Posts by Drew Cochran
Can I Get Arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia?
Last March, the Maryland Senate passed a bill that would help decriminalize the possession and distribution of drug paraphernalia. The purpose of Senate Bill 420 is to decrease the attitude of criminalization towards people who use drug paraphernalia and instead encourage those people to use products and programs that are better for them. One of…
Read MoreWhat Happens at a Motor Vehicle Administration Hearing?
Let’s say you found yourself in a situation where the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has decided to suspend your driver’s license. Maybe you hold a provisional license and you committed a moving violation, forcing the MVA to suspend your license. Maybe you were arrested for driving while under the influence (DUI), and you refused to…
Read More“Driving While High” Study Focuses on Individual Strains
In the eyes of law enforcement, driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI) are pretty much the same risks. Whether you have been drinking or inhaling some type of substance, the effect on your ability to drive has been compromised – or at least that’s what we’ve been led to believe. Results…
Read MoreDrug Crimes in Maryland and Associated Penalties
When it comes to drug-related crimes, we all have heard some of the craziest stories of how people choose to conceal and hide their drugs from the authorities. Just last month in Michigan, a woman was arrested for pretending to be pregnant and using a stuffed pouch under her shirt to conceal drugs and a…
Read MoreVehicle Thieves Are Raising Their Game
If you ever find yourself in or around New York, be aware of any cars with temporary license plates – you may be witnessing a crime in action. Recently, criminals have been using fake temporary license plates to make themselves undetectable to police while committing crimes. Drug traffickers, terrorists, gang members, and organized theft rings…
Read MoreWhat Information Comes Up in a Background Check?
Growing up, most of us heard the stories about our “permanent record.” Getting into trouble at school could mean more than just a trip to the principal’s office or a stint in detention or even (gasp!) a suspension – it could be a mark on our permanent record that would follow us and interfere with…
Read MoreHow Does Bail Work?
Anyone who grew up suffering through marathon Monopoly games with their siblings (while one player invariably stole $20s from the bank) likely knows a thing or two about bail. But if you or someone you love find yourself in need of bail money – perhaps for stealing from an actual bank – you do not…
Read MoreGrand Theft… Ambulance?
Well folks, we have another one. A case where someone is accused of a crime that sounds so far-fetched that you have to wonder if it’s real or if it’s part of the plot of a TV sitcom. According to an article on CNYCENTRAL.com, a woman in Upstate New York is accused of stealing an…
Read MoreDo You Have the Right to a Speedy Trial? Apparently Not During a Pandemic
Being arrested and charged with a crime can be terrifying – regardless of whether or not you are guilty. But what if you’ve been arrested and are in jail awaiting your trial when a global pandemic hits and the wheels of justice suddenly stop turning? Now you’re facing the possibility of a criminal conviction –…
Read MoreTouch Your Nose and Point Your Toes: The Problem with Field Sobriety Tests
Let’s say that you’ve never been pulled over for a DUI, but you’ve seen it happen on TV, in film, and in ads. Goes something like this, right? Driver drives erratically. Cops pulls him over. Cop knocks on window. Cop asks driver to exit vehicle. Driver stumbles out. Driver then performs a series of awkward…
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