Category: Guest Post

Top 4 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney-Guest Post

   

Criminal Defense Attorney

You don’t want to think about needing a criminal defense attorney. Unfortunately, sometimes, it is necessary to protect your rights and to have a strong defense. The U.S. Constitution guarantees everyone a fair trial, and that means you are allowed to be represented by the best criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis. Before you hire an attorney, you should ask prospective attorneys these top four questions.

Question #1: What Is Your Background?

You want to make sure the attorney has defended people who are facing similar charges to yours. Therefore, you should ask the attorney for their background. You might want to avoid an attorney who has not tried many cases that are similar to yours or if they are new to criminal law. The more experience an attorney has, the more likely the attorney will understand how different judges operate. They will know the process and the correctional facility personnel. The ones with less experience will have to build these relationships and knowledge of judges. This will make the difference when your case is heard. 

Question #2: What Is Your Approach?

Every attorney has his or her way of doing things. You need to know whether the attorney is a good fit for you. Therefore, you want to ask what their approach to different types of cases is. If you agree with that approach, you can choose that person. However, if the approach doesn’t match your thinking, you might want to pick a different attorney. You also might not like how they approach you as the potential client. You want attorneys who will make you feel calm and not stressed. You want an attorney that makes you feel confident in his or her abilities. You want an attorney who will put your needs and fears first. Attorneys should approach you with the temperament that matches the seriousness of the charges and your personality.

Question #3: What Is the Cost?

Whether your criminal defense attorney will meet your needs depends on many factors beyond the fee to retain counsel. Still, it is an important question to ask. Some defense attorneys are out of your reach financially. Knowing whether you could afford to hire an attorney is helpful information. However, you might be facing a case where one or two attorneys specialize. In that case, you won’t have many options on the fee. You also might want a particular attorney because the person’s style and personality match yours. This would be a case where you would pay the fee regardless of the cost. In most cases though, the cost is important and must be known before picking an attorney.

Question #4: How Are Fees Accepted?

You will want to know how payments are accepted. Some criminal defense attorneys are willing to spread the fee over monthly payments. Others prefer to have their payments through the half at the beginning of the case and a half at the end of the case. You might meet attorneys who could accept payments through new technology while others wish to have a credit card on file. However, your attorney accepts payments and will determine how much money you need to have to retain counsel. You might have to ask for help or get a loan. Asking this question upfront will help you plan your financial strategy.

Author bio: Criminal Defense Lawyer, Lynne Torgerson Esq. has nearly 30 years of experience in law.

She can handle all criminal charges, gun rights, all felonies, gross misdemeanors, and misdemeanors, throughout the State of Minnesota including the Twin Cities of Minneapolis / St. Paul.  Ms. Torgerson, Esq., graduated from the University of Minnesota with a double major, with degrees in political science and psychology.  Follow Lynne on Twitter @lynne_torgerson.

What are The Possible Consequences of DUI for U.S. Immigrants?- Guest Post

   

DUI Immigration

DUI or Driving Under the Influence (of drugs or alcohol) carries harsh penalties, but the consequences are even more dire if you are not a citizen of the United States.

 

Many immigrants think that a DUI offense cannot affect their immigration status, but the truth is that criminal convictions, especially crimes of moral turpitude — which includes DUI, may be enough basis for removal, denial of entry, denial of application of citizenship, and other immigration consequences.

 

Any non-U.S. citizen charged with DUI needs an experienced immigration attorney to help them manage the immigration-related implications of a conviction.

 

Consequences of DUI for Green Card Holders

 

Can a person legal permanent resident status be deported because of a DUI offense? Well, the short answer is YES. Your green card or LPR status cannot protect you against removal from the U.S., especially if you’ve committed a criminal offense, such as a DUI.

 

While one misdemeanor DUI may not put you at risk if being deported, multiple DUIs or a felony DUI can. The common charges associated with a DUI offense such as criminal damage, endangerment, having children in the car, or driving under the influence of drugs can also render you deportable or inadmissible to the United States.

 

Green card holders and LPRs with DUI convictions could be tried in immigration court. If the judge determines that your offense matches any of the grounds for deportability, you can have your green card taken away.

 

Moreover, those with their green card applications still pending approval may find that a DUI on their record can make the entire process longer than usual.

 

Consequences of DUI for Current Visa Holders

 

If you’re in the United States on a valid visa, a DUI arrest could bring severe consequences your way. Both the federal government and immigration authorities take DUI offenses very seriously. Many DUI offenders have had their visas revoked by the State Department and were either deported or required to re-apply.

