Selling illegal drugs is a serious crime anywhere, but where a person chooses to make the sale can cause even bigger issues for his or her case. When authorities flag a drug deal at the wrong place, the dealer can run into more difficulties than he or she expected.
Anyone who is facing drug charges in Florida should understand why and how the state treats some areas differently than others when it comes to drug deals.
Why the government protects certain areas
When it comes to drug transactions, the public often considers who was nearby. For example, many people fear that if minors see a drug deal taking place, they might want to get involved in these transactions. There is also concern about places that tend to have more vulnerable adults, as well as places that are important to the community.
How the government protects certain areas
A person can face additional penalties for selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, child care facility, convenience business, place of worship, public housing facility or mental health facility. Sometimes the time of day matters: For instance, the law applies to primary schools between the hours of 6:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Depending on the drug, a person can wind up with a first-degree felony for selling near a sensitive area.
Drug dealers often do not even realize that they are near a protected area when they make a sale, and the next thing they know, they are facing additional charges and penalties. This is why it is important that people remain mindful of how these elements can play out.