Posts by Drew Cochran
Let’s Bust Some Maryland Traffic Ticket Myths
The world is full of harmless myths and superstitions, local legends, things like Mothmen and Big Feet. Largely, these are just fun ways to make sense of the world and one can believe in them for their whole lives without being negatively affected. But, uh…when it comes to myths about the law, you just get…
Read MoreSelf-Defense Versus Assault in Maryland
We don’t typically walk around in our day-to-day lives expecting to get into a physical altercation of some sort, but the same is true for pretty much anything negative we may face. Humans aren’t known for their mind-reading abilities. But what we lack in telepathy, we make up for in resourcefulness and self-preservation, right? Someone…
Read MoreCan You Make a Deal on an Annapolis DUI Charge?
When you get into some sort of trouble you really don’t want to be in, what do you do? Exactly — you try to get out of it. Not because you’re guilty, not because you’re hiding anything, but because trouble isn’t fun. As kids, “getting out of trouble” mostly means being very cute about it…
Read MoreFighting Unfair Traffic Violation Charges
As common as it is to get into a car accident at some point in your life, it’s even more common to get a traffic violation of some sort. From the moment we get our licenses to the day we make some young whippersnapper drive us around, some sort of mistake — genuine or alleged…
Read MoreBeing Drunk Ain’t a Great Defense…for Anything
There’s nothing wrong with getting a little “slizzard,” as the kids say, every once in a while. Everyone needs to let loose sometimes with a few drinks and some friends, right? But as true as that is, being drunk doesn’t absolve you of your actions — at least, not entirely, not always, and not easily.…
Read MoreWhat Does It Mean to Get “Points” on Your License?
Points are often a good thing. Someone with the most points will win a game of baseball, basketball, football, or hockey – you get the idea. But if you score the most points in golf, hearts, or on your driver’s license, you’ll find yourself solidly in the loser’s bracket. Maryland’s driver’s license points system helps…
Read MoreStop Bragging About Drugs Online
Social media has turned the way the world communicates on its head. Human connections are now being expressed through algorithms and text generated from a device the size of an adult person’s palm. The instant nature of the connection is further enhanced by instant messaging programs that are often part of social media platforms. Something…
Read MorePutting the “Weeeee” in Weed: Maryland’s New Marijuana Laws
After spending months reviewing what 20 other states and the District of Columbia did wrong when they legalized marijuana, recreational weed becomes legal in Maryland on July 1. When the laws take effect, cannabis can be bought, used, and grown recreationally in the state by individuals at least 21 years old. The first shops allowed…
Read MoreYou’re Not in the MMA: Understanding Maryland’s Assault Laws
Many people use the terms assault and battery interchangeably, e.g., first comes the assault and then sometimes the battery. Assault refers to the threat of violence, not the violence itself, while battery involves offensive physical contact or bodily harm. Although many states distinguish between assault and battery, Maryland does not. As a result, threatening violence…
Read MoreSentencing Enhancements Aren’t the Way to Stop Drunk Driving
Nobody wants drunk driving to be a thing. We all want our roads to be safer, right? But lawmakers seem to be going about it the wrong way by enhancing the severity of penalties and sentencing, when they should be searching for ways to nip the problem in the bud. While there are seemingly some…
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