Notice to Appear

When most people think of an arrest, they think of cops slapping on handcuffs and taking someone away in the back of a cop car.

This isn’t always the case, though.

If you’ve received a criminal Notice to Appear (NTA) in Florida, it’s the equivalent of an arrest. While many men and women mistake these documents for a minor citation; they are quite serious.

Flynn Law is a Manatee County criminal defense team that has experience in all manner of criminal offenses. If you’re facing a possible conviction for a crime – don’t you want the best defense protecting your rights?

An NTA is no laughing matter; let us help win your case.

So, you’ve been given an NTA– why?

Florida Criminal Procedure rule 3.125 defines an NTA as:

“a written order issued by a law enforcement officer in lieu of physical arrest requiring a person accused of violating the law to appear in a designated court or governmental office at a specified date and time.”

Police commonly issue them in the event of minor crimes or first-time offenses. For example, if you’re caught drinking on a public beach, a cop would probably issue an NTA, rather than arrest you.

Our team of criminal defense attorneys at Flynn Law is here to tell you, though; the decision to arrest or not arrest primarily comes down to the officer’s discretion.

If, for instance, one of the following describes a person at the time of the offense, the option of an NTA might not be available to them:

• You have multiple offenses on record.
• You are uncooperative or insolent.
• You are not from the local area.

Upon receiving an NTA, you will receive a scheduled court appearance date.

On the date of your appearance, you will sit in front of a county judge where he or she will present the state’s case against you. You will have the opportunity to take a settlement and end the proceedings right then. Without an attorney present, however, this is not advisable.

After the court appearance has concluded, your case will move through the criminal process, in the same manner, it would if you were physically arrested.

While you are not legally required to hire a criminal defense lawyer in Manatee County, it is in your best interest to do so.

The Florida criminal process can be overwhelming. Without a thorough understanding of your rights and criminal law, it’s unlikely you’d be able to defend your case to the best possible extent.

Our team at Flynn Law knows how the State Attorney’s Office works. We know the ins and outs of the criminal legal system that will provide the most benefit to you. Don’t leave your case to chance – hire our team to plead your case.

If you’re ready to get started, we’d love to offer you a free consultation. Just call 941-800-1140 to get started.