Franklin Legal Issues Blog

You're driving along, and all of a sudden, you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror. A police officer is pulling you over, but you have no idea why. You know that you must pull over, but you instantly get nervous. Perhaps you aware of your rights when dealing with law enforcement. The first thing you need to know is that there must be valid grounds in order for a law enforcement officer to stop a driver.

The law states that police must have reasonable suspicion for making a DUI traffic stop. This means there must be a clear reason to pull you over, such as specific behaviors often associated with intoxicated driving. Without reasonable suspicion, a traffic stop is invalid, with could invalidate the case against you. If you are facing DUI charges in Pennsylvania, it is in your interests to review the circumstances of your traffic stop.

Whether Pennsylvania residents realize it or not, driving is an essential part of their daily lives. Without a driver's license, it is more difficult to get to work, get groceries, pick up children from school and even get a bite to eat from the corner restaurant. Someone convicted of drunk driving could end up losing driving privileges and be unable to complete these tasks, disrupting not only their own lives but also the lives of their family members.

Many people facing DUI charges may not be aware that it is possible to present a DUI defense to avoid the consequences of a conviction. While it is difficult to give an affirmative defense for a drunk driving charge, it is possible to attack a police officer's observations that led up to the arrest.

When a loved one or family member asks a Pennsylvania resident to become the executor of their estate, it is natural to feel honored at the request. If the testator is near death, then there is an even more pressing need to agree and ease their stress. However, it's important to know that being an executor is a difficult role and one should know what they are getting into before agreeing.

The first and foremost concern is whether the potential executor has time. The executor must sort through years of a testator's life, and this often requires lengthy and repeated phone calls, trips to the county courthouse and standing in long lines to send registered letters. Collecting information from financial institutions is also tedious, especially when someone is grieving for the loss of a loved one. Not only does one have to think about the time completing these tasks requires, but also the skill. An executor must be highly organized, so if they have financial difficulties of their own, it might not be the best idea to appoint them. An executor must also be aware of the rules regulating their responsibilities, along with the timeline for completing these tasks.

If you didn't know it already, you may be discovering how quickly and completely a drunk driving arrest can affect your life. You may have already lost time from work, faced the expense of paying your bail and relinquished your driver's license, and you haven't even had your day in court. Even if it is your first offense, you may be concerned about how a conviction could change your future, your job and your relationships.

While all these things and more may be at risk with a simple DUI conviction, imagine how seriously any aggravating factors may impact your life. Aggravating factors are those circumstances at the time of your arrest that increase the severity of a DUI. With increased charges often come harsher penalties.