6 Tips How Not to Be Arrested at the ULTRA Music Festival

By Jonathan Blecher on March 26, 2015

It’s Springtime, and that means The ULTRA Music Festival and Winter Music Conference descends on Miami. It also means that law enforcement is on high alert all over town, particularly at the festival venues.

Based on past year’s experience of massive drug and alcohol abuse, disorderly intoxication and underage drinking, police will be out in force. Venue sites are limiting the types of things you can bring in to the festival grounds. For the first time in its history, Ultra Music Festival is introducing a minimum age of attendance to its flagship festival in Miami. The Ultra Music Festival will now only allow those aged 18 years and older to attend the event, so that means fake ID’s.

  1. Don’t use or sell drugs ( or, at least do it under the radar)
  2. Don’t use a fake ID ( or, at least use a really, really good one and don’t look 15)
  3. Don’t get into a fight ( unless it’s one that you are sure to win quickly)
  4. Don’t try to stop a fight ( but help out your buddy if he’s getting stomped)
  5. Don’t interfere with police ( don’t ever do this, ever)
  6. Don’t drive impaired ( Uber that)

Here are some crimes which will be a priority for law enforcement:

  • Alcohol possession by minors
  • Drug Sale and Possession
  • Disorderly Intoxication/Conduct
  • Violent Crimes like Assault/Battery
  • DUI stops of cars leaving the festival
  • Resisting Arrest

YOU HAVE IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS

Police must have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity to stop you and detain you for a suspected crime. Additionally, police must have probable cause to believe that you committed a crime for them to search and arrest you. The problem with these types of events is that police throw all those pesky Constitutional safeguards out the window for the sake of expediency. When that happens, you may have strong legal grounds to have a criminal charge dismissed or have evidence suppressed.

But, if you find yourself under arrest, the worst thing to do is to fight with the police. The smartest thing to do is let the process run its course and contact my office after your release. I have decades of experience successfully defending
people charged with these offenses.

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