If authorities charge you with driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol in Maryland, you may be focused on the immediate consequences of your actions. After all, dealing with the fines and losing your license (in some cases) can be frustrating and...
You must adhere to specific rules and requirements when you are released from jail on parole. These vary from one person to the next, depending on the severity of the crime of which they were convicted. You may hear people mix up the terms parole and probation;...
Being accused of a criminal offense is a serious matter. From the arrest, the mug shot to the arraignment through to the trial period, the whole ordeal can be harrowing, to say the least. But what if you did not commit the crime in question in the first place? Facing...
If a police officer comes to your home and wants to talk to you, they may ask you for permission to enter. They’re looking to get your consent to come into your house. But you may be unsure if you’re actually allowed to deny their request. Do they need your consent,...
The term “innocent until proven guilty” is probably something that you’ve heard before. What does this actually mean in terms of criminal justice and why is it so important? There is a common misconception that anyone who has been arrested must have done something...
When people think of impaired driving, their thoughts usually go to alcohol. It’s true that many cases do revolve around alcohol, but it’s also possible to face these charges for being under the influence of drugs while you’re driving. This includes legal and illegal...
Don’t make the mistake of assuming, as so many people do, that a breath test is an ironclad piece of evidence. Many people believe that failing a breath test, or blowing a blood alcohol concentration that is over the legal limit, is a guarantee that they are going to...
As states have struggled to deal with the epidemic of opioid and other drug overdose deaths, they’ve enacted “Good Samaritan” or “immunity” laws. These allow people to seek emergency help for someone (themselves or another person) who’s suffering an overdose without...
People often assume that if they stay below 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC), they cannot be charged with drunk driving. However, as explained below, this is not true. Maryland has two kinds of drunk driving charges: driving under the influence (DUI) and...
The Attorneys at Ortega Law could not be more excited to see Maryland courts begin to reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief Judge Ellen Barbera’s May 22, 2020 Executive Order outlines the plan for the full reopening of Maryland’s courts by October 2020. Maryland courts are currently on Phase One of a Five Phase plan, with expectations…