The results of a breathalyzer test can affect what criminal charges are filed against you and can affect your driving privileges. In most drunk driving cases, the breathalyzer test is the key evidence against a driver. If the results of the breathalyzer test can be excluded, many defendants can walk away from the charges and the charges will be dismissed. If the results are admitted, we can work to explain negative results, but those explanations [...]
Noah’s Law is a Maryland drunk driving law that requires that anyone who is convicted of certain alcohol-related driving offenses must install and use an ignition interlock device system (IID). The law, formally titled “The Drunk Driving Reduction Act Of 2016,” is named after Noah Leotta, a 24-year-old police officer, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver at a sobriety checkpoint. The requirement of Noah’s Law to install and use an IID applies [...]
In Maryland, some criminal records can be expunged and some cannot. Expungement essentially means that your criminal record is deleted or erased from court records and law enforcement records. Defendants often seek to have their records expunged so any convictions, arrests, or other resolution of the criminal charges in their case cannot be used against them. In addition to seeking expungements to clear a defendant’s name and protect them if new charges based on new [...]
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) are serious criminal charges. If you are found guilty, you will likely be imprisoned, fined, lose your right to drive, and face other consequences. You may be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle. An IID tests your breath before and while you’re driving for evidence of alcohol. A DUI or DWI can even affect your ability to work or find [...]
The term "statute of limitations" indicates the limited period during which an injured person can file a lawsuit against someone who harmed them. The statute of limitations for criminal charges in Maryland varies according to the specific crime. Some crimes in Maryland have no statute of limitations, which means that charges can be filed at any time after the alleged crime occurred. These crimes include murder, manslaughter, rape, sexual offenses involving a minor, and certain [...]
A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals struck a blow for the Constitution on Tuesday, when it ruled that the state’s Handgun Qualification Law is unconstitutional. Per Maryland Matters, “in its decision, a split three-judge panel ruled that the law unduly burdens Second Amendment rights. Additionally, the judges wrote that Maryland failed to show a ‘historical tradition’ of firearm regulation justifying the license.” The law, passed in 2016, has seen consistent pushback [...]
Public intoxication laws vary according to state. In Maryland, drinking alcoholic beverages in a public place is illegal and may result in fines of as much as $100, up to 90 days in jail, or a combination of the two. Since fighting the charges on your own might prove difficult, obtaining the assistance of a qualified Maryland criminal defense lawyer is generally a wise move to make. What is public intoxication? Public intoxication laws in [...]
In 1991, George Holliday recorded four white Los Angeles Police Department officers beating Black motorist Rodney King and submitted the video to the local news. Although filming police on the job was rare in the early 1990s, it has become common now, due to advances in technology and the widespread use of smartphones. Filming the police in Maryland is generally allowed, as long as you do not interfere with their lawful duties or violate other [...]
A PIT maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique, Pursuit Intervention Technique, or Precision Intervention Tactic) is a law enforcement practice used to stop fleeing vehicles while exposing the driver, police and the public to minimal risk. While PIT maneuvers are considered standard procedures by most U.S. police departments, they have been banned in the UK and other parts of Europe because of the perceived danger they present. During a PIT maneuver, the pursuing vehicle pulls up beside [...]
In Maryland, alcohol education classes typically mean educational programs or courses designed to provide individuals with information and skills related to alcohol use, abuse, and its consequences. These classes are often offered as part of the state's efforts to address issues related to alcohol abuse, impaired driving, and public safety. Who attends alcohol education classes in Maryland? Alcohol education classes are typically attended by individuals who are required to complete them as part of a [...]
