Year: 2020
Impaired driving charges and your CDL
For many people, driving represents the means through which they earn a living. Whether as a long-haul truck driver, a school bus driver or as a courier van driver, losing the right to drive might contribute to the loss of a job. When a person with a commercial driver’s license...
What is fentanyl?
Opioids are a class of drugs with a high potential for abuse and overdose. While many of these drugs have legitimate therapeutic uses for relieving pain, they are often used illegally to induce a feeling of euphoria. This is especially true of fentanyl, which is a highly potent synthetic opioid....
What are the different kinds of plea bargain?
Plea bargaining is a part of nearly every criminal case. Sometimes it may be a good idea for you to accept a plea bargain, and sometimes it may not be. Plea bargains often benefit both the defendant and the prosecution, although there are situations where it is not advantageous for...
A DUI conviction may make college unaffordable
With average in-state tuition surpassing $22,000 per year, Pennsylvania is a comparatively expensive place to obtain a four-year degree. Fortunately, whether you intend to seek government-backed assistance, work-study aid or private funding, you probably have some options for paying for your higher education. A conviction for driving under the influence...
Can I challenge breathalyzer results?
In many cases, the majority of a state’s claim that an individual was driving under the influence of alcohol rests on the breathalyzer results. However, just like it is possible to challenge radar gun results in speeding ticket cases, it is also possible to challenge a breathalyzer results in drunk-driving...
How do officers look for probable causes to arrest?
Pennsylvania officers often look at multiple things when determining whether to make a DUI related arrest. Some of them include tangible results from DUI tests like blood or breath tests. Others come from personal examination as they interact with you. This is how they spot probable signs to arrest. Potential...
Why are standardized field sobriety tests more common?
In Pennsylvania, drivers like you may face field sobriety tests if suspected of driving under the influence. There are several tests under this umbrella and two different categories of testing. In general, you are most likely to run into standardized field sobriety tests. But why is this the case? What...
Supporting your claim of self-defense
You certainly never hope to find yourself in a physical altercation with another person; at the same time, however, you recognize that there are situations where a potential threat to your own personal safety (or that of your loved ones) might compel you to act. Many have come to us...
What is considered a violation of probation?
When you are on probation, it helps to know what the law considers a violation. Your probation conditions may restrict your movements and require you to attend meetings and appointments. While probation terms vary from case to case, there are some general rules that you may have to abide by...
How will an underage DUI conviction affect your future?
Perhaps you are a first-year university student just getting used to campus life, its rules, routine and temptations. No doubt there will be parties that include alcohol. If you drink and drive, you face a possible conviction for underage DUI. How would this affect your future? Pennsylvania penalties The state...
What does inchoate mean?
There are many ways the law categorizes crimes, such as felonies and misdemeanors. Another way to categorize a crime is with the label inchoate. An inchoate offense, according to Cornell Law School, is a crime that leads to another crime. There are three basic inchoate offenses: conspiracy, solicitation and attempt....
How alcohol affects a driver’s body
In the United States, nearly 30 people die in car accidents every single day. In 2018 alone, there were over 10,000 fatalities due to drunk driving. What makes alcohol so dangerous to use while driving? The NHTSA explains that a person’s blood alcohol concentration can affect judgment, behavior, muscle control...
Students with drug convictions: rehab may be required for aid
If you are a student, you most likely receive some form of financial aid. Most people apply for federal aid by completing the FAFSA. As with any financial aid, there are requirements that a student must meet. There are also conditions that can hurt a person’s chances of financial aid....
Is the probation system broken in Pennsylvania?
Probation is something judges often use to forego putting a person behind bars. It is common for lower-level crimes or for first-time offenders. If you get a sentence that includes probation in Pennsylvania, you may think of it as a second chance since you are not heading to prison or...
Is boating under the influence illegal in Pennsylvania?
Operating a boat after drinking raises the risk of a catastrophic accident. Pennsylvania’s penalties for boating under the influence vary depending on the operator’s blood alcohol content and other factors. Learn about the possible criminal consequences of a BUI arrest in Pennsylvania. Second-degree felony BUI Aggravated assault by watercraft charges...
A DUI conviction may limit Second Amendment rights
A recent appeals court ruling may mean that some individuals convicted of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania can lose their Second Amendment right to possess a gun. The state’s Department of Transportation outlines three levels of DUI, including a “highest blood alcohol content” of .16% or higher. Penalties for...
