When you gather up your trash and put it on the curb for pick up, you are probably not thinking that it may contain something of interest to the police. Trash is just trash, right? Not necessarily. Though The Fourth Amendment protects you from illegal search and...
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Categories Criminal Law
Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law: How it works
In 2020, Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a Move Over law. They did so after the death of a tow truck driver, and injuries to police officers highlighted the inadequacies of the existing Steer Clear Law. The Move Over Law replaces the Steer Clear Law. Emergency...
The right to remain silent when confronted by Pennsylvania law enforcement
Police officers and prosecutors receive extensive training on how to gather evidence of criminal conduct. Still, if law enforcement officials suspect your involvement in a criminal matter, they are likely to question you. The primary reason for this questioning is to...
Can Police Require You To Turn Over Your Passwords?
Picture this, you have been accused of a crime or have information that law enforcement wants to access on your phone or laptop. However, your phone is protected by a password that only you know. Can the police force you to reveal your password? The short answer is...
Who is being charged with animal cruelty under Libre’s Law?
Libre’s law was passed by Pennsylvania’s legislature in June 2017 and subsequently came fully into effect in August 2017. The new law resulted largely from public pressure and the belief that the existing animal cruelty laws were too lenient to serve as a deterrent. ...
What should you know about field sobriety tests?
Short of chemical test results of a motorist’s blood or breath and a roadside confession to driving under the influence the most important evidence a police officer has at their disposal to determine if an individual is driving under the influence of alcohol is...
What you need to know about resisting an arrest in Pennsylvania
For many of our clients being arrested represents the worst day of their lives. Police contact on the street or even in one’s home is a stressful situation that has the potential to get dangerous very quickly. If you use physical force against the police to try and...
What is a Preliminary Hearing?
In Pennsylvania, if you are charged with a criminal offense, you are entitled to have a preliminary hearing within 10 days of the charges being filed. At the preliminary hearing, the Magisterial District Judge has to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for...
Excessive Bail & Pennsylvania Bail Laws
“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted,” Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The New York Times, in a recent feature article on March 31, 2018, discussed the current state of the...