 

Even if you did not end up having your immigrant visa revoked, a DUI offense could still create problems for you once you leave and then re-enter the United States. A crime on your record could subject you to increased customs scrutiny when reapplying for a visa or, worse, become a ground for inadmissibility and bar your entry into the U.S.

 

According to U.S. Immigration laws, people who have committed crimes of moral turpitude may be ineligible for admission to the United States. Multiple DUI offenses and DUI with aggravating factors typically involve moral turpitude and can make you inadmissible to the U.S. after having left.

 

Consequences of DUI for Undocumented Immigrants and DACA Recipients

 

Those who are in the U.S. without immigration status are already in a very vulnerable position, and a DUI on their record will only put them in a tighter spot. In many parts of the country, immigration officers have been making arrests and deporting people who are both undocumented and with prior DUI.

 

If you’re a DACA recipient or applying for one, committing a DUI offense could likely cost you your DACA status. DACA is a discretionary benefit. Any convictions can affect your DACA eligibility and put you at risk of deportation.

 

Because of the grave consequences of DUI, it’s critical for DACA recipients with DUI charges to work with a DUI attorney who is experienced in mitigating the immigration consequences of driving under the influence.

 

Consequences of DUI on U.S. Citizenship Application

 

As a green card holder, the most natural next step is to apply for a U.S. citizenship. But since one of the primary requirements for naturalization is “good moral character,” a legal permanent resident with a DUI charge will generally have a harder time obtaining citizenship than others.

 

In many states, naturalization is usually denied if the applicant has a DUI or DWAI type conviction within the past five years. For a better shot at getting approved, wait until at least five years since your conviction has passed and you have established a clean record before applying for citizenship.

 

Note, though, that even after five years, a DUI charge can still delay your application for naturalization because the USCIS will likely require you to provide court documents about your conviction/arrest and study the circumstances surrounding it before coming up with a decision.

 

Get Legal Help

 

Any criminal conviction, not just DUI, can have extensive and lasting immigration ramifications. Handled improperly, a DUI charge can lead to deportation or – worse – cost you your U.S. citizenship.

 

To ensure that the immigration consequences of your DUI, or any criminal offense, is given full consideration and does not jeopardize your chances of permanently living and working in the United States, contact an experienced criminal and immigration lawyer for advice.

About the Author

Andrea Williams is the Community Manager at The Law Offices of Alcock & Associates P.C., a premier law group in Arizona that provides legal services to clients involved in Personal Injury, DUI, Immigration and Criminal cases. She enjoys cooking, reading books and playing minigolf with her friends and family in her spare time. 

Observing Road Safety In The Time of COVID-19- Guest Post

   

Covid DWI

You would think that with fewer vehicles on the road due to COVID-19 lockdowns, the streets and highways would be safer, and the number of road accidents would drop.

However, the number of people killed in road mishaps in the United States instead rose 4.6% from January to September 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Authorities are blaming the increase in traffic crash-related deaths on the risky driving behavior of people who get lulled into a false sense of security by the dearth of vehicles on the road.

Because driving lanes have become so much broader and clearer, many drivers took to driving faster than usual. They probably saw that there is a lack of enforcement due to the pandemic, which emboldened them to speed up and commit all kinds of traffic violations.

Still, the perceived lack of traffic stops in the time of COVID-19 is not an excuse to neglect road safety. To avoid becoming a statistic or facing, among other things, vehicular endangerment charges, it would be in your best interest to do the following:

Follow Speed Limits

Most people have a need for speed, and it’s really tempting to fill that need when there are so few vehicles on the road.

Nevertheless, fewer vehicles on the road don’t mean it’s safe to drive fast. You could lose control of your car at certain speeds, and you could hit a road barrier, the few other vehicles on the road, or worse, pedestrians or cyclists.

Follow speed limits at all times, pandemic or not.

Wear Your Seatbelt At All Times

With more drivers driving at faster speeds during this pandemic, there is always the risk that you’ll cross paths with one of them.

To be on the safe side, always buckle up when you go driving. After all, wearing your seat belt is the single most effective way to protect yourself in the event of a crash.

When buckling up, always remember to:

  • Secure the shoulder belt across the rib cage and the lap belt across your pelvis to better withstand crash forces.
  • Keep the shoulder belt away from your neck.
  • The lap belt should not rest across your stomach. It should be firmly placed across your hips.
  • Refrain from putting the shoulder belt under your arm.

Follow All Traffic Signals and Road Signs

Having fewer cars on the road is not a license to ignore traffic signals and road signs.

Even when there are no other vehicles at an intersection, always wait for the traffic light to turn green. A speeding driver emboldened by the near-emptiness of roads might just pop up trying to beat the red light, and you wouldn’t want to be on that vehicle’s path.  

Never Tailgate

Far too many road accidents have been caused by people driving too close to the car in front of them. 

