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Maryland DUI Lawyer Blog

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Washington Post, February 19, 2023 – “Police gave out munchies, then watched people get high — for training”

The Washington Post recently ran a story by reporter Dan Morse about testing volunteers high on weed to practice the tests they run when they suspect a driver is impaired by marijuana.  The story quoted attorney Leonard R. Stamm. Such drug impairment tests are regularly challenged in court across the…

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Responsibility for breath and blood testing taken from the ME and shifted to MSP

In legislation enacted last year, the legislature amended statutes governing breath testing in Maryland, effective October 1, 2022.  Previously, relevant statutes delegated to the toxicologist under the Post-Mortem Examiner’s Commission in Baltimore, the responsibility for approving equipment used for blood and breath testing in Maryland.   The new law transfers that…

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I am now a U.S. citizen, but I feel less free than I ever have

Today, August 2, 2022, I read an op ed in the Washington Post by an Indian woman, Aaditi Lele, who recently became a US citizen who is a student at Vanderbilt University.  It is worth sharing. Less than two months ago, I took the oath of naturalization to become the first…

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My thoughts on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

Here are a few thoughts on our future after Dobbs. 1. I have always viewed Roe v. Wade as a compromise – an attempt to settle the dispute between those who favor and oppose choice. It was the middle position, giving preference to choice during the first trimester, and against…

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MSP Lab Acknowledges Testing Deemed Unacceptable By Accrediting Agency

On March 21, 2022, the Director of the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division notified the State’s Attorney co-ordinator for Maryland that the MSP lab would cease doing blood alcohol testing because the accrediting agency determined their testing procedure violated scientific requirements for blood alcohol testing.  Read the letter here.…

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Maryland Court of Appeals agrees to decide 20 minute issue

Earlier this week, the Maryland Court of Appeals agreed to hear the case of Dejarnette v. State.  In Dejarnette, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals held that a violation of the requirement that officers observe a defendant for 20 minutes before a breath test would only go to the weight…

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Finding and correcting record mistakes at the MVA and court

While representing people accused of driving offenses, it is come to our attention that occasionally the records the police rely on while apprehending suspects contain some pretty serious errors that can result in prejudice to the driver.  Here are a few examples. One of our clients was recently charged with…

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Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 – Governor Hogan’s veto overridden

Last week both houses of the Maryland legislature overrode Governor Hogan’s veto and passed the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2001. The Act will improve the criminal justice system in Maryland a number of ways: Set stricter standards for use of force by police; Limit the use of “no knock”…

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