DUI Saturation Patrol - Manhattan Kansas

The Riley County Police Department has issued notice that they will conduct DUI Saturation Patrols tonight, Friday July 29, 2016.  There will be a second DUI Saturation Patrol on Saturday July 30.

A Saturation Patrol is different from a sobriety check point in that not every vehicle will be stopped and checked. Instead there will be a greater presence of patrolling law enforcement officers around the areas of the saturation patrol.  Often the areas of saturation patrol includes the Aggieville area and east Bluemont Avenue near the roundabout at 4th Street, however, the saturations patrols could be anywhere.

You have rights the you should be aware of if you encounter police. You may refuse standard field sobriety tests. If you find yourself arrested for DUI as a result of these Manhattan, Kansas Saturation Patrols contact a local DUI attorney in Manhattan, Kansas to defend your rights as soon as possible.

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.

Heavy DUI Patrol in Riley County, Kansas

As the school year comes to a close, the Riley County Police Department will be conducting a DUI Saturation Patrol on Friday, May 16, 2014 in the Manhattan area.

At a Saturation Patrol officers will be looking for signs of driving under the influence due to alcohol or drugs, as well as other traffic violations. This DUI Saturation Patrol in the Manhattan area is the first in a series of five that will be conducted this year.   

If you do find yourself in any form of legal trouble, contact an experienced Manhattan, Kansas Attorney for more information and a free consultation. The knowledge of a Manhattan, Kansas DUI attorney can help you with your criminal charges.   

If you are facing DUI charges in Junction City, our services are also offered in Geary County and at the Junction City Municipal Court.

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.

Now Defending Criminal Cases in Ellis, Clay, Morris, and Dickenson Counties

From a small town? Found yourself in some legal trouble? A Riley County attorney is now serving the neighboring counties for all of your legal needs. Services include: DUI defense, minor in possession/consumption defense, expungements, drug charges, theft, paraphernalia, evading arrest, domestic charges, and juvenile offenses.  Our office provides free consultations and we are able to travel.  

Our office will continue to provide legal representation for criminal defense matters in Riley, Pottawatomie, and Geary County, our services are expanding to the new areas mentioned above. 

If you have any questions or would like a free consultation to discuss your legal options in a criminal matter, contact a Manhattan, Kansas Attorney.

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. 

Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Country Stampede

After last night’s downpour, campers at Country Stampede were probably trying to leave the campgrounds and escape to a warm, dry location.  Before you jump in your car, be sure you’re not under the influence.  Even just moving your vehicle while your intoxicated could land you with a DUI. 

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 level above the legal limit of 0.08. For many people that can be one or two standard size drinks over the span of a couple hours!

At Country Stampede in 2012, Kansas State Highway Patrol Troopers handed out over 27 DUIs  during that weekend. Here are a couple ways to avoid getting a DUI or any other citation in the State of Kansas at Country Stampede or over the July 4 weekend:

1. Designate someone as the sober driver.
2. If you must drive and everyone has been drinking, CALL A CAB
1. Bell Taxi- 785-537-2080
2. Wildcat Taxi- 785-320-7818
3. ABC Union Cab- 785-537-1295
3. Don’t forget to buckle up.
4. Be cautious of all other drivers on the road around you.

Getting a D.U.I. in the State of Kansas is expensive and can dramatically change your life for the worse. If you do happen to get pulled over and cited for a DUI, you should contact a DUI attorney in the Manhattan, Kansas area as soon as possible. Remember, you only have 14 days to preserve your driving rights so don’t hesitate to call for your free consultation.

If you are about to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking and you are of legal age to drink in the State of Kansas, but you are unsure if you are under the legal limit to drive this website can help. (Note: this is just a website and will not calculate your blood alcohol content with 100% accuracy.)

Getting a DUI in the Snow in Manhattan, KS

Over the past 2 weeks Mother Nature has been sending lots of snow over the Manhattan and Junction City, KS areas.  Obviously there will be the usual fender benders and other snow related accidents, but what about getting a DUI while there's snow on the ground? 

The snow presents a complicating factor when evaluating whether you've been unfairly charged with a DUI in Manhattan, KS or Junction City, KS.  The icy roads, low visibility, and dangerous conditions all contribute to a driver's behavior and these factors must be considered in the initial DUI evaluation. 

