MIAMI, FL — County commissioners in Florida’s largest county voted Tuesday to allow police the option of issuing a civil violation instead of arresting an offender caught possessing small amounts of marijuana.On a vote of 10-3, Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved the measure, which will give police officers the option of issuing a $100 civil violation to offenders caught possessing 20 grams or less of marijuana, essentially treating the marijuana possession as they do other minor offenses such as littering or loitering. Those offenders who can not afford to pay the $100 fine can elect to provide two days of community service instead.Supporters of the ordinance said the new approach to handling minor marijuana possession offenses will free up police resources while keeping offenders out of the criminal system.“We have better things to do with our police resources,” said Commissioner Sally Heyman, who sponsored the ordinance. “For goodness’ sakes, we don’t have to destroy the lives of so many.”Under Florida law, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and fines up to $1,000.Police would still be allowed to place an offender under arrest under state law at their discretion. Supporters say this would most likely be the case for people caught smoking marijuana in public, in a vehicle, or if it seems that they are selling marijuana.Supporters of the measure say that currently, police have two choices: arrest an offender, or let them go.“Right now, it’s let go completely or arrest,” explains Heyman. “This will give a middle alternative.”Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez endorsed the legislation Tuesday, calling it “good, common sense.”The police department that answers to Gimenez helped draft the ordinance.The proposal to reduce marijuana penalties in Miami-Dade is part of a larger proposal to rewrite the county’s criminal codes and create the option of civil fines for six other minor offenses, including loitering, shopping-cart theft, littering and possession of drug paraphernalia.The ordinance takes effect in 10 days, and applies to all cities in Miami-Dade County as well, including Miami, Miami Beach, and Homestead.With a population of nearly 2.5 million, Miami-Dade County is the most populated county in Florida.
Quote from: 🍄Tryptameme🍄 on July 01, 2015, 12:38:01 PMhey fuck you guys this is big newsNot when you can a hundred dollar fine and/or be arrested depending on the officer. This is nothing interesting.
hey fuck you guys this is big news
To my understanding, you can still have a criminal record for a fine, right?
I still don't care for the legalization, but it's nice to see you wont get a year in jail for something so small.Good job Miami Hala Miami y nada mas
Quote from: 🍄Tryptameme🍄 on July 01, 2015, 02:50:06 PMQuote from: challengerX on July 01, 2015, 01:59:18 PMQuote from: 🍄Tryptameme🍄 on July 01, 2015, 12:38:01 PMhey fuck you guys this is big newsNot when you can a hundred dollar fine and/or be arrested depending on the officer. This is nothing interesting.This is definitely interesting, considering the state of Florida is one of the most collectively conservative in the country. Once more counties get on board with this it'll become a state-wide issue.Too bad nothingn has changed with this at all. QuotePlus, I don't know about you, but If I ever got caught possessing cannabis by an officer, I'd take the fine over a misdemeanor that will fuck up my record any day of the week.QuotePolice would still be allowed to place an offender under arrest under state law at their discretion.Do you even read the shit you post.
Quote from: challengerX on July 01, 2015, 01:59:18 PMQuote from: 🍄Tryptameme🍄 on July 01, 2015, 12:38:01 PMhey fuck you guys this is big newsNot when you can a hundred dollar fine and/or be arrested depending on the officer. This is nothing interesting.This is definitely interesting, considering the state of Florida is one of the most collectively conservative in the country. Once more counties get on board with this it'll become a state-wide issue.
Plus, I don't know about you, but If I ever got caught possessing cannabis by an officer, I'd take the fine over a misdemeanor that will fuck up my record any day of the week.
Police would still be allowed to place an offender under arrest under state law at their discretion.
Quote from: 🍄Tryptameme🍄 on July 01, 2015, 03:08:24 PMat their discretionYes. That was my whole fucking point. You were saying "I'd rather" wine it isn't up to you. It's up to the cop. QuoteUnless all officers want to just completely disregard this and continue to arrest every single person they catch possessing under 20 grams, which isn't the case.And why is that? Arrests are good. They make money off of that. QuoteWhat would warrant an arrest are acts like smoking in public, smoking while driving, and being proven to have intention to sell. Other than that, there's no reason why an officer would arrest somebody or slap them with a misdemeanor like they used to.Except for the fact that this law would make people more relaxed and more prone to being arrested. It's what happen in California. The DEA shuts down legal dispensaries every week. People get arrested for having a small amount of weed all the time still. QuoteI mean, it's even explicitly stated that the goal of this was to free up police resources so that they can focus more on actual criminals.And yet if we look at other states, this isn't the case.
at their discretion
Unless all officers want to just completely disregard this and continue to arrest every single person they catch possessing under 20 grams, which isn't the case.
What would warrant an arrest are acts like smoking in public, smoking while driving, and being proven to have intention to sell. Other than that, there's no reason why an officer would arrest somebody or slap them with a misdemeanor like they used to.
I mean, it's even explicitly stated that the goal of this was to free up police resources so that they can focus more on actual criminals.
Miami-dade county becomes first in Florida to decriminalize cannabis
