In Minnesota, a person can be charged with a DWI/DUI for having more than alcohol in their system; they can also be charged for being under the influence of drugs even if they have a valid prescription for them. Controlled substances can impede a person’s ability to drive a motor vehicle. Even if the drug is prescribed, it can still be illegal to drive while under the influence of it if it is a Schedule I or II controlled substance. Here are some instances of how a person can receive a DWI in Minneapolis while under the influence of controlled substances: An individual sustains an injury in an accident and her doctor prescribes her Vicodin so she can tolerate the pain. She gets in her car to run to the store for milk, but an officer notices that she swerved left of center, so he pulls her over. He suspects her of driving under the influence, so she submits to the requested tests and it is found that she has narcotics in her system. Because Vicodin is a Schedule II drug, it is illegal to drive after taking it, even if it is prescribed. A college student goes to a party and smokes marijuana. He declined alcohol since he didn’t have a designated driver. On his way home, a patrol officer notices he has a broken headlight, so he pulls him over. The officer determines that the student may be under the influence of a substance, so he has the student submit to urine testing. When the marijuana is found in his system, he is charged with DWI. A gentleman decides to get his ATV and go mudding with some of his friends. He has a friend to pick him up because the side effects of the Adderall. He hits the trails with his friends, but he flips the ATV and someone calls the police. Because Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance, he can be charged with DWI although he has a prescription. Many individuals throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul do not have prescriptions for the prescription drugs that they take. They may steal them off of family members, friends, or they get them illegally on the Internet. Either way, there is a need for a Minneapolis DWI attorney to help defend against the charges. There are times when a prescription drug DWI charge can be successfully challenged. Minnesota statute 169A.46 subd. 2 offers an affirmative defense when a person is charged with a prescription drug charge. There is a clause in subdivision 1 that states a person can prove that they were taking their prescription according to the orders of their doctor. If this fact is presented, then it is possible for the charges to be dismissed. The only downfall to this defense is most defendants will testify in their own defense, which means the burden of proof leaves the shoulders of the prosecution and moves to the defense. Your attorney will provide you with advice on what… Read more {+}
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Auto Theft: How Easy it May be to Commit
Auto theft is a serious offense in the state of Minnesota. If the charge is for grand theft auto, then it is a felony charge that can lead to time in prison and fines. What many individuals do not realize is how easy auto theft may be to commit. In fact, it is so easy that some individuals may not realize they have done anything wrong until they see the police car lights behind them. There are different types of auto theft offenses and they include: Taking a car that belongs to someone else for a “joy ride.” Selling the stolen car Selling parts from the stolen car Trading the stolen car for drugs or other products or services Arrangement for the stealing of the car in order to commit insurance fraud Stealing the car for vehicle cloning Many authorities do not like the word “joy ride,” although that is something that some juveniles will do. They will take someone’s car for a ride and some even believe that they will be fine as long as they return it before the owner realizes it is gone. Usually, the owner realizes that their vehicle is gone and they report it stolen. A person may also report a car stolen if it is in their name and their significant other takes it without their permission. While reporting the car stolen is not something that would typically happen, it can happen if the couple is having a dispute. The partner who took the car may not realize they did anything wrong, especially if they have been allowed to drive the car in the past. In regards to selling the car or parts from the car, this is actually a more complicated form of auto theft. The individual who steals the vehicle and goes through the trouble of selling the car or its parts knows what they are doing. So does someone who steals the car for cloning purposes. When an individual clones a vehicle, they typically do so when the car’s title is not clean and they wish to replace it with the VIN of a clean title. This results in a false registration document and enables the auto thief to sell the car with a clean title, getting the most out of its value. A person may also steal another car to make their own vehicle look clean. When a vehicle owner arranges for the stealing of their vehicle, it is usually because it is a leased car that has high mileage, resulting in high-mileage penalty costs. If the car is stolen, then they cannot prove the mileage went over. This is actually insurance fraud. Some individuals leasing vehicles in Minnesota have actually gone as far as sinking their vehicles in lakes. If you are charged with Auto theft in Minnesota, it is important for you to secure the representation of aSt. Paul criminal defense attorney who can prove what happened in your case. If you took a vehicle without the intent… Read more {+}
Wrongfully Charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct
It is difficult for some people to hear that a person has been acquitted of criminal sexual conduct. However, Minnesota does not necessary have to corroborate the story of the accuser in order for someone to be charged or convicted of the crime. It is outlined in Minnesota Statute 609.347 subd. 1 that the testimony of a victim does not have to be corroborated. This was also stated in the case State v. Ani (Minn 1977). “Corroboration” is defined as other evidence that supports the accusation of the accuser. There have been a number of cases throughout Minnesota in which individuals have been wrongfully charged of criminal sexual conduct because of simple accusations. Not only does this hurt the accused, but it also hurts the credibility of those who have legitimately been victimized. It is a disservice to law enforcement and the court system as well. Even if a person does not have a prior criminal record and has a flawless reputation, the accusation takes precedent and the case is aggressively prosecuted. Nationwide, there have been quite a few false accusations. These false