What are the consequences of impersonating a police officer?

Recently, there has been an uptick of individuals posing as police officers for deceptive purposes. Impersonating a police officer is the illegal act of inaccurately portraying oneself as a police officer, generally with the intent of using such authority to commit offenses that they would not otherwise be able to get away with. Motivation behind this…

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How do Bail Bond Agencies Work?

A bail bondsman is someone who acts as a surety and pledges the required property or money as bail to the courts and promises that the accused person, whom the bail bondsman represents, will appear in court on a future date. Bail, Surety and Bail Bondsman  Bail is property or money given to a court to…

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Maryland Decriminalizes Marijuana: What It Means

A full two dozen states have decriminalized marijuana or sanctioned its use for medical purposes. Going one step further, Washington and Colorado have taken to fully legalizing marijuana and using the tax proceeds to finance state initiatives. Maryland Decriminalizes Marijuana  Maryland’s Democratic Governor, Martin O’Malley, promised at the beginning of April 2014 that he would ratify…

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What is the Parental Liability for Underage DUI

Today’s society is looking more and more to punish parents for failing to control their children. How does this attitude translate when there are DUI charges against a minor? Are the parents liable for any damage caused by an underage drinker in the state of Maryland? There is no way to answer this question with a…

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Why Revenge Porn may soon be illegal

Revenge porn is sexually explicit material uploaded as pictures, videos or assorted media without the depicted party’s consent. Disgruntled ex-partners or even anarchic hackers often release sexually explicit material without the depicted’s consent. To make matters worse, the ex-partners or hackers release revenge porn with the intent of shaming or humiliating the person or persons depicted…

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Local Hotels the Site of Recent Heroin Arrests in Annapolis

Local law authorities have long worked with hotels to make arrests for prostitution and for minors throwing parties with alcohol. However, several recent heroin arrests in Annapolis area hotels have shifted officials’ focus to hotels to crackdown on drug distribution. Last fall, the police department launched Operation HOPE, which stands for Heroin Overdose Prevention and Eradication, in…

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The Bail Process in Maryland Could Be Simplified Under New Proposal

The bail process in Maryland could become much simpler thanks to new rules proposed by a judiciary committee on Jan. 22. However, critics say the simplified process is only designed to save the state money and could actually result in longer stays in jail for some accused individuals. The proposed changes stem from a September…

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Proposed Bill Would Decriminalize Marijuana Possession in Maryland

A proposed law in the Maryland legislature could substantially reduce the penalties for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana. The law was proposed by Republican state senator Allan Kittleman and Democratic state senator Bobby Zirkin. Both men say that the current laws for marijuana possession in Maryland waste the time of prosecutors and police officers…

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Can Parents Be Held Liable for Underage Drinking In Maryland?

When I was 16-years old, my friend’s “cool” parents allowed us to “party” in their basement Rec Room. They justified their progressive parenting style by claiming, “Teens will drink and experiment with drugs – at least we know they’re safe under our roof.” It was the 1970s and the world was different, people were different…

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What Legal Liability Do Pit Bull Owners Have In Maryland?

The pit bull controversy continues to swirl. Over the last decade, a disproportionate number of serious injuries and lethal attacks from this aggressive breed of dog have seen a disturbing trend upward. According to DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims’ group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, in the first half of 2013, pit bulls…

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