Aside from possible car damage that may result if the vehicle ahead of you suddenly steps on the brakes, you could get involved in a road rage incident that could even be more dangerous.

In a world where there are fewer cars on the road, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to be tailgating with all the available space. It would be even more senseless to do this when the driving conditions are bad, like wet or icy roads.

The three-second rule applies during COVID-19 as much as it did before it became a pandemic. 

If you pass a tree, telephone pole, or any fixed object less than three seconds after the vehicle in front of you passed it, then you are too close. Reduce your speed to increase the separation between your cars.

Keep Your Situational Awareness At A High Level

As mentioned earlier, the reduced number of vehicles on the road due to the pandemic can lull you into a false sense of security. Some speed up, while others ignore road safety rules.

Then there are those who become complacent about their driving and lower their guard.

There is no road scenario that allows any driver to be lax about their situational awareness. 

Drivers must always be alert and mindful of other vehicles, drivers, and pedestrians, even when there are few of them around. Constantly scanning your entire driving environment can help keep you out of trouble.

Never Drive Impaired

Drunk driving has already ruined the lives of tens of thousands of people long before the pandemic.

Although some areas reported a decline in driving under the influence or DUI arrests in the time of COVID-19, others aren’t so lucky.

DUI will always be a criminal offense, with or without a global pandemic.

If you get arrested for DUI during COVID-19, your risk of contracting the coronavirus will likely increase, as you will be spending a night (at the very least) in jail, sharing a cell with strangers who could be carriers.

And if you drive drunk or high on drugs, you could get involved in a car crash that might hurt other people.

Always stay safe on the road, even long after the COVID-19 pandemic goes away.

What Makes A Good Fort Mill Criminal Defense Attorney?- Guest post

   

DUI Law

What Makes A Good Fort Mill Criminal Defense Attorney?

 

Looking for a good Fort Mill criminal defense attorney but don’t know which is best? Want to understand what makes a good criminal defense lawyer? If yes, read till the end. 

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Fort Mill, you need to look for the best attorney to represent you and strengthen the case. But don’t try to rush through this process, as your attorney is the only savior. 

You have complete right to ask questions from attorneys that are important to you to determine whether it’s the best representation for you or not. One of the most important things that matters the most is their experience and latest projects in criminal defense. Whether the charges are for DUI or any other severe crime, you need to choose the right Fort Mill DUI Attorneys.

However, not every lawyer is suitable to represent your case. Thus, here are some guidelines to follow when selecting an attorney:

1. Integrity

Your attorney should have a high level of integrity. He should be honest and open to any information. There should be nothing hidden from you in any situation by the lawyer. He must keep the client informed about the progress of the case and the possible results of proceedings. If your lawyer isn’t honest enough, then there is nothing to trust him for. 

Knowledge and Experience 

Every lawyer gets through the law college within four or more years to acquire enough knowledge. After they get a past, they are allowed to practice their profession legally. Just like any other profession, lawyers also have different specialization. 

Thus, you need to find a lawyer who has expertise in criminal law to represent your case strongly. A knowledgeable lawyer is familiar with the law and may have handled similar cases. Thus, he can provide you with the best solutions to prove your innocence in court. Now, you know you should hire someone who has enough knowledge and experience in criminal law. This will enhance your chance of winning the case. So, make sure you find an expert criminal lawyer who has enough experience to defend in the criminal prosecution.

2. Research Skills 

Your lawyer should be able to research the court proceedings and legal research to find precedents and other cases with a bearing on his. Apart from this, he should also look for any evidence missed out by the police in the case. The lawyer should investigate the case in a more deep sense so that nothing is overlooked. Moreover, the attorney should have a sharp mind to look at things more clearly. He should have an analytical mindset to approach.

3. Communication 

Having an attorney with great relational abilities can be an extraordinary method to win your criminal case. Notwithstanding the charge you’re confronting, it’s critical to pick a criminal safeguard attorney who can convey lawful exhortation such that you’re ready to unmistakably comprehend the laws associated with your circumstance, the alternatives accessible to you, and the potential issues that may tag along the way.

The lawyer should be a gifted communicator. He must be a great speaker and should utilize his ability all through the court. It does not end with just being a good speaker, but your lawyer should also be a great listener so that he can answer you. This will help you build a great relationship between you and your lawyer.

4. Confidentiality 

When it comes to a criminal case, you should always look up to a lawyer that maintains confidentiality and understands the importance of secrecy. The right attorney will take care of your every personal information with utmost care. So, if your attorney isn’t keeping information closed between you and is sharing it among other peers and external sources, then you know there is no confidentiality maintained. 

Thus always look for someone that does not compromise with your personal information and case-related matters. 

