Summer is here and there is nothing that can ruin it like getting arrested! While most of my readers won’t run into any trouble this summer season, they may have a friend or a family member who doesn’t read my blog, my books, or watch my videos. As I’ve written on my blog and in my books, individuals who fail to understand their constitution rights and limitations are usually in the worst position if and when they find themselves charged with a crime in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Our criminal defense law firm firmly believes that an educated client is in the best position to obtain a great result in their case.

While obviously there are a number of crimes that a person could be charged with, the majority of offenses that we see during the summer involve the illegal possession/distribution of drugs and narcotics (Title 35, Section 780-113, PA; 2C:35-10, NJ), guns & firearms (Title 18, Chapter 61, PA; 2C:39-5, NJ), and driving under the influence (DUI/DWI) (Title 75, Chapter 38, PA; 39:4-50, NJ).

All of these offenses typically don’t involve violence but rather occur because a person failed to understand their action in relation to the law in question. For example, people believe that many offenses occur because individuals intentionally choose to commit a crime. While this does happen, our criminal defense law firm based in Philadelphia and Moorestown, New Jersey, represents a number of individuals who truly believe that their act wasn’t illegal and well within their rights under the law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This is why it so important to understand the laws relating to drugs, narcotic, drunk driving and gun possession. Our law firm produces the majority of its content in this area because offenses within in are so common.

Here are the 3 mistakes that we often see as the most troublesome, especially during the summer

• Taking Prescription Medication Before Getting on the Road to Visit Family and Friends

Most people believe that driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) only occurs when an individual has imbibed or consumed too much alcohol or an illegal narcotic or drug, like marijuana, heroin, PCP, or crack cocaine. This however, is not the law in any jurisdiction and the purpose of the DUI/DWI statutes is to protect the public from impaired drivers who aren’t able to safely operate a motor vehicle on the road. Prescription medications, which your doctor prescribes legally to you, can sometimes cause impairment. This impairment warning is always indicated on the label of the drug. When a person operates a motor vehicle under the influence of any substance that causes impairment, they commit a crime under the DUI/DWI statute.

Pennsylvania, like New Jersey, imposes mandatory minimum sentencing for these crimes and the law doesn’t distinguish between crack cocaine and Benadryl for the purposes of the mandatory minimum sentencing laws. While obviously the ingestion an illegal substance like crack cocaine, marijuana, or heroin, as opposed to a legally prescribed or over the counter drug, like Benadryl, will likely help an individual from receiving a harsher sentence than the mandatory minimum penalty, it isn’t a legal defense.  I can’t tell you how many clients actually believe that its fine to take prescriptions drugs which cause impairment and drive! 

• Driving Through New Jersey with a Handgun

I’ve written a number of articles on New Jersey’s Graves Act and its very strict firearms laws, which exposed even, first time offenders to a mandatory minimum sentence. Unlike Pennsylvania, New Jersey doesn’t often issue permits to carry and an individual must satisfy a number of special criteria in order to carry outside of their home or place of business in the state. Please read my article on carrying in New Jersey for more information on this topic.

New Jersey does not honor a Pennsylvania license to carry and any individual who enters the Garden State, even if it’s to drive through the state to reach their ultimate destination, commits a felony level offense under the Graves Act in New Jersey.

If you must travel through New Jersey with a handgun, it must be unloaded and secured in a separate lock box or container with the ammunition in a separate compartment. While you are never obligated to give consent to a police officer or state trooper to search your vehicle, carrying the weapon in this manner will prevent you from committing a crime in the Garden State.

Like DUI/DWI in New Jersey, a person who commits a crime under the Graves Act is exposed to mandatory minimum sentencing. New Jersey has enacted safety valve provisions which prevent a person from serving time in state prison following a conviction under this act; all of these programs are at the discretion of the prosecutor in that particular county.

It’s also important to understand that in many of these cases the prosecutors won’t offer pre-trial intervention (PTI), but rather a plea to a felony level offense, which simply allows a person to serve a probation sentence but still results in a criminal conviction that could seriously impact a person’s professional and educational opportunities.

• Hosting Parties where Alcohol is Served to Minors

During the summer, its very common for people to host barbeques and other events at their homes for friends and family. While these are often casual events, the law doesn’t distinguish between a formal  affair held at your home and one where persons are sitting around a pool, your shore or lake house.

In Pennsylvania, social host liability applies to adults who serve alcohol to minors. Adults are responsible for the consequences of their own drinking but minors are the exception. New Jersey however doesn’t limit lawsuits to minors, but also allows adults to bring claims against social hosts if these individuals leave an event clearly intoxicated.

Our firm wishes you and your family a great summer season! For more information on how we can assist you, a friend, or family member, please contact our office and visit our free download section for more information.

Contact Our Criminal Defense Lawyers in PA & NJ

Please click here to contact our Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers. We offer free case reviews and serve the following areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey,  Atlantic City, Camden, Cherry Hill, Chester, Conshohocken, Doylestown, Media, Norristown, Philadelphia, Pottstown, Salem, Upper Darby, Upper Merion, Upper Providence, Vineland & Woodbury areas.