For many people who are charged with a DUI, this is their first encounter with the criminal justice system. DUI cases are unique because they are highly technical and require scientific knowledge as well as legal expertise to defend properly. This is why choosing the right lawyer is the single most important decision you can…
read more »Month: April 2012
Pennsylvania DUI Law Review: Repeat Offenses
Under Pennsylvania’s DUI code, repeat offenders are subject to extremely harsh punishments. Some of the penalties for a repeat conviction may include: Mandatory Jail time up to 5 years Fines up to $10,000 License suspension up to 18 months (served after the prison sentence) Mandatory ignition interlock As you can see, these are crippling penalties…
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More Blood Test Woes
Once again, DUI blood testing has been compromised by sloppy and reckless technicians: Colorado to retest 1,700 blood samples from DUI cases after lab employee’s errors uncovered The state is retesting 1,700 DUI blood samples after a laboratory employee failed to follow proper procedures, which skewed the results of the tests. The mistakes open the…
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DUI Prescription Drug Help
One trend I that have noticed here in Pennsylvania is an increase in drug related DUI arrests and in particular arrest related to prescription drugs. We have discussed DUI prescription drugs before in our post: DUI Arrests Purposely Targeting Innocent People. DUI drug cases are complex because there are many different types of drugs that…
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Bizarre (and Downright Cruel) DUI Punishments
In an effort to “get tough on crime,” many state and local governments enact laws which are bizarre and cruel. For example, in Montana, repeat drunk driver are forced to get tested twice a day to ensure they have not had anything to drink. While this might sound like a solution to some, it is…
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Most Drunk Drivers Still Can’t Visit Canada
Previously, those convicted of DUI were barred from visiting Canada. Last month, the Canadian government passed a law that would allow some offenders to enter the country: As of March 1, foreign nationals with a single misdemeanour conviction – including for driving under the influence – could be given a one-time pass to skip an…
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The Reality of Police Profiling
The police profiling people is nothing new. While racial profiling is the most talked about form, profiling can be based on age, clothing, the type of car, being a single male in a car after 2 am or anything that can trigger the “suspicion” of the police. The problem is that these types of “clues”…
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Police Pull over Mike Tyson, High on Cocaine, and Give Him a Free Ride to a Crack House?!
One of the major problems with our criminal justice system is that major decisions, about who is arrested and who is let go, are made on-the-spot by under-trained, overworked and sometimes corrupt police officers. The result is the false arrest of innocent citizens and the truly guilty ones going free. Which brings us to an…
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Is MADD Pushing for Interlock Devices in all Vehicles?
New legislation contains a provision for research into ignition interlock devices to be installed as standard equipment in automobiles. Is this really just research or are there bigger motives behind this?
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DUI Checkpoint Warnings for the Holiday Weekend
Once again, Pennsylvania police departments are targeting a holiday weekend for DUI checkpoints. They know people will be traveling and enjoying the spring weather and they will be out in full force to make sure you hit plenty of roadblocks along the way. As always, we will be posting any information we receive about DUI…
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