5. Flexible with Fee Arrangements 

Most of the time, hiring a criminal defense lawyer is quite expensive. Many professional criminal defense attorneys in a law firm that offers top-rated legal services and exceptional customer service ask for an advance payment. Thus, you need to look for a firm that is open to flexible fee arrangements during the duration of the case. 

You should also look for law firms that are ready to take a case within your budget. So that you get the best legal representation without compromising your bank account.

Conclusion

At last, every law firm has highly experienced and reliable Criminal Defense Attorney Fort Mill that may fit your budget. But the most important thing that matters is how much you can trust them with your case. Thus, you need to make sure everything is fine according to you so that you can rely on them and have the utmost confidence in them. I wish you all the luck that prevails!

 

Aggravating Factors That Will Make Your DUI Even Worse – Guest Post

   

DUI

Getting arrested for driving under the influence is bad enough.

Whether your DUI case is prosecuted under state law or federal law, the consequences are just as serious.

You can always get the services of a local DUI lawyer or a federal charges attorney to improve your chances of avoiding the penalties. 

Still, if a judge decides to convict you just the same, you can expect to pay hefty fines, lose your driving privileges, undergo probation, install an interlock ignition device in your car, attend DUI school, and spend time in jail, among other things.

However, if you think things couldn’t get any worse, you couldn’t be more wrong.

DUIs can quickly get from bad to worse if the following aggravating circumstances are present at the time of your arrest:

A BAC Way Above The Legal Limit

You can get arrested for DUI in most states if your BAC level is at 0.08% or more.

However, a BAC level between 0.15 and 0.19 percent will lead to an Extreme DUI charge in Arizona.

If that BAC level is at 0.20% or more, then the state will charge you with Super Extreme DUI.

From the sound of the said charges alone, you can already tell that the penalties and fines that come with them will be much bigger and harsher.

Jail time for a first-time Extreme DUI offender, for example, is set at 30 days. For those convicted of Super Extreme DUI, that figure increases to 45 days.

You’re A Repeat Offender

While courts are generally more lenient to first-timers, repeat offenders do not get the same kind of treatment.

If it’s your second DUI, you’ll be paying higher fines, serving more time in jail, and suffering a lengthier driver’s license suspension.

A third DUI offense, however, is an entirely different story. While your first two DUI charges will be generally treated as a misdemeanor, a third offense will be upgraded to a felony in some states.

Jail or prison time for a felony DUI in some states may range from six months to a full year. Fines could also be up to $10,000.

You Had Children As Passengers

One of the biggest mistakes you can ever make if you decide to drink and drive is to have children in the car with you.

If you’re over the age of 18 and you get arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence with kids in the vehicle, you will quickly find yourself in a world of trouble.

Having children in the car during a DUI is an aggravating factor that results in severe consequences, from years of jail time, dozens of hours of community service, and thousands of dollars in fines, although the figures may vary from state to state.

And as if aggravated DUI charges are not enough, DUI offenders caught driving with minors as passengers will also be facing separate child endangerment charges.

While child endangerment laws differ by state, the punishments are pretty much similar. The severity of the penalties will depend on whether you were charged with misdemeanor or felony child endangerment.

Since a conviction for both DUI and child endangerment will potentially ruin your life, please have the presence of mind never to drink and drive with children in the car.

You Caused Injury Or Death

Nothing could make things worse for you than if you injured or killed another person in an accident caused by your drunk driving.

DUIs that involve serious bodily injury or death are often charged as a felony, and as such, they carry severe consequences. 

The penalties may differ from one state to another, but a felony conviction for a DUI that hurt or killed someone generally comes with multi-year prison sentences that could reach 25 years in some states and fines of up to $10,000 or more.

Injured victims and the families of those who died in an alcohol-related accident may also charge the DUI offender in civil court for damages.

Worst of all, the mutilation, disfigurement, permanent disability, or death of a drunk driving victim will be gnawing at the conscience of the DUI offender who caused it for the rest of his or her life.

If you drink and get behind the wheel, make sure you know a skilled and experienced DUI attorney who will represent you if you get arrested for drunk driving.

Still, there’s no better way to avoid being in a really bad DUI situation than not drinking and driving at all.

 

About the Author

Andrea Williams is the Community Manager at The Law Offices of Alcock & Associates P.C., a premier law group in Arizona that provides legal services to clients involved in Personal Injury, DUI, Immigration and Criminal cases. She enjoys cooking, reading books and playing minigolf with her friends and family in her spare time. 

 

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on DUI Rates-Guest Post

   

By Author Michelle White

There is no doubt about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had (and is still having) on our world today.

