July 2012

5 Reasons Why You May Want to Hire a Lawyer to Fight Your Traffic Ticket

July 31, 2012

Guest criminal defence blog post, mainly based on US law and general principles, outlining 5 reasons why you may want to hire a lawyer to fight your traffic ticket. Sometimes it just makes sense to pay the fine for a minor speeding, an illegal turn, or running a red light. If you have a good […]

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Can Dram Shop Laws Factor Into a DUI?

July 29, 2012

Describing a bar or tavern as a “Dram Shop” is so antiquated that most people might think that it is used only in 18th century literature, plays and the occasional television show. However, the term “Dram Shop” was enshrined as a legal standard back in the early 19th century, and as such all laws pertaining […]

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Factors That Can Cause False Readings with a Breathalyzer Test

July 19, 2012

The Breathalyzer machine was invented by Dr. Robert Borkenstein in 1954. The science behind the machine is relatively simple in theory, but more complicated in execution. It was created to estimate the BAC, or blood alcohol content, in the body. When alcohol is ingested, the body does not digest it immediately. It moves through the […]

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What Does Larceny Mean For You?

July 19, 2012

(US criminal law) It is rare for a person to use the word “Larceny” in common usage unless they are specifically talking about a crime. It is far more typical to hear words like “theft” and “burglary”, but these are not strictly the same thing under the letter of the law. In the strictest sense […]

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What are Bench Warrants?

July 19, 2012

(US criminal law; guest blog post provided by a Philadelphia law firm): Different from a traditional warrant, a bench warrant is a different type of legal summons that carries a very different set of implications and legal ramifications. A bench warrant is levied by a judge, most usually against someone who fails to appear in […]

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How Many DUIs Does It Take To Get Jail Time?

July 18, 2012

(US criminal law) If you’re considering drinking and driving, and you think that you’ll simply lose your license or pay a fine if you get caught, you may want to think again. The fact is, in states like Virginia for example, impaired drivers can face jail time, even on their first offense. DUI as a […]

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Are the Sentencing Guidelines for Drug Offenses Fair?

July 11, 2012

(US Law) The United States is the only developed country that requires mandatory sentencing for minor, non-violent drug offenses. Following President Ronald Reagan’s 1986 “War on Drugs” declaration, Congress enacted mandatory sentencing guidelines for relatively small-time, non-violent drug crimes. In subsequent years, even tougher penalties have been enacted with cases of minor offenders receiving multiple […]

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Roger Clemens Acquitted in Perjury Trial

July 10, 2012

On Monday, June 18, 2012, a jury determined that Roger Clemens was not guilty of perjury. Clemens’s legal saga had been going on for more than four and a half years. In 2008, Clemens testified before Congress, claiming that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs. After hearing testimony from a trainer who claimed he had […]

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How Will a DWI Affect Your Employment?

July 6, 2012

(US Law) While some Buffalo, New York residents may think that a DWI conviction simply means paying a fine in addition to losing driving privileges for a brief time period, this notion could not be further from the truth. If you are convicted of DWI in Western New York, you may be faced with a […]

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Criteria Bringing Canadian Justice into Disrepute

July 6, 2012

The following is a guest criminal law blog post regarding recent changes to Canada’s pardon program. One of the least discussed measures resulting from the changes made to Canada’s pardon program is about not bringing the “administration of justice into disrepute.” In other words, anyone applying for a pardon who has committed crimes serious enough […]

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