Williamsport Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Blog

Medical marijuana has been legalized in many states, including Pennsylvania. The penalties for driving under the influence remain the same. However, federal traffic safety officials have called for the government to do more to control the problem of driving while impaired by drugs.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to enact standards and give states guidance to combat the problem of drug-impaired driving. Currently, there is no standardized requirement for drug testing of drivers who are suspected to be impaired. The number of deaths from traffic accidents is increasing, and many are a result of the opioid epidemic. In 2015, 46 percent of drivers who were killed in fatal accidents tested positive for drugs. This was a 16 percent increase compared to statistics from 2006.

People in Pennsylvania who have been convicted of a crime or who have pled guilty to a crime may file an appeal to have their guilty verdict or plea reversed. Appeals are most the common legal mechanism with which to gain a conviction reversal. Writs may also be used. However, the factors of every case are different as are the laws in the various jurisdictions that pertain to reversing a conviction.

Trial court findings are generally upheld by appeals judges, especially if the trial decision was rendered based on findings of fact instead of matters of law. Lower court decisions are rarely overturned by courts, and while there are no guarantees of having a perfect trial, there are certain protections in place to address oversights and errors.

Regular folks tend to believe there appears to be a double standard when it comes to famous people and law enforcement. It's not enough that celebrities and Pennsylvania professional athletes have significant financial resources to handle anything that comes along, but they also seem to receive the benefit of the doubt and perhaps even preferential treatment by star-struck police officers. The truth, however, may be somewhat different.

Revealed in a recent TMZ video, a major league baseball player was pulled over by police for a traffic infraction. The ball player certainly thought he had some sway with the officer, first handing him a business card identifying himself as an MLB player and then apparently saying how ballplayers do a lot of work with the police. After the officer proceeded to question the player regarding a possible DUI, the player lied about drinking and ultimately refused a sobriety test.

Many college underclassmen find themselves befriending and hanging out with peers who are just a few years older. A few years makes a big difference when it comes to the legality of certain activities such as drinking. If you are under 21 and caught drinking an alcoholic beverage, you could face penalties such as a citation. While this seems like a small penalty at a glance, it may have farther reaching ramifications.

Consider the following ways in which a citation for underage drinking can affect your life and cause lasting consequences. If you are in this situation, you can research legal recourse to try and combat these effects. It is important to understand how a citation will affect you and plan accordingly.