More than two million people worldwide have already died due to the coronavirus. The global economy is in trouble, with businesses shutting down and individuals losing their sources of livelihood left and right.

Wherever you look, the pandemic has done nothing but adversely impact every aspect of our lives.

However, even with the darkest of clouds, there is always a silver lining.

As devastating as COVID-19 is proving to be, the global disruption in industries such as travel, transportation, and manufacturing that pandemic-related restrictions are causing is indirectly positively impacting the environment.

With fewer people on the road because of restrictions, is it possible that the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting DUI alcohol cases in a positive way, too? Let’s take a look at what’s happening in some parts of the country in this regard.

Missouri

According to data from the Missouri Highway Patrol, there is a drop in the average number of drug- and alcohol-related crashes from January to June.

While the average for that period from 2016 through 2019 sits at over 100 deaths and 1,700 injuries in crashes statewide, only 69 deaths and 937 injuries were recorded for 2020.

Oregon

From March to May 2020—the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic—there were only 664 impaired driving cases in all of Oregon, a nearly 13% drop from the 760 recorded for the same period in 2019.

Arizona

Arizona may have some of the strictest DUI laws in the country, but that didn’t stop more than 7,500 people from getting apprehended for drunk driving from January to mid-April 2019.

For the same period in 2020, that figure has dropped to a little over 5,000.

California

According to the California Highway Patrol, there was a significant reduction in the number of DUI arrests in March and April 2020.

In March and April 2019, California authorities made 7,224 DUI arrests. That figure fell by nearly 42% for the same time span in 2020, with only 4,223 DUI arrests made.

Drop in DUI Cases Is Not Universal

Encouraging as the decrease in DUI incidents in the places mentioned above is, not all areas are as fortunate. In fact, many of them registered a spike in the number of drunk driving arrests.

Morgan County in Alabama, for example, reported a nearly 54% increase in DUI arrests. From January to September 2020, there were 66 arrests, a significant increase from the 43 DUI arrests made for the same period in 2019.

The Colorado State Patrol also declared that there were twice the number of impairment-related deaths in the state during the first part of 2020 than there were in the same period in 2019.

There is also a report from some counties in Florida about a 21% increase in the number of DUI arrests.

DUI Cases Persist Despite Pandemic

It’s easy to look at reports of fewer DUI arrests and crashes at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as another positive effect of the coronavirus.

However, the fact that many areas still saw an increase in DUI rates despite the pandemic makes COVID-19’s overall and long-term impact on drunk driving a bit uncertain.

Still, it would be fair to recognize that lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, and the closure of bars and pubs across the country did play a role in the reduction of drunk driving incidents during the early days of the pandemic.

Then again, many parts of the country are already lifting lockdowns and opening bars, pubs, and restaurants. Add that to the fact that online alcohol sales are surging amid the pandemic, and the likelihood that DUI cases will rise once again is high.

DUI Arrests In The Time of COVID

With authorities not missing a beat about actively enforcing DUI laws, refraining from drinking and driving is the smartest thing a person can do, especially when a global pandemic is still ruining people’s lives everywhere.

Consider this: a DUI arrest pre-pandemic was bad enough. If you’re arrested for driving under the influence, you will have to deal with litigation costs and fees, which could burn a hole in your pocket.

If convicted, you will have to fork out more money to pay for fines, lose your driving privileges, and probably spend some time behind bars.

Now imagine if you were arrested and convicted for a DUI at the height of a global pandemic.

U.S. jails do implement COVID-19 safety measures, but spending time there in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic still puts you at greater risk.

Having an experienced DUI lawyer on your side increases your chances of avoiding jail time. However, avoiding drinking and driving altogether remains your best chance of not getting into that situation, with or without

 

The Most Common Ignition Interlock Myths- Guest Author

   

Ignition Interlock Myths

An ignition interlock device or IID is a small handheld breathalyzer that’s designed to measure the amount of alcohol in the user’s breath. Also known as in-car breathalyzer, blow and go, and car interlock, it prevents users from starting the vehicle until a breath alcohol test has been taken.

 

Only those who are arrested and convicted of DUI are required to install an ignition interlock device. Since not everyone is familiar with the device, there have been widespread IID myths and misconceptions floating around that need to be debunked. Below are some of the most common ignition interlock myths and the truths behind them.

Myth #01: You can trick the ignition interlock device if you use the right methods.

 

Some people believe that when they obscure the smell of alcohol on their breath by using a chewing gum, the device won’t be able to recognize the alcohol in the sample provided. There is no truth to this. If truth be told, the device is designed to register breath-alcohol concentration at the molecular level. 

Myth #02: Ignition interlock devices can also detect drugs.

