Maryland Law Blog

According to The Baltimore Sun, Maryland State Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy accused of repeatedly shining a laser pointer into the cockpit of a helicopter helping Baltimore County police search for someone threatening suicide. Law enforcement officials explain that shining lasers into the cockpit can blind the pilot temporarily. If someone shines a laser pointer into a helicopter during a critical point of the flight, crew members may become disoriented and unable to perform their duties properly.

The teen, who has not been identified, was charged with attempted second degree assault on police, reckless endangerment, prohibited use of a laser pointer, obstruction, and hindering police. Flight crew members noticed a flashing light in the cockpit and prepared to take precautionary maneuvers. When they saw the light shine a second time, they located the source of the light and directed police officers to proceed to the residence.

Within six minutes, police arrested the teen suspect and recovered the laser pointer. Lieutenant Walter Kerr states that law enforcement officials intend to do whatever they can to reduce the number of laser pointer incidents so police officers can focus on performing their duties. There have already been two prosecutions for this type of incident.

Anyone charged with obstruction, hindering police, prohibited use of a laser pointer, or any other crime in Maryland should immediately contact an experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyer to review your case and determine the best course of action based on your unique circumstances. To schedule a free consultation with one of Alpert Schreyer, LLC’s top rated criminal defense attorneys, call 301-262-7005 or toll free at 866-444-6363 today.

On September 23, an off-duty Baltimore City police officer led law enforcement officers on a car chase and failed a breath alcohol test, according to a report in The Baltimore Sun. Prior to the chase, a Baltimore County police officer was monitoring traffic at 2 a.m. when a Black Lexus reportedly sped by at a speed of 72 miles per hour, more than twice the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour. After the Lexus nearly struck the cruiser, the officer attempted to pull the vehicle over. Instead of pulling over, the driver of the Lexus crossed five lanes and cut in front of several vehicles to get away from the officer. Several of the vehicles had to brake suddenly to avoid crashing into the Lexus.

According to published reports, after speeding for nearly a mile, the driver stopped suddenly, but failed to exit the vehicle. Law enforcement officers tried to remove him from the car to place him in handcuffs, but they noticed a semi-automatic handgun at his waist. The driver moved his hands toward the gun, but officers were able to remove the gun from his possession and administered field sobriety tests and a breath alcohol test after smelling alcohol on his breath. The breath test registered a reading of 0.14. The driver was immediately suspended from the police department after his arrest.

Getting arrested for driving under the influence has serious consequences. In addition to the possibility of serving jail time, losing your license, and having to pay hefty fines, a DUI arrest can also affect your status at work and your relationship with your family. The Maryland DUI defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC have the experience needed to handle complex cases right from the beginning. We’ll fight hard for your rights every step of the way. For a free consultation to discuss your case, contact us at (301) 262-7005 or toll free at (866) 444-6363.

The Maryland Highway Safety Office uses the Checkpoint Strikeforce program to educate people about driving under the influence and remove impaired drivers from Maryland roadways. This program consists of highly-publicized DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols combined with media blitzes designed to educate drivers. State and local officers may work together to conduct the checkpoints, which are held during late nights, happy hours and early morning hours when impaired drivers tend to use Maryland roadways.

Law enforcement officers aim to keep reckless drivers off the road with additional saturation patrols. During Maryland DUI checkpoints, officers aggressively pursue those who commit traffic offenses such as speeding and failure to signal when changing lanes or making turns. Officers also target those who do not use their safety belts and those who do not have their children properly restrained. When used with DUI checkpoints and other DUI prevention measures, these saturation patrols can improve the safety of the roads used by millions of Maryland residents and out-of-state visitors each day.

In addition to the recent Labor Day weekend checkpoints and patrols, the Checkpoint Strikeforce program includes a six-month period of intense enforcement, which runs from July through December. Focusing on this time frame gives law enforcement officers the opportunity to keep dangerous drivers off the roads during the busy holiday season.

At Alpert Schreyer, our aggressive criminal defense lawyers in Maryland have the legal skills and experience to help get your DUI charges reduced or dismissed. We are familiar with the many potential ways in which law enforcement officers can make mistakes when conducting field sobriety tests, DUI checkpoint stops and breath alcohol testing. To find out more about how our attorneys can defend your rights, call 1-866-444-6363 for a free and confidential case evaluation today.

September is Recovery Month, a month-long observance dedicated to celebrating people in recovery, noting the contributions of drug and alcohol abuse treatment providers, promoting the benefits of treating those with substance abuse disorders, and spreading the message that treatment can be successful.

Some crimes are directly related to the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol. Most addicts are not bad people at heart; their addictions take hold of them and change the way they behave. When an addict needs a drink or a drug fix, he or she may do almost anything to fulfill that need. Addiction is linked to increases in several types of crime:

• Domestic violence
• Theft
• Burglary
• Child abuse

The National Center for Victims of Crime explains that punishing addicts does not deter them from drug and alcohol use. Serving jail time or performing community service does nothing to address the root causes of alcohol and drug abuse. Additionally, addiction treatment should include follow-up care for the program to be really successful. When an inmate leaves jail, there is often little chance that he or she will receive additional care. These addicts can fall through the cracks, and many return to their former lifestyles and commit additional crimes.

Anyone accused of committing a crime while under the influence of drugs or alcohol should have an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight for their rights. The Maryland drug crime defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer have decades of experience representing individuals in the Washington, D.C. area who have been charged with drug-related crimes. For a free consultation to discuss your case, call Alpert Schreyer, LLC at (301) 262-7005 or toll free at (866) 444-6363.

Labor Day weekend signified the end of summer and an opportunity to relax before the fall season. For law enforcement officers, it meant a great opportunity to set up DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols on Maryland roadways. During a DUI checkpoint, officers pull over every vehicle or a predetermined number of vehicles, hoping to identify impaired drivers and get them off the road.

Police officers have very strict guidelines for conducting these checkpoints properly. If they do not pull over every vehicle, they must use a random mathematical formula to determine which vehicles to stop (e.g. every third vehicle or every fifth vehicle). They cannot stop vehicles based on personal preference. If officers suspect that a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they can ask the driver to step out of the vehicle.

After asking the driver to step out of the vehicle, the officers may ask the driver to perform tests designed to look for impairment. These tests, called field sobriety tests, help officers judge a driver’s balance, reaction time and other factors related to possible impairment. If someone suspected of DUI fails these tests, the officers may ask him or her to take a breathalyzer test to determine his or her breath alcohol concentration.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for drunk driving in the Maryland or the District of Columbia, it is important that you seek the advice of an experienced DUI attorney who can review the circumstances of your arrest and build a strong defense on your behalf. If you let too much time lapse between your arrest and seeking legal help, you could forget important details that could help your case. Also, if you are arrested in the state of Maryland you may have only 10 days from the date of your arrest to save your license from automatic suspension.

The Maryland drunk driving defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer have successfully defended over 1,000 Maryland and District of Columbia residents charged with DUI and DWI. The penalties for a DUI conviction can include jail time, steep fines and license suspension. Don’t risk your license or your freedom. For a free, no-obligation review of your DUI case, contact us at 301-262-7005.