If you get pulled over and cited for a DUI while these adverse conditions exist, you should contact a DUI attorney in the area as soon as possible.  Remember, no matter what the conditions are, you only have 14 days to preserve your driving privileges.

DUI Attorney, Manhattan, KS

While a lot of Manhattan, KS DUI attorney's claim to offer special or unique services for high prices, it's something of a misconception to believe you can't get great legal representation for your DUI from a more reasonably-priced Manhattan, KS law firm. 

A Manhattan, KS DUI attorney that is reasonably priced offers the the more personal, one-on-one assistance to help you evaluate your options and getting the results that are important to you.  With less overhead then a traditional law firm, our Manhattan, KS law office can offer you professional service that compares to other big law firms but with more personalized legal representation. 

Kansas State Classes Back in Session

It's that time of year parents and students alike can't wait for.  The kids are coming back to Manhattan, KS to attend another (or their first) year of college at Kansas State University.

Many students have been at home over the summer, or maybe working on internships and are ready to get back and kick off the school year with a bang.  Unfortunately, sometimes K-State students forget to be careful when the return from their summer forays.  It's around this time that the number of MIPs in Manhattan, KS, Riley County, and Geary County, skyrockets.

The frequency of DUIs in Manhattan, KS and surrounding areas also increases. Whether you get a DUI after a K-State tailgate, being in Aggieville, or even the morning after there's a few things can do to hedge your bets.  And the two things you should remember if you're pulled over: 1. you do not have to do standard field sobriety tests, 2. call an attorney as soon as possible.  Even if you don't have the funds to hire your own attorney, an experienced DUI attorney in Manhattan will have important advice about your next step and what you need to do to preserve your driving privileges as soon as you get a DUI.

*This is not offered or intended to be taken as legal advice and does not create an attorney client relationship.  If you would like to speak to an attorney today regarding your DUI or other criminal matter, contact Blake Robinson in Manhattan, KS to serve your northern Kansas legal needs.

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.

New Kansas DUI Law

On July 1st of this year a new DUI law in Kansas came into effect.  This law changes the charges for refusing to provide a blood, breath, or alcohol test when you have a prior DUI charge or DUI diversion.

Now, when you refuse a blood alcohol sample, and it's been less than 10 years since your alcohol related driving infraction the first time it's a misdemeanor.  The second time, a felony.  This compounds your problems considerably because now, you have a DUI, an traffic infraction from failing or refusing a Preliminary Breath Test, AND a misdemeanor or felony if you refuse to incriminate yourself by providing a blood alcohol sample.

If you have a DUI or other alcohol related charge, it's important to contact an attorney to help explore your options and determine if your rights have been violated.  Contact a lawyer in Manhattan, KS to help you evaluate your case.

DUI Friday, June 29th

It's DUI Friday!  Last week we left off with failing or refusing to take a preliminary breath test.

When you refuse to take or fail a preliminary breath test (the breath test they administer out in the field) the state initiates an administrative action against you to revoke your driving privileges.  When you hear of an administrative hearing, or an administrative hearing request, this is the State of Kansas giving you your due process before they suspend your driver's license.

The only way to preserve your driving privileges for longer then 30 days after your arrested is to make an administrative hearing request to the Kansas Driver Control Bureau within 14 days.

NOTE: If you want to preserve your driving privileges for longer then 30 days you must send your Administrative Hearing request within 14 days along with the required $50 request fee. 

After you send a request, it typically takes driver control a couple weeks before they send you confirmation and a date for your hearing.  These hearings are held in front of a magistrate, not a judge, and usually last less then 20 minutes.

Next week we'll talk about the other side of a DUI case, the criminal side, which is separate from the administrative hearing.

DUI Friday is brought to you by the Manhattan, KS lawyer, Blake Robinson.  If you've been arrested for a DUI it's important to act fast to preserve your driving privileges as mentioned above.  Contact an attorney before it's too late.

*Hiring an attorney is a complex decision and should not be based solely on a blog entry. This is not legal advice but simply information about DUIs in Kansas.

Country Stampede Weekend

Country Stampede has come and gone and the many out-of-towners have gone home.  In their wake, Pottawatomie County and Riley County have a large new case load of Minor in Possessions, DUIs, and a host of other alcohol related infractions.