 

While driving impaired by drugs is considered illegal, an ignition interlock device won’t be able to detect drug use. Even if you are not under the influence of alcohol, but you have used drugs, it is recommended that you don’t even attempt to drive. 

Myth #03: An IID violates your constitutional rights.

 

The courts interpret driving as a privilege and not a right. Once convicted of DUI, you lose that privilege. The legislation intends to give you a chance to regain your driving privilege instead of suspension.

 

Myth #04: Someone else can blow into your IID for you.

 

Having a sober friend blow into your IID is prohibited and can be considered tampering with the device. It is important to remember that you will be required to do a retest after a few minutes of driving.  That said, even if you get a sober friend to start the vehicle, you will eventually fail the retest.

 

Most ignition interlock devices come equipped with a camera that will capture a picture when the device is used. Many states will not take tampering lightly and might lead to adverse consequences like license suspension and even jail time.

Myth #05: Once the device has been installed, no one else can operate the vehicle.

 

Even after the device has been installed, any licensed motorist can lawfully operate the vehicle. However, that person will still be required to blow into the device. Unfortunately, you will be the one to answer if there are any violations.

Myth #06: Installing an IID can damage the vehicle.

 

Only approved service centers are allowed to install and uninstall the device so no damage will be done to the vehicle. The ignition interlock is installed into the vehicle’s wiring which is connected to the engine. Once uninstalled, all the wiring will be returned to its original configuration. 

Myth #07: Some foods or beverages can cause a false positive.

 

Some foods and drinks can register alcohol much like other conventional alcoholic beverages. To avoid a similar scenario from occurring, you need to remember that if alcohol is present in the food or beverage you consume or drink, it is possible for the breathalyzer to detect it in the sample you provide.

 

In line with this, it would be best to wait for at least 15 minutes after a meal before providing a sample. Also, items like breath spray or mouthwash might lead to a positive BrAC reading if taken before giving a sample. 

 

Myth #08: If the device fails, you will be unable to start and move your vehicle.

 

There’s an emergency override feature that allows you to call the service provider to activate the bypass or override function. This one-time-only feature allows the vehicle to start without requiring a breath sample. You can then drive your vehicle to the service provider for repair or replacement of the IID.

Myth #09: If the engine stalls, you are required to resubmit another breath sample to restart the vehicle.

 

If the vehicle stalls the first time, a grace period or sample-free start is allowed so you can start the engine within three minutes.

Conclusion

 

Now that you know the truths behind some of the most prevalent IID myths, you will know how to use one properly and responsibly. To play safe, it is recommended that you check with the service provider if you have other questions you need answers to.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Lauren McDowell is the Content Marketing Strategist for Interlock Install, a Phoenix-based company that performs the installations, service appointments, and 

removals for ADS Interlock. When not writing, she attends book clubs and enjoys reading stories to her kids.

What Should An Injured Passenger Do After A Car Accident?- Guest Post

   

Car Accident

A vehicle crash can be a traumatic occurrence for everyone involved. If you are an injured passenger in a car crash, you might be extremely uncertain about the legal procedure that must be pursued in compliance with state laws.

 

On the bright side, riders usually don’t have to think about lawsuits, so the court process should be a bit less daunting for you—provided you take the appropriate measures.

Here are a lot of things to bear in mind.

 

First and foremost, what to do 

When you think that you or anyone else was hurt in the crash, the number one priority is to find medical treatment for yourself and everyone else who wants it. Do your best to keep still when you’re waiting for support, and don’t want to move if you think you can’t. Be sure that the local police and Ambulance responders are notified of the crash and all other wounded drivers, riders, or bystanders.

 

Bear in mind that even though you don’t believe that something is wrong, you might also have been hurt in the crash. If you notice the signs of headache, and severe wounds, immediately call your doctor as quickly as possible.

 

Who do you need to talk about the incident?

As a passenger involved in a car crash, different state law allows you to share some details with the other party involved. The same happens to drivers, cyclists, and other travelers. If you need to witness in the future, you will be asked for your contact address. If you’re confused, it may be better to call your lawyer for advice.

 

How the incident happened 

Before making a lawsuit, you need to determine if one party’s actions (or inactions) were the crash’s primary cause. You can only effectively seek liability for the injury to a reckless driver.

 

Your personal injuries lawsuit could be made against one driver or several drivers if there was a two-car crash with a fault mutual between them.

 

E.g., if you were harmed as a passenger in a rear-ended vehicle, the blame would actually lay with the other driver, then you would file a lawsuit with the other driver’s insurance agent.

 

What kind of insurance can you claim?

You may be asking what sort of damages you might sue for money if you have a viable claim, and understandably so. The response would depend on the situation of the incident and the extent of the injuries. Potential liabilities can include hospital costs (including potential medical bills), property losses, pain, misery, missed income, and permanent illness or disability.

