Maybe you forgot your wallet before driving to the grocery store. This mistake seems benign, especially if it was an accident and you did not break any other traffic laws. But if you get caught driving without a license (DWOL), you can expect penalties that might be...
Annapolis Criminal Law Blog
Do I have to open the door for the police?
Most people are not happy to see a police officer at their door. Even if you have done nothing wrong, you may be hesitant to answer the door for the police who are knocking. Police officers cannot enter your home without a warrant in Maryland. They cannot get a...
New law bars police searches based upon marijuana smell
Maryland has joined other states in reducing the criminal penalties for marijuana and allowing its recreational use. The legislature, at the very end of its session in April, also passed a bill that would likely reduce prosecutions for drug charges by prohibiting...
What are the potential penalties for a DUI in Maryland?
There are many different situations when people in Maryland have a drink or two. For the most part it is fine to drive after a drink, but there are times when people have more than one and still feel fine. In these situations people are risking being charged with a...
What to expect at traffic court
Receiving a traffic citation in Maryland is something you may have experienced in the past. You may have chosen to simply accept the citation and pay it. But there could come a time when you get a traffic ticket for something you believe you are not guilty of and...
Can the police track my license plate?
Have you seen cameras on the highway lately? As cameras are increasingly being removed from highways for the purpose of enforcing speed limits, they are being replaced with license plate readers, much to the concern of many Americans as they capture license plates...
Where you are accused of distributing drugs matters
If you were arrested and accused of selling drugs, you likely know that you could potentially be in a lot of trouble. The penalties for a drug distribution conviction include fines and prison time. The harshness of these penalties depends in part on where you were...
When is fleeing the scene of a crash a felony crime?
It is easy to panic if you are in a car crash that might have seriously injured or killed the other driver. You do not know how to handle the situation, and your first instinct may be to flee. Leaving the scene of an accident in a criminal offense. And, if you leave...
Defending bank and mortgage fraud charges
We live in a post-2008 world that is still awash with fears of rampant financial frauds throughout the financial world, including throughout the mortgage industry. This means that Annapolis, Maryland, prosecutors are looking to charges for bank and mortgage fraud....
Refusing a DUI breath test in Maryland
If a police officer suspects that you have been driving under the influence, they may ask you to blow into a breathe device. The purpose of a breathe test is to measure your blood alcohol content (BAC) level and determine whether it is over the legal limit of 0.08. A...