Pumphrey Law Criminal Defense Florida Panhandle Arrests Airport Arrests

Airport Arrests

Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) is considered one of the major airports in Northern Florida, as it serves not only several counties in the Florida Panhandle region but also many counties in Southern Georgia. Just like most every airport in the United States, security is a primary concern that is taken very seriously at Tallahassee International Airport.

Most people who are arrested at the airport had no criminal intent. Oftentimes, criminal charges are the result of simple misunderstandings or mental lapses made while packing and trying to arrive in time to board flights.

Regardless of however honest a person’s intentions may have been, any arrest at Tallahassee International Airport still needs to be taken seriously. Even arrests for seemingly minor matters can have extraordinary consequences if they are not properly handled.

Lawyer for Airport Arrests in Tallahassee, FL

Were you or your loved one arrested at Tallahassee International Airport? Even if you live in a different state, it is still in your best interest to seek the help of local legal representation from Pumphrey Law.

Our criminal defense attorneys in Tallahassee handle all kinds of criminal charges stemming from airport arrests, and we can make court appearances on behalf of clients in other states who are otherwise unable to make return visits to Leon County. We can evaluate your case when you call (850) 681-7777 for a free, confidential consultation.

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Overview of Airport Arrests in Leon County

• Which kinds of crimes are people arrested for at Tallahassee International Airport?
• Can people be charged with carrying concealed firearms if they had valid licenses?
• How does a notice to appear work?
• Where can I find more information about airport security?

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Types of Airport Arrests in Florida

While airports are not viewed as being the types of places in which criminal activity takes place, the same state and federal laws enforced outside Tallahassee International Airport can also be enforced within the premises. Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) are authorized to place anybody under arrest for a violation of the law or any act threatens security.

A few of the most common alleged offenses that result in arrests at the airport include, but are not limited to:

• Assault;
• Battery;
• Disorderly conduct;
• Carrying a concealed weapon;
• Criminal trespass;
• Driving under the influence (DUI) on airport property;
• Felony possession of marijuana;
• Simple possession of marijuana;
• Petit theft;
• Possession of a controlled substance;
• Resisting an officer with violence;
• Resisting an officer without violence (ROWOV); or
• Retail theft (shoplifting).

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Firearm Offenses at Tallahassee International Airport

One of the most common arrests at the airport concerns travelers who either were not aware they were prohibited from carrying or forgot they had a concealed firearm or some other type of contraband on their person when they entered a secure area of the airport. Florida Statute § 790.06(12)(a)14 states that even Floridians with valid concealed weapons licenses are not authorized to carry concealed weapons or firearms to the inside of the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport.

Rifle scopes are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage, but the TSA prohibits all other firearms in carry-on baggage. Flares, gun lights, and gunpowder (including black powder and percussion caps) are prohibited from being in checked baggage.

The TSA does allow certain types of firearms to be checked, and travelers are expected to declare each firearm being checked. Some of the firearms and ammunition that may be checked includes:

• Ammunition (travelers should check with their airlines to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage, and small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or another packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition);
• BB guns;
• Compressed air guns (including paintball markers, without compressed air cylinder attached);
• Firearms (must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in);
• Firearm magazines and ammunition clips (whether loaded or empty, must be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm);
• Firearm parts (including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins);
• Flare guns (must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, within hazardous material regulations, and declared to the airline at check-in);
• Parts of guns and firearms;
• Pellet guns;
• Realistic replicas of firearms (including firearm replicas that are toys); and
• Starter pistols (must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in).

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Formal Arrests vs. Notices to Appear in Leon County

Not all alleged offenders arrested at Tallahassee International Airport are taken into custody. Certain misdemeanor offenses may result in an officer issuing a notice to appear.

Notices to appear look very similar to a common traffic ticket, which often leads to people visiting Florida from other states to believe that their encounters with law enforcement can simply be resolved by paying a fine through the mail. The truth, however, is that a notice to appear should not be dismissed as it lists a court date at which an alleged offender is expected to be in attendance to answer the charges on the notice.

For people who live in other states, the prospect of booking a return flight, hotel, and car rental can be expensive and tremendously inconvenient. Failure to appear in court though can result in a judge issuing a warrant for an alleged offender’s arrest, potentially making an arrest over a minor matter something much more serious.

It is important to understand that a local lawyer can often appear on behalf of out-of-state clients in these types of cases. An attorney can usually argue to have criminal charges reduced or dismissed and prevent an alleged offender from having to make any future court appearances.

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Florida Resources for Airport Arrests

• Tallahassee International Airport
  Visit the official website of Tallahassee International Airport for all kinds of visitor information. The Security section covers checked bags and passenger checkpoints as well as providing additional travel tips. You can also find facts and figures about the airport and sign up to receive news releases.

  Tallahassee International Airport
  3300 Capital Circle Southwest
  Tallahassee FL 32310
  (850) 891-7800

• Prohibited Items | Transportation Security Administration
  Learn what items the TSA allows in carry-on and checked baggage. Sortable categories include explosives/flammable, firearms, food, self-defense, sharp objects, sporting goods, and tools. You can also learn more about special procedures, find travel tips, and read answers to frequently asked questions.

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Find a Lawyer for Airport Arrests in Tallahassee, Florida

If you or your loved one were arrested for at Tallahassee International Airport, you will want to immediately retain legal counsel. Pumphrey Law aggressively defends travelers all over Northern Florida as well as tourists from other states or countries.

Our criminal defense attorneys in Tallahassee understand the many ways an arrest during a vacation or business trip can disrupt the life of a normal person, which is why we work tirelessly to achieve the most favorable outcomes to these cases. Call (850) 681-7777 or submit an online contact form to have our lawyers review your case during a free consultation.