What to know about criminal defense
Dealing with a legal matter can always be stressful. It can be even more stressful when the concern has to do with a criminal case. Many people are unaware of what makes up criminal law and what they can expect from their criminal defense attorneys. It is important to know...
What are PA’s ignition interlock laws?
All states in the nation have strict laws against drunk driving. However, different states have slightly different requirements, so it is important to understand what specifically applies to Pennsylvania. All states have some variety of ignition interlock laws. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, repeated DUI offenders, those who...
What are the penalties for Pennsylvania DUI?
Pennsylvania imposes severe penalties for driving under the influence through the state’s zero tolerance program. The legal consequences of DUI vary depending on the driver’s level of impairment as measured by a blood or breath test. Before facing a DUI court date in Pennsylvania, understand the potential penalties for a...
DUI penalty may create distracted driving scenarios
Residents in Pennsylvania who find themselves facing allegations of drunk driving charges may feel scared about the potential penalties they face and what impact those penalties may have on their life. One issue for many defendants is the potential loss of driving privileges. Without a valid driver’s license, many people...
Can a legal drug lead to criminal charges?
There is a fine line between legal and illegal drugs. While you may think that using or buying a legal drug will protect you from criminal charges, this may not be true. The U.S. Department of Justice explains that drugs you can legally buy can become illegal if you do...
How do colleges respond to students with DUIs?
Pennsylvania college students may not realize the damage of DUI convictions. Some think it ends after you pay your fine. Others do not even consider the possibility of jail time. But did you know college students face consequences beyond fines and jail time? Today we will look at how colleges...
Understand the parole violation process
When people violate their parole, they may have many concerns about what will happen next. It is important to understand the process parole violators might go through and the consequences they might face. People may think all parole violations are the same. According to the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and...
Why is it illegal to drive on certain medications?
In Pennsylvania, DUI laws do not only cover issues related to alcohol use. It also covers issues related to illegal and even legal drugs. But why is it illegal to drive on some medications if the medicines are not illegal? Today we will look at the answer to that question....
How criminal charges can affect my child’s future
College students are often experiencing their first real taste of freedom. As they learn to handle independence, they sometimes make mistakes such as experimenting with illegal substances or driving while intoxicated. The minor missteps of youth can sometimes jeopardize their futures. If your child is facing criminal charges, you may...
Does the sex offender registry lower the rate of sex crimes?
The Pennsylvania sex offender registry law was largely well-intended. The idea was that if parents knew about any convicted sex offenders living in their communities, they could take appropriate action to keep their children safe. Instead, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, there is no actual data that proves the law...
My city decriminalized pot — why was I arrested?
Several municipalities in Pennsylvania have passed ordinances decriminalizing the possession of under an ounce of cannabis. Still, the police in these cities may arrest and charge you if they find you carrying even a small amount of marijuana. According to the York Daily Record, there were more marijuana charges in...
How to move on after a drug conviction
When an individual has an arrest on their criminal record, it should not ruin their future. According to Criminaldefenceblawg, individuals may still look past the difficulties and challenges of getting arrested and facing legal punishments. Similarly, they may look up to their future and rebuild their life. When they know the actions...
What should you know about DUI cases?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 30 people lose their lives daily in accidents involving drunk drivers. Going for a drive when your BAC is higher than 0.08%, will lead to apprehension and conviction for DWI. As you know, once alcohol gets into your bloodstream, it goes...
What are common parole violations?
For those convicted of a crime, parole offers an abundance of opportunities. Unfortunately, if you violate parole, you can lose those opportunities. The following includes what you need to know about parole violations, according to the PA Board of Probation and Parole. CPV refers to criminal parole violators. To violate...
What to know about the field sobriety test
There is no way around it; alcohol is part of being a college student. You will invariably be around others who are drinking at one point or another on your college journey, whether or not you partake in it. While this can be a safe, enjoyable practice, it can take...
How much does a Pennsylvania DUI increase auto insurance rates?
Facing a Pennsylvania driving under the influence charge, and worried about how it might affect you if that charge winds up leading to a conviction? Ultimately, numerous factors, including whether you have ever had a DUI conviction in the past, are going to factor in when it is time for...