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Why Hospital Blood Test Are Horrible

Blood tests in hospitals are perfectly fine for use in diagnosing diseases and treating patients. However, when it comes to their use in forensic tests for prosecution purposes, they are bad. The manufacturer of the blood test analyzing machines specifically states that the tests are for diagnostic use only. Hospitals do not follow forensic testing procedures or international standards of measurement. At best they are a guess of what the alcohol level may be. A doctor does not care if…

How To Expose Bad Blood Tests In Pennsylvania Alcohol DUI Cases

Before I start to go over some of the basic issues in exposing blood tests in Pennsylvania alcohol DUI cases, I want to give you a brief summary of my journey to get to where I am. I became a lawyer in 2000. My father was a defense lawyer. He represented a lot of people for DUI cases. He was a great lawyer and made a lot of great legal arguments and did well for his clients, but he did…

How To Find The Best DUI Lawyer In Pennsylvania

Part One of this blog: Best DUI Lawyer In Pennsylvania In my previous blog, I discussed the four types of lawyers that defend DUI cases in Pennsylvania. I said that you at least need a lawyer in the third category, but preferably a lawyer in the fourth category. They are out there. Category three are DUI defense lawyers in Pennsylvania who have specialized training in DUIs. Such as field sobriety testing and blood testing. Category four DUI defense lawyers have…

Best DUI Lawyer In Pennsylvania

When you or someone you know is arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania, you deserve and should get the best DUI lawyer possible. That is not the question. When a person’s freedom, driving privileges, job, professional license, gun rights, and many other things are on the line everyone wants and deserves the best. The question is how does someone accused of DUI in Pennsylvania find the best DUI lawyer in Pennsylvania? There is no one best person practicing DUI defense in…

Felony DUI in Pennsylvania (updated for 2020)

On December 24, 2018 the grading of some DUI offenses in Pennsylvania became felonies. Yes – felonies! Prior to that day, the highest grading a DUI in Pennsylvania could get was a first-degree misdemeanor. The maximum punishment was no more than 5 years and a $5,000.00 fine. Now with felony DUI, they are graded as a third-degree felony with a maximum punishment of up to 7 years and a $15,000.00 fine. What is worse is in all but one instance…

Zoom Bombing

I just watched a news conference where the District Attorney of Centre County, Pennsylvania spoke about people Zoom Bombing and how there were multiple investigations going on. He was alleging that people were hacking into Zoom sessions and doing all kinds of craziness. What is Zoom Bombing? Is there actually a crime in Pennsylvania called Zoom Bombing? The answer is no. According to the District Attorney of Centre County Zoom Bombing is when people hack into Zoom sessions that they…

COVID-19 AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Just as COVID-19 is wreaking havoc across the United States in terms of sickness, deaths, and lost jobs it is also wreaking havoc on the criminal justice court system. In Pennsylvania as of April 2, 2020, the courts are essentially closed down until May 1, 2020. There are some exceptions to the closure of the courts. Cases involving Protection from Abuse Petitions and Orders, certain other emergency petitions, and hearings involving people who are incarcerated are still happening just not…

Felony DUI in Pennsylvania

Up until December of 2018, the only time you could be charged with a felony related to a DUI offense is if someone was seriously injured or killed. If someone was seriously injured the charge would be Aggravated Assault by Vehicle While DUI. If someone was killed the charge would be Homicide by Vehicle While DUI. The actual DUI charge itself was still graded as a misdemeanor even if someone was hurt or killed. On December 24, 2018, that all…

Why Is A Bail Hearing Required?

Bail hearing can be scheduled by either party, either by the Commonwealth or by the Defendant.  Most of the time a bail here is requested by the Commonwealth because they are either asking to have the bail increased or to have the bail revoked for some alleged violation of the bail conditions.  A Defendant can ask for a bail hearing to either reduce the amount of bail set, to change the type of bail set, or to remove a condition…

ROR Bail

One of the most common types of bail is ROR Bail, or “released on own recognizance.” What Is ROR Bail? What it actually is, is a promise to appear at all future court proceedings, not requiring any form of cash or property collateral like other forms of bail. There are often conditions imposed by the court that you will read about soon. Can You Get ROR Bail? All charges except for homicide are eligible for bail. Whether or not you…