Legal Blog

As experts in our craft we like to provide our past, current and future clients, as well as our community with resources to better help them navigate the complex world of criminal law. Whether you're seeking guidance in one of our practice areas, looking for practical tips to navigate legal challenges or simply finding a deeper understanding of your rights, our blog is designed to be a valuable resource to you.

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Please note, our legal blog is intended for informational purposes only. While we strive to offer accurate content, the legal landscape is constantly changing and no blog can substitute personalized advice and guidance of a qualified attorney. For a free consultation, please contact us directly.

Can You Go To Jail For Driving While Suspended In Philadelphia?

After the first one? You bet. In this blog I will talk about driving while suspended, 75 Pa.C.S.A. 1543a. I will discuss driving while suspended DUI in another post. There are many ways to get suspended. Getting too many points in a short period for different traffic offenses. Driving with suspended registration. Driving without insurance. Getting in a car accident and not paying the judgement. Not responding to a traffic ticket. Yes, you can be suspended for not pleading guilty…

Is it illegal to drive while on Ambien or another sleeping pill in Pennsylvania?

The answer is: yes, if they impair you. Pennsylvania punishes drug-based DUI offenses the harshest. It does not matter if it is a sleeping pill. Common sleeping medications are Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata. If you take these, be very careful. Ambien is a particular nasty sleeping medication that can lead to a condition called somnambulism. Somnambulism is another word for sleepwalking or doing other things while in a sleep state. One of which is sleep driving. That is never a…

Can taking Xanax lead to a DUI in Pennsylvania?

Yes. People taking Xanax can be pulled over and charged for drugged driving. Xanax is a brand name of Alprazolam. It is a sedative, from a family of anti-anxiety medications called benzodiazepines. These drugs work by depressing the central nervous system. They make people feel relaxed and calm. They are used as a short-term treatment for anxiety and insomnia (See Medline Plus for further information) Similar drugs include: Taking Xanax and then driving can leave drivers too calm – it…

How Adderall can lead to a DUI charge in Pennsylvania

Adderall is a stimulant designed primarily to treat ADHD and other attention disorders. Adderall is a combination of the drugs dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. These drugs work to keep someone focused and attentive. Adderall is used to treat ADHD and other attention disorders. Amphetamines are DEA Schedule II (Two) drugs. Drugs similar to Adderall are: Ritalin Focalin Adzenys Vyvanse These drugs work by stimulating the central nervous system. As the stimulation begins to fade around six hours on average, it can…

Five Common prescription drugs that lead to DUI charges in Pennsylvania

Five Prescription Drugs that can lead to a DUI - Manchester and Associates

Most drivers think that having a prescription for their medication protect them from DUI charges. That is not correct and can get a driver in trouble. Pennsylvania DUI statutes make it illegal to drive while impaired by a drug or combination of drugs. The word ‘drug’ in the statute is not limited to illegal drugs or even DEA scheduled drugs. Here are Five common prescription drugs that can lead to being charged with a DUI: Here is how a typical…

Extradition and Pennsylvania

People freely cross state lines in the United States. When someone is wanted by law enforcement authorities across state lines, an arrest warrant is often issued. When a person in Pennsylvania is arrested and detained on behalf of another state, the process is called extradition. It is important for individuals and families to understand this often daunting and potentially confusing process. An individual may find themselves arrested in Pennsylvania as a “fugitive from justice,” a term for someone who is…

Not Very Neighborly: Simple Assault Charges filed in Centre County

Last month a Bellefonte man was charged with simple assault. It stemmed from a fight with his neighbor.  Most neighbors resolve their disputes peacefully. As a Bellefonte man found out last month when he was charged with simple assault after a fight with his neighbor, when violence between neighbors does break out, criminal charges often follow. Simple assault is one of the most commonly charged offenses in Pennsylvania because so many things can be considered assaults. In Pennsylvania, the Crimes…

DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE. NO MATTER WHAT.

From the desk of Brian Manchester, Esq: Upon first meeting with a client and hearing their story, the first question I ask is “have spoken to the police?” If they tell me that they have, I then ask “have you told the police what you told me? Often enough, the answer to both of these questions is yes. When I hear a yes to either or both of those questions, I cringe. Why? Because talking to the police gives control…

HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE WHILE DUI

CHARGES FILED IN MCKEAN COUNTY An Olean, NY woman was charged with Homicide by Vehicle while DUI and related charges following a vehicle accident that occurred in January of 2021 in Ceres Township, McKean County. Among the charges filed was possession of marijuana. The news report said that the woman charged was taken to a hospital in Olean, NY after the accident. That is a significant fact in this case. It is significant because her blood was likely drawn at…

TEXAS MAN CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE IN UNION COUNTY

This week the Pennsylvania State Police announced the arrest of Travey Rollins for the murder of a woman whose body was found alongside Interstate 80 last week near Milton, Pennsylvania. Currently the State Police say he is charged with Homicide. In Pennsylvania, Homicide is a general charge. At the time of arraignment, the prosecutor must pick a specific category of Homicide. In Pennsylvania the specific charges under the general category of homicide are First-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder, Voluntary…