For Pottawatomie County, Kansas Country Stampede weekend is like Black Friday is to Wal-Mart.  Obviously the cost of these tickets is doubly burdensome for many not from the Flint Hills area.  Having to return to Pott. or Riley County District Courts at some date in the future to appear and simply enter a plea of no contest and obtain a diversion is a pain.  If you're more than 2 hours away from Manhattan and must miss a day of work to make your court date, it adds insult to injury.

A knowledgeable Manhattan, KS attorney can appear for you at your initial appearance and assist you with your MIP, DUI, or alcohol related infractions in both Manhattan City and County District Court as well as District Courts in the surrounding areas.

DUI Friday

It's Friday, so I fell like it's a good time to talk about DUIs.  There is also going to be a DUI checkpoint this weekend in the Kansas City area, so it's especially poignant to talk about this now.

When you get pulled over, it's typically for a minor traffic infraction such as failure to signal, failure to come to a complete stop, or the all-time cop favorite: "you had a tag light out."  In Manhattan, KS another common reason for a policeman to pull over a vehicle is for swerving.

Once your vehicle is pulled over, a cop need only suspect you are under the influence in order to ask you to perform field sobriety tests.  Things such as watery, blood shot eyes; slurred speech, confusion, and fumbling to get your ID are all "indicators" of intoxication by most cop's standards.  The problem is, of course, these tests are completely subjective and each indicator can be caused by many, many other things. Another indicator cited on almost every police report I see for a DUI is odor of alcoholic beverage.  Of course, we can't be there to check for smell at the time someone is pulled over, so there's no way to verify whether there was actually an odor of alcohol or where the odor was coming from.  At this point, we are totally relying on the word of the law enforcement officer.

IMPORTANT POINT: when a cop asks you where you're coming from, you do not have to tell them.  You are perfectly permitted to say "the north" instead of "Tubby's" or "Bobby T's."

So you've been pulled over, and something has made the officer believe that you're under the influence.  He/she has pulled you out of the car and now wants you to do the walk and turn, stand on one foot, and the whole song and dance.  These are standard field sobriety tests and you do not have to do them.  You are in no way obligated to do a standard field sobriety test. 

Now, whether you do the tests or not, the officer will probably ask you to do a preliminary breath test.  This is a breath test that occurs out in the field.  It is a small hand held device that you blow into to determine your blood alcohol content.  If you refuse to take this test or fail this test, it is a traffic infraction in the State of Kansas.  Here, it's important to note that if you fail or refuse this preliminary breath test, you have 14 days to request an administrative hearing from the Kansas Department of Revenue.  This requests also costs $50 which needs to be sent within 14 days as well.  It's important to contact an attorney as soon as possible so they may help you preserve your rights.

After the preliminary breath test, whether you failed or refused, if the officer has enough evidence, he/she will arrest you, read you your rights, and take you to the police station. 

We will cover more on DUI arrests in Manhattan, Kansas and surrounding areas next Friday, in the next installment of DUI Friday.

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DUI Friday is brought to you by Manhattan, KS Attorney.

Country Stampede

Country Stampede officially starts tomorrow.  This means Country Music fans from all over the state and surrounding states will be flocking to Manhattan to partake in what is, for many, their favorite vacation of the summer.  Unfortunately, summer is often the time of year that the City of Manhattan schedules most of their road work and city construction projects because the students, who comprise a large part of Manhattan's population, have gone home for the summer.

This year is not exception and construction projects on K-18 between Ogden and Manhattan are in full effect.  There is also construction projects being completed on Poyntz Avenue as well as McDowell Creek Road making access off I-70 for those coming from the West a major concern.

These construction areas are also areas that Riley County Police Department set up routine posts to catch people speeding.  The problem with construction zones is that, in Kansas, fines double.   This includes fines for following too close.

This brings me to the current new development at the RCPD, new camera technology which allows officers to determine how close, in terms of seconds, one vehicle is following another.  This technology makes a following too close ticket, which was once very difficult to prosecute, an easy case to make in front of the court.

With this new enforcement capability, there's no doubt "following too closely" tickets will increase greatly in the Manhattan and surrounding Riley County area.

You don't have to take this ticket lying down, however, and should contact a Manhattan, KS attorney to help evaluate your "following too closely" ticket