Posted on June 23, 2022 in Criminal Defense

There are multiple situations that could result in someone's arrest for impaired driving. If you get behind the wheel after having too much to drink, police officers might stop you, arrest you and then charge you with a crime.

Police officers identify drunk drivers through several different approaches. Drivers in Virginia and Maryland can find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system after they experience one of the three police encounters below.

Getting into a car crash

Everyone involved in a car crash will be at risk of arrest afterward if there is evidence that they broke the law. You don't have to cause the accident to be subject to a police officer's scrutiny after a collision.

Many police officers will automatically require testing of those involved in a crash to determine if impairment played a role. Even if you are not at fault, if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over the legal limit, then a police officer can arrest you at the same time that they issue a ticket to the driver who caused the accident.

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 Posted on June 22, 2022 in Criminal Defense

If you live close to state lines, you probably cross them frequently. Hence, if accused of stealing something, it is crucial to understand the rules applicable to where the alleged event took place.

States generally determine the crime based on the value of the property taken, although the use of weapons or violence could make your situation much worse.

Maryland has five categories of theft

The least serious is petty theft, where the value does not exceed $100. The punishment will not exceed a $500 fine and 90 days in prison. The most serious category is felony theft, where the value exceeds $100,000. It could lead to 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. In addition, you may have to compensate any merchant you are judged to have stolen from – up to twice the property value in some cases.

Virginia calls theft larceny

The least serious crime is petit larceny which is a misdemeanor. This applies when less than $5 was stolen directly from a person or less than $200 was stolen indirectly. It can lead to up to 12 months in jail and up to $2,500 of fines.

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