Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense regardless of the age of the perpetrator. If the offender is underage, however, both the standards and the punishments are different than for those age 21 and up. Read on to learn more about underage drinking and driving offenses. Blood Alcohol Concentrations Those who get stopped and tested for the presence of alcohol in their system that are age 21 and over must not demonstrate a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over .
14 December 2018
In general, it's best to hire a private attorney to represent you when you are charged with a DUI. If you are unable to afford one, however, the court may appoint a public defender to represent you during trial. Here's more information about this issue. At the Arraignment The first time you may be provided with a public defender is at your arraignment. This is a hearing where the court clarifies the charges against you, hears how you choose to plea (e.
27 February 2017
Federal law prohibits people convicted of domestic violence from owning firearms. However, it's generally believed that only those who intentionally harm others would have their gun rights revoked. In June 2016, the Supreme Court clarified that those convicted of reckless domestic violence are also subjected to the ban. Here's more information about this decision and what you can do to protect your gun privileges. Closing the Loophole The Supreme Court decision was the resolution to the Volsine vs.
23 November 2016
Most people think of DUI convictions as the result of too much partying and poor decisions, but DUI charges can extend far beyond the usual suspects of alcohol, cannabis, and illegal drugs. Prescription medications can land you in the same legal trouble as recreational drugs, even if you weren't aware of the DUI laws covering them. Any medications that impair your ability to operate machinery should never be combined with driving, but if you have been charged with a DUI over a prescription drug, you may feel that you have been treated unjustly or that the testing methods used were inadequate.
23 September 2016
With the number of cases of autism and Asperger's growing in the U.S., and the number of kids, teens, and adults who are tased, shot, or arrested because officers do not have enough training in this area, you may be wondering if you can do something to help your family member with cognitive challenges. If your family member has been charged with criminal assault, criminal battery, or some other crime that was a direct result of his or her disability, there may be hope.
12 June 2016
While you may have been pulled over for any one of several reasons, you may not have deserved a DWI ticket. There are actually some common hygiene or medication items that can cause false positive results on a DWI/DUI test. If you think that something of this sort applies to your situation, be sure to discuss the following with your DWI attorney. Under these circumstances, you should fight the ticket, charges and other potential punishments.
11 June 2016
Charlie Sheen is certainly no stranger to the news, but the latest stories on him have taken a dark turn—the actor is facing a criminal investigation for intentionally hiding his HIV-positive status from a former lover. A lot of people may be reluctant to discuss their health, especially if they have a serious disease, like HIV, but keeping a secret like that can absolutely be criminal. If you're HIV positive, this is what you should know.
13 April 2016