A criminal record is a criminal record, and even a misdemeanor charge can have some chilling effects on the way you live your life. That being said, however, there are occasions when agreeing to a lesser charge may be your best and only option. For example, if you admit to a crime that you actually committed, and you are offered a misdemeanor charge in lieu of a felony charge, accepting the lesser charge may be [...]
It’s standard procedure in drunk driving cases to give drivers field sobriety tests and breath tests. If the police obtain a warrant, they can also demand that the driver submit to a blood test. The rules are different for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of narcotics. For starters, there is no breath test for detecting drugs in someone’s system. If the police officer suspects a driver was operating his/her vehicle while under the [...]
The phrase “chain of custody” commonly refers to the proper preservation of tangible evidence that is used in trial. The burden is placed on the prosecution to show, every step of the way, that the evidence that is seized or taken is properly preserved. The prosecution needs to show that nobody was able to tamper with the evidence in any way. Some evidence must be preserved in refrigerator units or chemically preserved. Other types of [...]
Many drivers lose their driving privileges due to a DUI conviction, their refusal to take a breath test, or because they accumulated too many points on their driving record. Drivers in Maryland can also lose their right to drive if they fail to pay their child support. The Motor Vehicle Administration and the Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) work together to collect child support payments. Parents who fail to comply with their child support order [...]
Cannabidiol – also known as CBD – products come in all forms: lotions, creams, beverages, foods, cosmetics, and other consumables and things that can be applied to your body. The products are being sold in retail stores, health stores, and online. And even though marijuana use is still illegal in Maryland (barring approved, prescribed medical use), CBD products derived from hemp are not. Therefore, it is perfectly to use CBD products in the state. Why [...]
Congratulations to Joseph Carey on his inclusion on the 2020 Super Lawyers list for the top-rated personal injury attorneys in Maryland. Attorney Carey has represented hundreds of clients in a wide range of claims, from MVA infractions to cases heard by the Supreme Court of the United States. About Super Lawyers Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practices areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and [...]
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious personal safety and public health issue. Over a recent five-year period, drivers operating a motor vehicle while impaired accounted for roughly 1 in 3 deaths on the road in Maryland, according to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. On average each year, there are approximately 7,884 impaired driving accidents across the state, resulting in 4,026 injuries and 171 deaths. Driving under the influence defined If you are charged [...]
There are two parts to any Driving Under the Influence case. The first part is the criminal case where the driver’s guilt or innocence is established. The second part is the hearing before the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The MVA hearing establishes what happens to your driving privileges as a result of the DUI conviction. Drivers can also be required to attend an MVA hearing if they need to contest a license suspension because they [...]
Maryland and the US government each have their own criminal statutes, their own rules of criminal procedure, and their own sentencing guidelines. Most crimes are violations of Maryland law or federal law but not both jurisdictions. For example, crimes on federal lands are usually prosecuted in federal courts while crimes on state property are prosecuted in state courts. There are exceptions to that rule, though. Some defendants are charged with both a federal crime and [...]
Most people who drive need their vehicles for personal matters, such as shopping and getting the kids to their games on time. Many also need their vehicles to commute to their jobs. For a large number of people, their job is their vehicle. Commercial drivers who haul freight and inventory lose their livelihood if they lose their right to drive. Drivers of commercial vehicles, normally larger trucks, need a special license called a commercial driver’s [...]
