Florida welcomes millions of visitors every year for beaches, boating, nightlife, and theme parks. But for some tourists, that dream vacation ends with flashing lights and handcuffs when they're arrested on vacation in Florida. Whether it’s a DUI in Palm Beach, a misdemeanor in Broward, or a felony arrest in Miami-Dade, being charged with a crime in a state where you don’t live can quickly spiral into a legal nightmare.

If you’ve been arrested while visiting Florida, you’re likely asking:

  • Can I go home?

  • Do I have to keep flying back for court?

  • What happens if I just ignore it?

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At The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, P.A., we help out-of-state defendants protect their rights, minimize travel, and resolve Florida criminal cases efficiently, often without ever having to come back.

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The Hidden Challenges of Being Arrested on Vacation in Florida

Getting arrested while visiting Florida creates problems locals never face. Once you’re charged here, you’re in the Florida court system, and that means you must follow Florida rules.

Common challenges include:

  • Multiple required court appearances, sometimes months apart

  • Travel costs for flights, hotels, and missed work

  • Employment issues when repeated absences raise red flags

  • Family stress from financial and emotional strain

  • Isolation and anxiety, being far from your support system

Without the right legal help, what started as a weekend mistake can turn into a year-long legal disaster.

Bond Restrictions That Could Keep You Stuck in Florida

Under Florida Statute § 903.047, judges can impose travel restrictions as a condition of your bond. That means you could be barred from leaving Florida until your case is resolved.

Judges often worry that out-of-state defendants will return home and never come back. They may order:

  • Surrender of your passport

  • Stay-in-Florida restrictions

  • Supervised release (SOR) in counties like Palm Beach

  • Random drug testing or check-ins

Violating these conditions, even accidentally, can lead to a warrant or your bond being revoked.

The good news? These restrictions are not always set in stone.

An experienced Florida criminal defense attorney can often modify or lift them by proving you have strong ties to your home state and are committed to resolving your case responsibly.

man arrested on vacation in Florida

You Still Have Rights—Even If You Live in Another State

Florida law allows many parts of your case to be handled remotely.

Since 2020, most South Florida courts, including those in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties, have embraced Zoom hearings and remote appearances.

Depending on your judge and the type of hearing, your lawyer may:

  • Appear on your behalf via a waiver of presence

  • Handle pretrial conferences and status hearings online

  • File motions and negotiate with prosecutors remotely

However, certain hearings—such as trials, motion to suppress hearings, or evidentiary hearings, may still require in-person attendance under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.180(d).

A skilled attorney will know when and how to request remote appearances to save you unnecessary trips back to Florida.

The Biggest Mistakes Out-of-State Defendants Make

1. Ignoring the Case

Thinking “I live in Oregon, Florida won’t come get me” is a major mistake.

A warrant will be issued, and you can be detained in your home state while Florida decides whether to extradite you. Even decades later, that old warrant can ruin your next Florida trip. We’ve seen people detained by Customs over 40-year-old warrants.

2. Representing Yourself

The prosecutor isn’t going to cut you a break because you’re confused or from out of town. Handling a criminal case without an attorney often leads to costly mistakes and unintended convictions that could have been avoided.

3. Taking the First Plea Offer

Many tourists plead guilty at first appearance just to catch a flight home.

But even a “minor” plea can have serious long-term consequences, including:

  • A permanent criminal record

  • Loss of professional licenses

  • Damage to your reputation

  • Ineligibility for sealing or expungement

Convictions on crimes involving moral turpitude, like petty theft, can never be removed from your record.

How to Resolve Your Florida Case from Home

If you’ve already returned home, don’t panic, there are options.
Here’s how we help clients across the country resolve their Florida cases:

  1. Hire an experienced Florida criminal defense attorney. We routinely represent out-of-state defendants in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties.

  2. Explore pretrial diversion programs. First-time offenders may qualify for programs that can dismiss charges once completed, often with tasks that can be done from your home state.

  3. Seek a “withhold of adjudication.” This can prevent a conviction from being entered on your record.

  4. Ask about a “plea in absentia.” In some cases, you can resolve your case without returning to Florida by signing and notarizing paperwork remotely.

  5. Stay proactive. Complete any required courses (such as DUI school or theft abatement) in your home state and stay in contact with your attorney.

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Avoid the “Vacation to Probation” Trap

Don’t let a Florida arrest follow you home.

With the right legal strategy, you can often resolve your case, protect your record, and move on with your life after being arrested on vacation in Florida—without unnecessary travel or long-term damage.

Here’s what to do now:

We defend out-of-state clients in:
Palm Beach County | Broward County | Miami-Dade County | St. Lucie County | Martin County

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