Criminal Law Archives - Zirkin and Schmerling Law

If I’m Pulled Over By Police, Do I Have To Do a Field Sobriety Test?

If a police officer pulls you over on suspicion of drunk driving, the next few minutes are of critical importance to your future. Worried and scared, most people do whatever the officer requests, including taking a field sobriety test. But are you required to do so? The answer is no. People routinely decline these tests […]

What if the Officer Never Read My Miranda Rights?

After being questioned by the police, it might dawn on you that the officer never read your Miranda rights. Most people are at least vaguely aware of these rights because they’ve seen a TV cop arrest someone and say, “You have a right to remain silent …” But what does it really mean if the […]

Are DWI and DUI in Baltimore the Same Thing?

Maryland was once among the top states for DUI/DWI accidents. In response, our state enacted tough new laws, including harsher penalties and an ignition interlock program. Today, Maryland is among the 10 states with the fewest alcohol-impaired driving deaths in the country. Still, there’s plenty of confusion about what it means to be charged with […]

Booking In and Bailing Out: What You Should Know About Arrests

If you’re arrested, you’ll be booked into jail and will soon face a legal process known as bail review. This is a critical moment in your life when you need the best legal representation possible. What happens next affects your future and your freedom. Most people aren’t prepared for the highly-stressful bail review process until […]

Don’t Violate Governor Hogan’s Executive Order to Stay At Home

Why can you be jailed in Maryland for violating Governor Hogan’s Executive Order to Stay At Home? Here’s what you need to know: I’m sure a lot of Marylanders were concerned when, on Monday March 30, 2020, Governor Larry Hogan announced his Order that dictated, with certain exceptions, “All persons living in the State of […]

Smishing Latest Form Of Identity Fraud And It’s On The Rise

Texting is not only gaining wide usage with people of all ages, it’s also become another avenue for criminals to scam the public. A text message from a criminal trying to steal your personal information is known as smishing. You’ve probably been on the receiving end of a smishing attempt, even if you don’t realize […]

October New Laws for Maryland

When the General Assembly passes new legislation, the law will go into effect on either July 1 or October 1 of that year unless otherwise specified.  So just this week, a rash of new laws went into effect.  It is important to be familiar with new laws for as they say, “ignorance of the law […]

Baltimore Police Officer Found Drunk & Sleeping on Duty

The other day, it was national news that, according to reports in the Baltimore Sun and other new sources, an on-duty Baltimore City police officer was allegedly found intoxicated and slumped over behind the wheel of his marked patrol vehicle. The impression from media reports was that this officer was in a parked car. One […]