accusations have led to convictions that sent these individuals to prison under the title of “rapist” or “sex offender.” DNA evidence has led to the release of some of them, while others are still waiting. When DNA evidence has led to the declaration of their innocence and they are released from prison, they tend to win large monetary settlements for the wrongful conviction and the years of their lives that they lost. Sometimes false accusations stem from custody issues or out of “revenge.” For instance, a parent may coach their young child to say that the other person touched them inappropriately in an effort to keep the other parent from ever gaining custody of the child. Other times, someone may be mad at another and wish to get revenge by going as far as accusing them of sexual assault. Also unfortunate is when someone makes the accusation for the sole purpose of getting attention. Sometimes these individuals recant and other times they see it through to the conclusion. In some cases, they will come out and say after the conviction that their accusations were false, but it takes much more than that to get a person out of prison. However, you cannot be convicted of criminal sexual conduct unless the prosecutor convinces the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that each of the elements of criminal sexual conduct exist. The job of the defense is to implant reasonable doubt where it belongs to get the correct verdict. Nonetheless, the prosecutor legally points to the jury and states that if they believe the victim, that is enough evidence to convict the defendant. In other words, the conviction occurs simply because of another person’s word and not the evidence or lack of evidence in the case. Most juries do review the facts and evidence in the case, knowing that false accusations do happen and the defense’s job is to point… Read more {+}
The importance of responding immediately with “I’m invoking my 5th Amendment right to counsel”
Under the Fifth Amendment, a defendant is given the right to not testify. This means that the judge, prosecutor, and even the lawyer of the defendant cannot force them to testify on their own behalf in fear that they may self-incriminate without intending to do so. Any time someone says, “I plead to the Fifth” or “pleading to the Fifth,” they are doing so because it is their right to not answer questions. When in the custody of police or when in court, a person can exercise their Fifth Amendment right to not self-incriminate. The origin of this right is rather interesting in that it originates from the refusal of the Puritans to cooperate with the English interrogators. The Puritans would often be tortured or coerced into confessing their religious affiliation and they would be considered guilty if they were silent. English law granted the right for citizens to not self-incriminate in the mid-1600s when a revolution created the greater parliamentary power. This right then followed the Puritans to America, where it would be included in the Bill of Rights. When you are pulled over for DWI or you are charged with any type of criminal offense, you do not have to answer the questions of law enforcement. You can invoke your Fifth Amendment right to stay silent until you have counsel present. Your Miranda Rights say that you have the “right to remain silent” and that “anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law.” It also states you have the “right to an attorney.” When you contact your attorney after invoking your Fifth Amendment right, your attorney will advise you on what you should and should not say. You can have your attorney present during questioning so that you do not self-incriminate yourself. Even if you feel your statement is completely innocent, it can be misconstrued by law enforcement to mean something that it doesn’t and this can be used against you in court. By invoking your Fifth Amendment right to counsel, you could be making the difference between freedom and conviction. It is important to note that the Fifth Amendment right to self-incrimination does not extend to blood tests, fingerprinting, or DNA evidence that is being gathered for a criminal case. The Supreme Court has upheld that the privilege only extends to communicative evidence, such as interrogation. DNA and fingerprints, in particular are considered non-communicative or non-testimonial. The importance of responding immediately with “I’m invoking my 5th Amendment right to counsel” was last modified: November 19th, 2014 by Alex DeMarco
Minnesota County Gets Probation Security System
Brown County commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the purchase and installation of a wireless personnel security system for the Probation Department building. The county was seeing a rise in issues with probation violations and the individuals who violated their probation coming into the building and displaying dangerous behavior, especially when addressing violations or other issues. This is a system that other counties in Minnesota could implement as their budgets allow. Brown County received a $3,000 budget for the security system purchase. This is a trend that can be expected to spread throughout Minnesota as more probation departments experience problems from violators coming into the offices in hopes to explain themselves. However, the issues haven’t just been with probation violators who find that they cannot stop legal action against them when they come into the office. There are some simply checking in who have displayed erratic behavior. In Brown County alone, 116 calls were made to law enforcement regarding unruly and dangerous individuals and Brown County does not deal with as many individuals on probation as some of the larger counties, such as Hennepin County. One call was made regarding a woman who tried to injure herself with a sharp object. There have also been calls regarding people bringing loaded handguns into the office or bringing in large knives. When this occurs, felony level offenders are violating their pre-trial release conditions and this is causing them to face possible prison sentences. Probation officers deal with individuals every day who are angry, suffer from mental health issues, and who are being treated by mood altering chemicals. Many of these individuals who are visiting their probation officers with weapons in hand are not allowed to carry weapons as part of the conditions of their probation. They are to not possess weapons or commit any other crimes and bringing weapons into the building like that is considered a crime and the charges are enhanced if some kind of threat is made. This is resulting in probation violators in Minnesota going back to jail. Minnesota County Gets Probation Security System was last modified: November 19th, 2014 by Alex DeMarco