Florida Injury Lawyer & Attorney : LaBovick & LaBovick Law Firm: Serving West Palm, Boynton, North Palm, West Palm Beach, Jupiter

Florida's budget crisis is now coming to the Courts. In light of recent budget shortfalls, the Florida Legislature has increased court fees, which is expected to generate approximately $121 million additional revenue for the state.  Governor Charlie Crist, recently signed  CS/SB 1790, a bill that increases over 140 court-related fees, effective
July 1, 2008.

It is important to note that the Florida Legislature regulates court fees and not local officials. The Court fees have not been adjusted since 2004. The list includes Traffic Court Information such as Speeding Ticket fines. If you are always in a hurry and get a lot of speeding tickets, it will cost you a lot more for speeding.  Driving 20 miles over the Speed Limit will cost you at least 231 and driving 30 miles over the Speed Limit will cost you $331. Ouch... That is a $100 difference between 10 miles.  Be wise and don't Speed.

If you take the Florida Turnpike or other Toll Highways and fail to pay the toll, it will now cost you $181, plus the toll amount.  Keep your Sunpass Transponder updated and fully loaded.  Otherwise, the Florida Turnpike and our Toll Highways will start to become just as painful as it is to fill up your pump.  Be Wise, keep change in your car and keep your Sunpass funded. The auto-replenishment method, is starting to sound like a bargain.

 Click on the following link to view a list of the new court fees. 

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Yesterday, Florida's no-fault insurance law, PIP, passed phase I in a special legislative session that ends next Friday. The talks continue today as to whether or not revive the mandatory Personal Injury Protection automobile coverage for Florida drivers.

The House Insurance committee endorsed reviving PIP with the implementation of anti-fraud measures. The anti-fraud measures suggested Cap payouts to medical-care providers to a fee schedule and limits the providers to specific doctors and health clinics.

The Bill has an uphill battle in the Senate, where it has a 50-50 chance of passing according to Ellyn Bogandoff, (R) Ft. Lauderdale.

All eyes are on Tallahassee during this Special budget cutting session, which is scheduled to end next Friday. Our valiant Governor Charlie Crist, has made restoring PIP law a priority in this session.

Let's hope our Legislators come to an agreement that works best for the public and clamps down on fraud.

Click here to read more on the PIP debate from the Business Review, Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach Post

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The People's Governor, Charlie Crist, continues to live up to his moniker.  He is making Florida a better place to live and work by signing legislation that helps save lives. Governor Crist recently signed Senate Bill 1822 into law. This bill seeks to end preventable carbon monoxide poisoning by requiring detectors in public lodging establishments and new construction in Florida. A bi-partisan effort, Senate Bill 1822, was sponsored by Senator Rudy Garcia, Senator Charlie Justice, Representative Eddy Gonzales, and Representative Ron Saunders. 

 The Bill seeks to prevent an estimated 100 deaths each year that are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning in Florida. Carbon monoxide is a gas that is odorless, colorless and tasteless and can build up rapidly without notice and lead to serious injury and even death. It has been estimated that in the United States more than 40,000 people seek medical attention each year for non-fire related carbon monoxide poisoning. Although considered the most preventable of all types of poisonings, more then 500 lives are lost each year by carbon monoxide in the United States alone.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of  groups such as Florida Justice Association and Past FJA Presidents Ira Leesfield and Greg Barnhart, this bill was passed with the hopes of preventing future tragedies to others. It is great to have a Governor like Charlie Crist on the side of Floridians. Charlie Crist is truly one of the best Florida Governors of all time. We support you Charlie Crist. 

Click here to read more from the Florida Justice Association on Senate Bill 1822.

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Florida is getting tough on people charged with DUI. Governor Charlie Christ signed Florida  House Bill 359, an act that raises the amount of financial responsibility required for persons guilty of DUI. This bill was supported by the Florida Justice Association (FJA) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in an effort to improve public safety legislation.

The House Bill 359, a bi-partisan effort sponsored by Senator Dennis Jones (R-Seminole) and Representative Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg), requires those with a history of driving under the influence to carry bodily injury (BI) coverage in the amount of $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per incident and $50,000 in property damage).

According to NHTSA, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving accident related deaths nationwide were 25,052, out of 59,104 involved in fatal crashes, this represents 42 percent of the total for 2005. In Florida, the total was 3,543 traffic fatalities.

Celebrity DUI arrests and charges have been all over the news of late. A few known celebrities in the news regarding DUI include: Lindsay Lohan (car chase), Nicole Richie (driving the wrong way),  Al Gore III (pills and speeding) Shemar Moore, formerly of the Young Restless.  Thankfully these celebrities did not kill anyone while driving(some allegedly) driving under the influence. They just managed to shatter their stellar reputations and set a bad example for the people that look up to them. Such a bad example for society. Drinking driving is a serious issue, it would be nice to see these stars use their celebrity and fame to promote how important it is "not to drink and drive" while intoxicated. Hopefully they will learn from their mistakes and try to turn it into a positve.

Our very own Esther Uria LaBovick   understands the prosecution of DUI criminals and the impact they make on society. While she was an Assistant State Attorney, working under Janet Reno, she was in a special program that prosecuted DUI drivers.  She heard countless testimonies of people trying to justify why they should not be charged or sent to jail. Unfortunately, she also had to see the other side of the lives that were shattered  because of the deaths that the drunk drivers caused.

Word to the wise: Drink and Drive Responsibly in Florida, or you will pay for it in addition to serving time. Spread the word: Do not drive while intoxicated. This message will help save lives.

The LaBovick Injury Law Blog is presented as a service of the Private Law Firm, LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A., Civil Justice Prosecutors. 

 

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