Country Stampede in Riley and Pottawatomie County

Country Stampede 2014 is upon us.  It's a time for country music and usually a lot of alcohol consumption.  As such it's one of the busiest times of year for the RCPD and local law enforcement. During Country Stampede, officers from the Kansas Highway Patrol also help enforcement.  Many Minor in Consumption and Minor in Possession tickets will be issued.  

As a minor, trying to avoid situations where you may be caught with alcohol in your hand whether the container is open or closed.  This could include coolers of beer.  Minor in Possession (MIP) and Minor in Consumption (MIC) is a great way to ruin your Country Stampede experience. Don't forget, you have the right to remain silent, so before you say anything to incriminate yourself, tell them you will only be speaking to your attorney. 

DUI charges are another frequent incident at Country Stampede.   In the State of Kansas, to be convicted of Driving Under the Influence citation or a D.U.I., an individual must have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level above a 0.08 or be under the influence to a degree that renders you unable to safely operate a vehicle.  For many people that can be one or two standard size drinks over the span of a couple hours! Before the celebrating begins, designate a sober driver or agree on taking a taxi because being charged with a D.U.I. can dramatically change your life. After receiving a D.U.I., you only have 14 days to request a driver’s license hearing to preserve your driving privileges. it's best to immediately contact an experienced DUI attorney in Manhattan, Kansas to begin the process of defending you. 

Legal trouble can have harsh consequences that will affect your future. It is important to know you rights and plan ahead! However, if you do find yourself in need of a lawyer, you should contact a knowledgeable Riley and Pottawatomie County attorney to assist with your legal needs.

Manhattan, KS Weekend DUI Checkpoint – May 10, 2014

This weekend the Riley County Police Department will be having a sobriety checkpoint somewhere in the City of Manhattan. The checkpoint will begin Saturday, May 10, 2014 and will continue into the morning ours of Sunday, May 11, 2014.  If you approach this DUI checkpoint and the officers suspect that you are above the legal limit, an on-site field sobriety test will be given.  

The following things could give the officers suspicion that you are under the influence: admitting to consuming alcohol, watery bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, odor of intoxicants, and driving infractions. 

If you are arrested for DUI you will be given a citation and a notice to appear in the Manhattan Municipal Court or the Riley County District Court.   You will also have 14 days from the day of your citation to request an administrative hearing to preserve your driving privileges.

If you think you maybe too impaired to drive, call a taxi or designate a sober friend before the night of fun begins. If you do happen to receive a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) citation, contact a knowledgeable Manhattan area attorney so they can begin to preserve your driving privileges and help you reach a speedy resolution to a DUI that could have lasting affects on your life.

Heavy DUI patrol in Riley County, Kansas

Tonight the Riley County Police Department has planned a Saturation Patrol in the Manhattan and surrounding areas. This is the sixth one of its kind this year. The Saturation Patrol is a surplus of officers that are keeping an eye out for impaired driving and other traffic violations. With that being said, designate a sober driver, call a cab, phone a friend, or walk.

If you do find yourself in any form of legal trouble, contact a Riley County Attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the best outcome to your case. 

Junction City DUI Attorney

If you get a DUI in Junction City or anywhere else in the State of Kansas you have 14 days to request an administrative hearing from the Kansas Driver Control Bureau.  The procedure for doing this is found on the back of the DC-27 form which you should have been given after your arrest. It's a pink piece of paper that is a copy of your arresting officer's certification that you either failed or refused a preliminary breath test.

In order to protect your driving privileges, contact a knowledgeable Junction City DUI attorney to help you review your case.  The sooner an attorney is contacted the sooner they can begin protecting your driving privileges and taking action in your criminal case.   This also brings up an important point: your driver's license hearing request associated with your DC-27 form is not usually relevant to the criminal aspect of your DUI.  So if you get a "win" on your administrative (a.k.a. driver's license) hearing it does not mean you have beat the criminal charges associated with the DUI.  The same applies in the criminal case in that if you get a "win" on the criminal side, it does not necessarily mean that your driver's license and driving privileges will remain after you get a DUI.

For more information, contact an attorney who serves the Junction City, and Manhattan, Kansas areas.

Drivers License Hearings in Manhattan, KS - DUI Friday

It's DUI Friday once again in at the Manhattan, KS Attorney office.  Today is all about Driver's License Hearings in Manhattan, KS, also known as Administrative Hearings. 

I've written about Administrative Hearings for a Drivers License in Kansas a number of times.  It's the  hearing that you must request within 14 days of receiving your DUI. (I know that link shows 10 days but that's the old time period).

You must also submit a $50.00 application fee at the time you send your request to the Department of Revenue, Kansas Driver Control Bureau.  This administrative hearing is the due process that Kansas must afford you before they revoke your driving privileges.  If you don't request this hearing in the manner specified, then they will automatically revoke your driving privileges. 

At a Kansas Drivers License Hearing, the officer that arrested you for your DUI should be present.  If the officer which signed the certification regarding your preliminary breath test does not show then you, or your attorney, should jump up and down for a dismissal of the certification.

The other ways to have the certification dismissed (which usually means you get to keep your driving privileges) is to find errors which may be fatal to the officer's certification.

Do hire an experienced DUI attorney to inspect your certification and represent you at your administrative hearing, contact a lawyer in the Manhattan, KS area today for a free case evaluation.