Country Stampede, 2018

Country Stampede 2018 has come and gone and left some in its wake with criminal allegations. The majority of those allegations will arise from the Pottawatomie County District Court, but much also could arise in the Riley County District Court.  DUI charges, MIP charges, MIC charges, batteries, and many other alcohol related offense get charged over this weekend.  There also is an increase in Marijuana and other illegal drug charges. 

If you received a DUI, it can result in the suspension of your driving privileges, regardless of what state you're from.  DUI defendants typically receive a DC-27 form which is the form the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles will use to begin the procedure to suspend your driver's license.  If you received one of these forms you have a limited time to send in a letter and payment for a hearing to be held before your license can be suspended. A qualified DUI defense attorney can complete this process for you but it is important to engage an attorney early enough that the deadline to file has not passed.

For MIP and MIC charges at Country Stampede, the vast majority will arise in Pottawatomie County District Court, which is located in Westmoreland, Kansas - about 30 minutes drive to the Northeast from the Country Stampede festival grounds. They hand out these charges with great frequency during the festivities and making the return to Kansas for those out of town can add to the already burdensome event of getting a citation.  Contacting an attorney that serves the Pottawatomie County area can sometimes avoid the necessity of coming back and can otherwise smooth a complicated process.

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.

Minor in Possession on Fake Patty’s Day

Tomorrow is the big Fake Patty’s Day celebration!  If you are a minor and you are caught drinking or carrying alcohol by the Riley County Police it is likely that you will end up with a Minor in Possession/Consumption (MIP or MIC). A run in like this with law enforcement can be a real damper to the rest of your Fake Paddy’s celebration.   

If you are a minor here are some things you may want to keep in mind with regard to MIP or MIC:

1. Do not take an open container or a closed container of alcohol ANYWHERE. If an officer finds you, he can cite you for a Minor in Possession.
2. If you are at a house party that seems to be getting out of hand and you think the cops may arrive soon, LEAVE. Even if you are not drinking, you could be charged with a Minor in Possession (MIP). If you are drinking and the owner of the house is of lawful age to drink, they could be charged with Supplying to a Minor and you could be cited for a Minor in Consumption (MIC). Hosting to a minor could lead to a fine up to $1,000.00.
3. Avoid the bar scene. Getting caught with a fake I.D. could lead to a Possession of a False Identification and may be a serious felony. You could also be charged with Attempting to Purchase Alcohol. Do not ask to borrow your friends I.D. this could also get them in trouble with the law.

So as a reminder, try not to drink in excess this weekend and obey the law. If you are underage, you are more likely to get an MIC/MIP on Fake Paddy’s then most other days out of the year.  If you do find yourself in need of legal assistance, contact a Manhattan, KS attorney for a consultation in your case.

Fake Patty’s Day Crime Tips from a Manhattan, KS Attorney

The Fake Patty’s day celebration is upon us here in Manhattan, KS! For your safety, there will be an escalated presence of police and EMT workers in the area. Part of the effort to keep Fake Patty’s attendees safe is making a medical pavilion in the City Park just south of Aggieville.

If you have plans to participate in the festivities and you want stay out of both the medical pavilion and the custody of the Riley County Police Department, here is a short list of the dos and don’ts:

1. DON’T take an open container out in public! This includes the sidewalk right outside your (or your friends) house. All sidewalks and alleyways are public property.
2. DO drink some water, eat some food, and pace yourself.
3. DON’T take shots! These things, jello or otherwise, will catch up to you faster than you can keep track.
4. DO have a designated driver! The ATA Bus will run from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and SafeRide will also be in service from 11:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. with their standard routes.
5. DO contact a Manhattan, KS Attorney if you find yourself in trouble.
6. DO exercise your right to remain silent if you are under arrest.

This advice doesn’t just apply to Fake Patty’s day but rather to any event where alcohol may be present. Here are some “Things to Know Before Fake Patty’s Day” from your local Riley County Police Department. If you do find yourself in need of any legal services after the weekend is over, it is in your best interest to hire a Manhattan, KS attorney so they could begin working on your case immediately.

Fake Patty's Day 2013

Tomorrow is the hallowed Fake Patty's Day celebration here in Manhattan, KS!  While a boon to many bars in the Aggieville area, it's also an event that requires additional police presence and EMT workers.  Part of the effort to keep Fake Patty's attendees safe is making a medical pavilion in the City Park just South of Aggieville. 

