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The bail process in Maryland could become much simpler thanks to new rules proposed by a judiciary committee on Jan. 22. However, critics say the simplified process is only designed to save the state money and could actually result in longer stays in jail for some accused individuals. The proposed changes stem from a September…

A proposed law in the Maryland legislature could substantially reduce the penalties for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana. The law was proposed by Republican state senator Allan Kittleman and Democratic state senator Bobby Zirkin. Both men say that the current laws for marijuana possession in Maryland waste the time of prosecutors and police officers…

When I was 16-years old, my friend’s “cool” parents allowed us to “party” in their basement Rec Room. They justified their progressive parenting style by claiming, “Teens will drink and experiment with drugs – at least we know they’re safe under our roof.” It was the 1970s and the world was different, people were different…

The pit bull controversy continues to swirl. Over the last decade, a disproportionate number of serious injuries and lethal attacks from this aggressive breed of dog have seen a disturbing trend upward. According to DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims’ group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, in the first half of 2013, pit bulls…

America’s so-called “War on Drugs” has, over the past decade, expanded to a new battlefield:  Synthetic drugs.  What are synthetic drugs?  Simply put, they are popular alternatives to traditional street drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine) which have only recently been added to the federal Controlled Substances Act. Until recently, simple possession of or possession with the…

Seatbelt stings are becoming ever more frequent in the City of Annapolis. One area that has recently seen a great deal of the city’s seatbelt enforcement activity (we’ll call it the “Annapolis Seatbelt Sting”) is inbound Forest Drive just before Spa Road. Several drivers have reported a bright light that impairs the vision of oncoming drivers who…

Driving under the influence (DUI) is illegal in all jurisdictions of Maryland, yet whether the offense is categorized as a misdemeanor or felony depends on individual circumstances. First off, a misdemeanor offense is typically viewed as less serious than a felony charge; moreover, a felony will affect your voting rights whereas a misdemeanor will not…

Driving under the influence is defined as operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit. In most states the BAC limit is set between .05% and .08% and there’s no need for the presiding officer to show impairment or intoxication. DUI: By the Numbers A DUI is such a…