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March 2016 Archives

What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer test?

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Breath Test Refusal on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.

Contrary to popular belief, you can refuse to take a breathalyzer test. But, this does come with some severe consequences depending on which state you are stopped in. Over 20 percent of drivers pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving refuse the breathalyzer. This is a decision that requires balancing the pros and cons. Most states have implied consent laws which require you to submit to the breathalyzer or face consequences. But the cost of submitting could be a guaranteed DUI charge, which likely carries steeper consequences than refusing to blow. This article will discuss implied consent laws and how they could impact you.

There is a national registry for sex offenders

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Sex Crimes on Sunday, March 27, 2016.

In 2005, the federal government launched the National Sex Offender Public website as a way to connect the disparate lists maintained by state, tribal and territorial governments. The program was launched in response to sex offenders that travel between state lines and commit crimes. This article will go over this national registry and how it operates with the various state websites.

Drugged driving is drunk driving

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.

An unfortunate side-effect of the legalization and decriminalization of certain drugs is that there has been an uptick in the number of drugged driving incidents. This does not even begin to take into account the plethora of over the counter and prescription drugs that can impair reaction and perception. It's a growing problem that, so far, remains relatively unnoticed. This article will go over how drugs affect your driving ability and what that can mean if you are pulled over.

How do sobriety checkpoints work?

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Field Sobriety Tests on Sunday, March 20, 2016.

At some point, one of your aspiring lawyer friends probably mentioned that sobriety checkpoints constitute an "illegal search," and if you decline, the police are powerless to stop you. This is far from the truth. This article will discuss how checkpoints work and if you can get charged with a crime if you are arrested at one.

The effect of drinking on minors

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Underage Drinking on Sunday, March 13, 2016.

The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has a 21 drinking age. Famously, Europe and Mexico both disagree with the U.S. and set their drinking ages lower, to the delight of many summer break co-eds. This restriction may seem stodgy and typical of conservative-leaning U.S. however there is real science behind this restriction. This article will go over how alcohol affects the adolescent brain and the potential impacts on the future.

Prostitution is more than the oldest profession

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Sex Crimes on Sunday, March 13, 2016.

Prostitution, despite some popular portrayals, is more than a simple transaction between a client and provider. It is done on the streets, in massage parlors, over the Internet or in someone's home. It is a complicated exchange that can implicate criminal conduct even before the actual sexual act takes place. This article will go over how a "John" (a purveyor of commercial sex) can become implicated in a crime, even before money or services are exchanged.

A new bills requires colleges to crack down on sex offenses

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Sex Crimes on Thursday, March 10, 2016.

Even after growing up in an era where "no means no," many young college students still lack the necessary knowledge when it comes to consent for sex. Many lawmakers and individuals also believe higher-level educational institutions have responded to sexual assault allegations with ineffective investigative and disciplinary processes.

Are deals available even to repeat drunk driving offenders?

On behalf of Charles Waechter of Charles L. Waechter posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

In our last post, we discussed the proposed bill that would require ignition interlock devices to be used by anyone convicted of drunk driving in Maryland. Yet this is not the first time that the proposal has been made. Will the instant bill pass and become law? A recent arrest sheds additional context on that policy debate.