

A Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney at George Reres Law will work to have the charge or charges against you dropped or dismissed, negotiate a reasonable plea deal, or argue on your behalf at trial for a not-guilty verdict.

If you are charged with a crime – now or in the future – because of something that happened at a South Florida airport, contact George Reres Law as quickly as possible. Call our Fort Lauderdale offices at 954-543-1186 to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation. Hablamos Español.