 

How do you make a solid argument?

To make sure your lawsuit is effective, you’re going to have to find documentation and evidence relating to the car crash and your injury. These can include photos of the incident, medical history, testimonies, and police accounts, to name a few.

 

What applies after multiple passenger accidents

Often the car crash allegations will get confusing as if several drivers were involved in a car wreck. If this occurs, and any wounded passenger charges against the reckless driver, it is likely that the combined value of the accident lawsuits will outweigh the driver’s insurance. In that scenario, any wounded person would have to make up for less compensation.

 

How to Maximize Your Chances

If you want to maximize the chance of making a good disability lawsuit, leaving you with more money for stuff like hospital costs and missed income, you can hire a professional solicitor to support you. Professional Car accident attorneys Stuart, Martin County, are committed to assisting victims of injury through a complicated litigation process. Call us now for all the answers to your urgent questions.

 

Bio–

 

Navigating after a car incident can become very difficult. If you are an injured passenger in a car crash, please contact Car accident attorneys Stuart, Martin County. We are happy to guide you navigate the process of making the correct cases to help you get the reward you deserve.

 

Crary Buchanan is a specialized law firm committed to the offering of professional legal services in Florida. Our lawyers have extensive professional experience in nearly every major field of law, and many of our partners are certified by the Florida Bar in their areas of specialization.

Facts About Blood Alcohol Concentration That You Need To Know – Guest Post

   

Blood Alcohol

A breathalyzer is a tool the police use to determine if a driver they pull over on suspicion of driving under the influence or DUI is impaired by alcohol.

With a breathalyzer, cops can measure drivers’ blood alcohol concentration or BAC and arrest them if the device displays a result above their state’s legal limit.

Many drivers have ended up being convicted and subjected to several DUI penalties on the strength of their BAC levels at the time of their arrest.

Here are some more facts about blood alcohol concentration that you need to know.

BAC Can Rise Quickly

The human body absorbs alcohol quickly.

Within at least 30 minutes after a drink, alcohol will already be detectable in our system. That’s because when we drink, we directly absorb alcohol through the small intestine and stomach walls.

From there, alcohol will go into our bloodstream and start making its way throughout our body to our brain.

Measuring BAC

BAC is measured in milligrams or mg of alcohol per 100 milliliters or ml of blood.

Results are expressed as a decimal, and a BAC of 0.10% means that every 1,000 parts of an individual’s blood contain one part alcohol.

Not All States Have A Legal BAC Limit of 0.08%

Most states arrest drivers over the age of 21 for DUI if their BAC levels hit or breach the legal limit of 0.08%.

However, Utah lowered its legal BAC limit in December 2018. While all the other states are still at 0.08%, Utah is now enforcing a legal BAC limit of 0.05%, the lowest in the entire United States.

Factors That Affect BAC

Several factors may affect an individual’s BAC levels, and they include:

  • Gender —Women tend to get drunk faster—and get a higher BAC—than men even if they consumed the same amount of alcohol. That’s because women produce smaller quantities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the body, than men.
  • Weight —The less you weigh, the higher your BAC levels will be.
  • The elapsed time between drinks —A person’s BAC may continue to rise several hours after the last drink.
  • Presence of food in the stomach —Eating before or while consuming alcohol can slow down the rate of alcohol absorption, but food will not wholly absorb alcohol to prevent you from getting drunk. Once the alcohol enters your bloodstream, you will feel its effects.
  • Percentage of alcohol content –The higher a drink’s alcohol content, the more elevated your BAC will be. Vodka, whiskey, and other hard liquor types have higher alcohol content than beer or wine.
  • Rate of consumption –The human body can only metabolize one standard drink per hour. The faster you put drinks away, the quicker your BAC will rise.
  • Amount of body fat —Since body fat has very low water content and does not absorb alcohol, alcohol stays in the bloodstream until the liver breaks it down. The more body fat you have, the higher your BAC will be.

Coffee Doesn’t Lower Your BAC

Many people think that drinking coffee after consuming alcohol will reduce their BAC and render them sober enough to drive.

While caffeine may make you feel less sleepy or drowsy, it doesn’t do anything to improve your coordination, reaction time, and decision-making, all of which have already been hampered by your consumption of alcohol.

Aside from drinking coffee, other ineffective ways often touted as instant BAC-lowering tricks include:

  • Exercising
  • Taking cold showers
  • Drinking water
  • Chewing gum

Breathalyzers Could Take Inaccurate BAC Readings

Breathalyzers may be a primary tool in combating DUI, but they are not always accurate.

