Shoplifting can do more than put you on the Naughty List

During the Holidays, long register lines and thin wallets might make some individuals consider taking merchandise without paying. Do not do it. Shoplifting is theft, which is considered a crime of moral turpitude. Meaning, the crimes are based on the perpetrator having an evil intent and violates the accepted standard of society. For immigration purposes, those who are not US Citizens may be banned from the United States if found guilty of committing a crime of moral turpitude. In Virginia, shoplifting items worth more than $200 is Grand Larceny, and a felony. The punishment can be up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. In Maryland, shoplifting items worth less than $1,000 is called property theft, and it’s a misdemeanor. The punishment can be up to 18 months in jail and a $500 fine. Taking items worth more than $1,500 is a felony that can lead up to five years incarcerated and a fine of $10,000. If you’ve received a criminal charge for shoplifting this holiday season, you need a top rated criminal defense lawyer. Call us today.

How a Simple Traffic Stop can Turn into a Drug Arrest

Drug stops often turn into situations like the children’s book “Give a Mouse a Cookie”, let me give you an example. You and your buddies are getting together one night. All of you get into your friends car. While in the car, you all smoke a little weed, you’re enjoying the ride, then all of a sudden you see those red and blue lights flashing behind you; turns out your buddy has a faulty taillight. The police officer approaches the vehicle and is able to smell the odor from the marijuana. This gives the officer probable cause that there are drugs in the car, and therefore the right to search the vehicle.

At this point, you and your friends have been ordered to sit on a curb, potentially in handcuffs. Maybe you all have under 10 grams of weed, which is just a fineable offense. Or maybe one of your friends has an ounce in the car, or worse- harder drugs. The officer then starts the questioning and no one fesses up, or takes ownership of the drugs. Now you’re all under arrest for possession, and depending on the quantity, maybe even intent to distribute.

What was supposed to be a fun night has quickly turned into a trip to the police station, a commissioner’s bail, and the possibility of jail time. You could lose everything. You need an experienced attorney who understands the drug laws, and how to fight for your innocence in court. At Portner and Shure our experienced attorneys will prepare an excellent defense to get you out of the situation at hand. You trusted a friend, now put your trust in an experienced lawyer.

What Clients are Saying September 2018

This charge was the worst experience in my life, but with your guidance and kindness it made things a little easier to deal with. I would definitely recommend your law firm to a loved one or a friend. Thank you again for your kindness.

This case was handled by our attorney, Ms. Molly Cross out of our Columbia, MD office.

Charged With DUI or DWI on Vacation in Ocean City?

Every year, thousands of Marylanders head to Ocean City for a beach vacation, and inevitably, some of those vacationers end up being charged with driving under the influence. Being charged with a crime in a location far from your home is inconvenient to say the least, and depending on the facts, you could be facing jail time.Portner & Shure has office locations all throughout Maryland, including the eastern shore.

With our firm, not only can you have the peace of mind knowing you’ve hired an aggressive, top 10, criminal defense attorney that is familiar with the eastern shore and their court system, but we also have offices conveniently located within 10 miles of your home, so taking that hike to the shore isn’t necessary to meet with your attorney.  If you’ve been charged with DUI or DWI on the eastern shore, call Portner & Shure today.

Contact an Attorney Before Paying your Traffic Fine

Many traffic tickets can be prepaid following the instructions on the paper ticket given to you by the police officer.

Beware! When you prepay a traffic ticket your driving record will show that you are guilty of the offense listed on the ticket.

Prepaying a ticket is basically telling the court you’re guilty and you’d rather pay then spend the time and effort to fight the ticket. Paying the fine isn’t the end of your experience.

Your car insurance rate may go up when the insurance company makes an annual check of your driving record. Besides fines, many traffic offenses come with points on your driving record. 

If you get enough points the DMV in VA or the MVA in MD WILL suspend your license.

A good lawyer, familiar with the Maryland and Virginia motor vehicle codes, can help you reduce points, fines, and provide some complete defenses to a traffic ticket. The money you spend on a lawyer on the front end should save you from spending more on insurance premiums later.

Can the Police Still Search Your Car in Maryland Now that Possession is Only a Civil Offense?

Smelling marijuana in a vehicle has long been a standard justification used by the police to search the vehicle without a warrant. Now that possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana in Maryland is a civil offense carrying a mere $100 fine, the continued use of the scent of marijuana as probable cause to search a vehicle was recently challenged by attorneys in front of the Court of Appeals.

The Court decided that decriminalization is not the same as legality, therefore the police can still search your vehicle based on the scent of marijuana. If you’ve been charged with an offense after a police search of your vehicle, there may still be defenses available to you.  You need Portner & Shure for representation.