If you were one of the many who hit the Pennsylvania roadways this weekend, you probably noticed the increased police presence as part of Pennsylvania’s DUI enforcement efforts. However, one of the side effects of these DUI operations is that police officers are in the mindset to make arrests and thus make a high number…
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Bad Technology and Bad Laws Lead to False DUI Arrests
DUI are cases are very complex. Most of the time, the only evidence is the opinion of a bias police officer and a reading from a blood or breath test. Unfortunately, this opinion evidence coupled with bad technology leads to far too many false DUI arrests. Here as an excellent editorial on the causes for…
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New DUI Ads Show Misplaced Priorities
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has rolled out a sparkling new ad campaign which you will surely be bombarded with over Pennsylvania’s airways. The ad campaign costs over $14 million dollars with millions more supporting the “crackdowns” all over the country. Additionally, the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has provided the state police and and…
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The 4th of July to A DUI Lawyer: What would the Founding Fathers think?
Happy 4th of July! A report card from our Founding Fathers I had a thought last night and I gather a lot of my DUI defense lawyer brethren and sistren might think the same. What would the Founding Fathers think of us now? If they could see us and look at our judicial institutions and…
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Pennsylvania State Police Make Record Number of DUI Arrests in 2010
Pennsylvania State Police has reported its DUI arrest numbers for 2010: HARRISBURG, Pa., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pennsylvania State Police made a record number of arrests for driving under the influence in 2010, while the number of alcohol-related crashes investigated by troopers dropped slightly, Commissioner Frank Noonan announced today. “Protecting the public is the…
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Does a DUI charge only prove you have good hygiene?
One of the reasons I argue against stiffer penalties for DUI is because the technology and testing being used is very inaccurate and there is a high risk that these stiffer penalties will be applied to innocent people. In one case, a Minnesota man tested positive for alcohol and was sent to jail because this…
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Pennsylvania Snowfall or DUI?
Can You Be Falsely Charged With a PA DUI because of the Snow? Pennsylvania gets quite a bit of winter weather and as we all know snow and ice make it harder to drive. One problem you may face is a false Pennsylvania DUI charge because of the tough driving conditions. Just imagine: You are…
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They Get Off on Technicalities but They’re Really Guilty, Aren’t They?
In my travels around the country and around Pennsylvania, I run into a number of people. One of the most common questions I get is, "You get them off on technicalities but they’re really guilty, aren’t they?" Here’s a question: Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? Of course, at one time or…
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Police Oppose Anti-lying Policy
Should a police officer have to be ordered to tell the truth? My office and I have litigated thousands of DUI and criminal cases all over Pennsylvania. In this time I have met hundreds of Pennsylvania police officers. In my opinion, most are very sincere in trying to perform their sworn duties with integrity. However,…
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DUI Tunnel Vision: How Contextual Bias leads to False Arrests
Contextual bias is a particular problem with respect to DUI arrests, not just in the state of Pennsylvania but in the entire country. Through often politicized law enforcement initiatives such as Operation Night Hawk and other similar DUI focused patrols, intense pressure is placed upon police officers and troopers to “hunt” drunk drivers. They are…
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