If you intend to participate in Fake Patty's festivities and you want to stay out of both the medical pavilion and the custody of RCPD, here's a short list of dos and don'ts:

1. Don't take an open container out in public.  This includes the sidewalk right outside your (or your friends) house.  All sidewalks are public property.  So are alleyways.

2.  If you're a minor, don't take an open container (or closed container) of alcohol ANYWHERE.  That's Minor in Possession (MIP).

3. Drink some water. Eat some food.  Personally, I recommend Hunam Express or Aggie Station.

4. Don't take shots.  (Seriously don't, though Jell-O shots hardly count, still watch their number)

5. Have a designated driver.  Getting a DUI is costly and can change your life.  On Fake Patty's 2013, Safe Ride will also be running during extended hours starting at Noon (12:00 p.m.) on Saturday and running until 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. 

6. Finally, a bit of advice that is applicable always, if you must break the law, don't break two laws at once.  If you want to know why, you'll have to pay me a visit.

Manhattan, KS Criminal Defense Attorney

Hiring an attorney is a complex and important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements (or a blog entry, for that matter) and you should consider your options carefully to find an attorney right for you. This is not legal advice but simply a blog written by Blake Robinson Attorney at Law in Manhattan, KS for information purposes only.

Fake Patty's Day Crime

During Fake Patty's Day, 2012 the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) made 90 arrests.  In 2011 the RCPD responded to more then 766 calls.  The trend for crime is down over the past three years during this unique Manhattan, KS event but it's still important to be careful during this all day bender. 

This includes staying out of handcuffs as much avoiding cons by your fellow Fake Patty's Day attendee.  After last year's Fake Patty's event the Manhattan law office was contacted by a young man who had received an Minor in Possession (MIP) during the Fake Patty's Day celebration.  This individual was one of several in his group who was issued a similar citation.  Unfortunately one of the members of this group claimed her father was an attorney and convinced many of them to give her the tickets and $100.00 and her father would be sure to take care of it. 

Three months later, the client receives notice of drivers license suspension for failure to appear in Manhattan, KS Municipal Court for his MIP.  Needless to say the MIP had not been taken care of and he was now in a much worse situation than before with just an MIP.

Luckily we were able to fix this Fake Patty's Day mishap and help our client obtain a satisfactory outcome, however, the person claiming to have the attorney father has never been identified so be wary of anyone who might claim the same.

Manhattan, KS Minor in Consumption

A Minor in Consumption ticket is not the same as a Minor in Possession.  If you are ticketed for Minor in Consumption in Manhattan, KS (also known as an M.I.C.) it probably means that you blew in a breathalyzer which indicated you had alcohol in your system.

The thing about MICs is that they have to prove that you have been consuming alcohol.  If you do not blow in the breathalyzer, it makes the State or City's case against you difficult to prove.  

While the punishment for an MIC is the same as for an MIP, they are definitely two very different offenses.  In the case of an MIP, you must be possessing alcohol. This case is pretty easy for even the greenest of police officer to ticket for, simply because they need only find alcohol in your possession.

If you've found yourself in either situation, possessing or consuming alcohol as a minor in Manhattan, KS contact a Manhattan, KS attorney that can help you evaluate your options and get the most favorable outcome possible for your individual case. 

Manhattan, KS Minor in Possession or Minor in Consumption

With the KSU students back in Manhattan, the number of minor in possession charges (MIPs) jumps dramatically.  The Riley County Police Department are also on the lookout for underage drinking, which doesn't help your odds.

One important point of contention is the difference between and MIP and a minor in consumption (MIC).  If you are charged with an MIC, it probably means that you blew into a preliminary breath test when asked by a law enforcement officer OR that you were so visibly intoxicated that it left no doubt that you had consumed alcohol.  MIC is the ticket you will receive if you are not in possession of alcohol as a minor.  

The MIP is, for all other purposes, identical to an MIC.  An MIP is what they will call it, however, if you possess alcohol.  Here's the important aspect:  an MIC and MIP are violations of the same Manhattan Municipal Ordinance.  This means that both will trigger the same punishment from the City's standpoint and result in at least a $200 fine but not more then a $500 fine.  The Manhattan Municipal Court also may suspend your driver's license for 30 days after your first conviction. 

It's typically easy to enter into a diversion in Manhattan Municipal Court for your first MIP/MIC, but before you do, have a local Manhattan, KS attorney look over your case.  If you'd like to contact an attorney about your MIP, MIC, or any other alcohol related crime, head over to www.manhattanksattorney.com and contact us about a no cost case evaluation.