Although drunk driving offenses sometimes result from crashes that leave people hurt and property damaged, many adults accused of impaired driving after being pulled over by a police officer. Although they may have not caused property damage or hurt anyone, these...
You Have A Right To Remain Silent. Before You Decide To Talk, Call Mike Winters.
Year: 2021
The collateral damage of a DUI conviction
Are you facing DUI charges? Then you probably know that there is a lot on the line if you are found guilty, and it is important to defend charges with some urgency. A DUI conviction can result in jail time or fines, but that is not where it all ends. The collateral...
MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD DOES NOT GRANT YOU THE PRIVILEGE TO REFUSE A BLOOD TEST
The PA Commonwealth Court recently held that the possession of a medical marijuana card does not permit a driver to refuse to submit to a blood test requested by a police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that the driver was driving under the influence of...
Can lies by investigating officers play into your defense?
When the police arrest you, you will likely feel frightened and worried about your future. It is common for people to look for any sort of support or compassion that they can find in a stressful situation, and some police officers can be quick to take advantage of...
Letting the police search your car could lead to drug charges
You were expecting that the police officer who pulled you over would have some questions, but you didn't expect that one of them was whether they could search your vehicle or not. When a police officer catches someone off guard with a request to search, many people...
POLICE – CITIZEN INTERACTIONS: Is the “mere encounter” a mere fiction?
IS THE MERE ENCOUNTER A MERE FICTION? To any lawyer practicing criminal law in the Commonwealth of PA, it should not be news that courts are often asked to analyze interactions between law enforcement officers and citizens to determine whether the interaction resulted...
Don’t let embarrassment stop you from seeking help with a DUI
As advocates for those charged with DUI in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we have seen all sorts of embarrassing situations. What we have not seen, we have heard or read about from our colleagues. For example, say that you are a professional (doctor, banker, etc.) with a...
When are the police on high alert for DUIs?
One of the first traffic laws that people learn is that it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol, yet driving under the influence (DUI) charges are some of the most common criminal offenses in Pennsylvania. Anytime someone gets behind the wheel after...
Can you get a DUI if you’re under the legal limit?
Many people don’t realize that they can be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) even if you were under the .08% limit. Moreover, a charge while under the limit isn’t particularly unusual. Why are some people arrested while under the limit? The simple answer...
Hey … mind if we look at your phone?
The PA Superior Court en banc has recently affirmed the trial court’s suppression of cell phone data obtained by police, finding that Defendant’s “consent” to a phone data dump was not knowing and voluntary. Noting that this issue raised “an important question...