Gasparilla Pirate Festival Lawyer

Serving Arrestees & Defendants in Tampa for Over 20 Years

Before Tampa earned a reputation as an ideal vacation destination, it was frequented by pirates stopping between their crusades for a bounty on the high seas. Today, these pirates live on through local tradition. Their stories, true or otherwise, are retold through an annual celebration that honors the legendary Spanish pirate captain, Jose Gaspar, who is famous for his varied and impressive feats. 

The Gasparilla Festival is a colorful celebration of Tampa's pirating past. 

The three-month-long pirate festival kicks off with the Parade of Pirates, where hundreds of pirates sail across Tampa Bay and finish their trip in downtown Tampa. These pirates accompany Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla as they navigate the 165-foot Jose Gasparilla through the water. After this parade, Tampa hosts several related community events through March. Unfortunately, some people who attend this event celebrate a little too authentically, so an increase in crime is a less glamorous tradition associated with Gasparilla. 

Real Results for People Arrested at Gasparilla

If you or someone you love gets involved in legal trouble while attending the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, regardless of whether it was DUI, BUI, disorderly conduct, drug crimes, or any criminal offense, we encourage you to get The Law Offices of Jeff Paulk involved immediately. Throughout the years, we have successfully handled thousands of criminal cases, including those involving individuals who were arrested at Gasparilla events. 

In one case, we represented a client arrested for having an open container. We convinced the State Attorney to drop all of the charges. In another case, we represented a college student arrested for underage possession of alcohol. We successfully convinced the State to agree to drop all of the charges in lieu of community service.

Contact our Gasparilla Pirate Festival defense lawyer today for a free case evaluation! Call (813) 321-7323 or fill out our online case evaluation form.

Gasparilla Festival Rules, Criminal Charges & Penalties

The annual pirate-themed event has a 100+ year history. The legend of Jose Gaspar was popularized in 1904, so he became the patron rogue of Tampa's annual celebration. The first year was such a success that the city demanded the organization to become a permanent fixture of the city-wide celebration every year. 

The celebration of Gasparilla has carried on ever since, missing only 10 years throughout the 20th century. While Gasparilla is an annual celebration known for being fun, it has also earned a reputation for an increase in arrests around this time. From open container violations to underage DUI, police crack down on multiple crimes during the festival.

Though most of the approximately 300,000 annual attendees stay out of trouble, many are arrested each year. Crime at the event has decreased significantly since 2010, but it is still hard to avoid when such a large group gathers in a dense area to celebrate. During the 2018 Gasparilla, authorities arrested 38 people for crimes ranging from underage drinking to battery. On the water, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrested 15 people for boating under the influence.

Crimes associated with Gasparilla often include the following:

• BUI and DUI
• Underage DUI
• Underage drinking
• Possession of an open container
• Disorderly conduct
• Battery

Contact Us If You Were Arrested at Gasparilla

If you or someone you know was arrested at Gasparilla or a related event, The Law Offices of Jeff Paulk is standing by to help. We've been representing clients in Tampa and across Florida for over 20 years, and we've successfully handled numerous Gasparilla Pirate Fest cases.

Contact us today at (813) 321-7323 to speak to a knowledgeable Gasparilla defense attorney in Tampa at no charge.