A breathalyzer may detect traces of alcohol in a driver who just used mouthwash, which happens to contain alcohol.

Breathalyzers also need to be properly calibrated regularly.

People living with diabetes tend to have increased acetone levels in their bodies, which breathalyzers could mistake for ethanol.

Because of the breathalyzer’s inability to provide accurate BAC readings 100% of the time, DUI attorneys in Phoenix and everywhere else use it as a defense for a client accused of drunk driving.

These are just some of the facts that you must know about blood alcohol concentration.

While knowing more about BAC will be quite useful for drivers who don’t want to be arrested for DUI, the best way to avoid that situation is never to drink and drive at all.

However, if you still get arrested for DUI due to an elevated BAC reading despite not having had a drop of it, an experienced DUI lawyer should be able to get the court to drop the charges against you because of an inaccurate breath test.

 

About the Author

Andrea Williams is the Community Manager at The Law Offices of Alcock & Associates P.C., a premier law group in Arizona that provides legal services to clients involved in Personal Injury, DUI, Immigration and Criminal cases. She enjoys cooking, reading books and playing minigolf with her friends and family in her spare time. 

 

Can I go to jail for not paying my debts?

  

This year has been extremely devastating for the finances of millions of Americans. Many have either lost their jobs or have had to close their businesses due to the quarantines imposed to curb the pandemic. As a result, the debts of countless people have increased beyond their ability to pay. If you are going through a similar situation, then you might be wondering: Can I go to jail for not paying my debts? The answer is more complicated than it seems.

Now, one of the preferred tactics of debt collectors is to threaten debtors with jail time if they don’t pay their debts, and given the uncertain economic outlook the world is facing, creditors are likely to be increasingly ruthless about getting their money back.

However, your creditors probably can’t send you to jail for falling behind on your payments, but that doesn’t mean they can’t take legal action or that you can’t go to jail because of some specific types of debt.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a legal option to help you get rid of most of your debts, bankruptcy may be exactly what you need. If you want to file for bankruptcy quickly and effectively, you should work with a chapter 7 bankruptcy huntington beach, and KT Bankruptcy Lawyer may be an excellent option. Their team of attorneys has helped hundreds of people get a fresh financial start, and if you’d like to achieve that too, don’t hesitate to contact them.

You can’t be arrested for civil debts

For starters, you won’t go to jail for not paying civil debts such as student loans, medical bills, credit card debt, or utility bills.  In fact, according to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten you with prison time for falling behind on your payments.

However, that hasn’t stopped many debt collectors from trying to force you to pay by threatening to deprive you of your freedom. If you find yourself in a situation like this, don’t be intimidated and contact an attorney as soon as you can.

What can debt collectors do?

Simply because they can’t throw you in jail doesn’t mean that debt collectors can’t do anything to force you to pay your debts, since they could file a lawsuit against you. If you lose the lawsuit, the court will probably issue an order to garnish your wages.

A wage garnishment is a court order that forces your employer to withhold part of your monthly salary. This money will be used to pay your debts in small monthly installments.

However, the most effective way to prevent a debt collector from taking legal action against you, and to stop wage garnishments, is to file for bankruptcy. Once you file for bankruptcy, your creditors are legally obligated to stop collecting the debt, and if you file for Chapter 13, you will have the opportunity to develop a payment plan that will get you out of debt in 3 to 5 years.

What debts can get you arrested?

However, just because you can’t be arrested because of “civil debts” doesn’t mean there aren’t debts that will send you to prison. The truth is that in some states, you could end up spending time in prison due to two types of debt:

Tax debt: Not paying your taxes is a federal crime. If you are prosecuted and convicted of this crime, you may have to serve time in jail.

Child Support Debts: Not paying child support is considered contempt of court since the court ordered you to pay it in the first place. You could spend up to 6 months in jail for failure to pay this type of debt.

If you’re drowning in debt, consider Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy can help you free yourself from your creditors and your debts. In other words, it’s an alternative that will allow you to rebuild your finances from scratch and restore your peace of mind.

However, if you are considering bankruptcy then you should work with a bankruptcy attorney in Huntington Beach that you can trust.

The KT Bankruptcy Lawyer team is always available to you and is committed to not letting anything stand in the way of your financial fresh start. If you have further questions about the process, contact them now for a free consultation.

Want to know more? Visit Legal Facts

If you want to know more details about the bankruptcy process, visit Legal Facts! There you will find easy-to-read and easy-to-understand legal articles that will allow you to learn about bankruptcy, consumer law, workers’ compensation, divorce, and many other legal topics in a matter of minutes. Plus, at legalfacts.org you can also access a network of lawyers in every corner of the United States especially in a santa monica bankruptcy lawyers who are ready to help you with whatever you need.

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