Search Based on Odor of Marijuana in Maryland (Part I)

Odor of Marijuana Coming from a Vehicle Does Not Create Probable Cause to Search In August of 2019 the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in Pacheco v. State that the odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle does not create probable cause to search the person of the driver of that vehicle.  This decision was…

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PBJ, Masking, and your Maryland Commercial Driver’s License (DCL)

Maryland’s Probation Before Judgement disposition is often used in minor traffic cases to allow people to avoid the points from a conviction from impacting their insurance rates.  Probation Before Judgement allows a judge to impose probation before a judgement is entered, and upon the successful completion of the probation (frequently a one-day unsupervised probation), stops…

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Dealing with Auto Insurance Companies Following a Motor Vehicle Collision

When dealing with the insurance companies following an automobile accident you are rarely in good hands. Additionally, the insurance companies hardly act like a good neighbor. Putting all slogans aside, the insurance companies both yours and for the other vehicles involved are first and foremost businesses. Like most businesses, objective number one is watching their…

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Protective Orders in Maryland Divorces

Oftentimes in a heated custody/divorce case, one party will do anything and everything they can to get an upper hand on the other party. As a practicing criminal and family attorney, I have noticed a mounting trend of individuals seeking protective orders in order to achieve this goal. In a typical scenario, it happens like…

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The Importance of Hiring a Criminal Attorney Who is Local

I was sitting in District Court in Howard County today.  Howard County District Court is one of those jurisdictions where each judge is assigned a permanent courtroom.  Judge Brown is in Courtroom 2, Judge Brooks is in Courtroom 1, etc.…  This means that, as a practicing attorney, I am familiar enough with the jurisdiction that…

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