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.)

Drug Possession Attorney in Kansas: Country Stampede ­­­

Possession of illegal drugs or paraphernalia will likely land you a criminal charge for possession of controlled substance.  Things like Mary Jane, cocaine, molly, snow, X, marijuana, blow, reefer, powder, soft cookies, are all terms for drugs which are illegal to possess in the State of Kansas.

Possession of a controlled substance, paraphernalia, or any form of drug, can land you with some harsh consequences. Even the residue in a smoking or storing device (sometimes called resin) can be grounds for a possession charge if it tests positive for a controlled substance.

Drug possession charges range from a misdemeanor to a felony with the possible sentence range from diversion to prison.  There also may be educational class requirements to educate about drug addiction.  Sometimes many hours of community service will be required. And needless to say, you can expect thousands of dollars in fines if you get convicted.

For more information and a free consultation, contact a Kansas Criminal Attorney in your area. The knowledge and skill of your legal counsel can make a major difference in the outcome of your case.

Minor in Possession in Pottawatomie County: Country Stampede

Country Stampede has officially begun! If you’re underage and happen to receive a minor in possession while enjoying the concert, then you need to know your next move. First, what is a minor in possession? A minor in possession, or M.I.P., is any one under the age of 21 who is found to possess, obtain, purchase, or attempt to purchase alcohol. A minor in possession is a Class C misdemeanor.

Much like an M.I.C., a minor in possession in Pottawatomie County or Riley County are punishable with a fine up to $500, community service, and a certificate of completion from an Alcohol Education class. For your first offense, you could also possibly lose current or future driving privileges for 30 days.

While this may not sound like a big deal, DON’T throw that ticket away thinking the citation will disappear. If you fail to appear at your court appearance, three months later you will receive a notification that your driver’s license has been suspended. Needless to say, the sooner you contact a knowledgeable Kansas Attorney to represent you the sooner he or she will be able to guide you through the legal process.

For a free consultation regarding your Minor in Possession in Pottawatomie County, contact a Defense Attorney in the Pottawatomie County area, and speak directly with our helpful staff today.

Minor in Consumption at Country Stampede

With Country Stampede right around the corner, there are some things everyone should know to protect themselves and their records while still enjoying the concert. If you happen to receive a “Minor in Consumption” in the State of Kansas, during Country Stampede, or any time in the year, it is important to know exactly what you are facing. A minor in consumption, also known as an M.I.C., is a citation given to any minor who is under the age of 21 and found to have been drinking but does not have alcohol in his or her possession. In the state of Kansas, a Minor in Consumption is a Class C misdemeanor. A M.I.C. charge can be punishable by a hefty fine, hours of community service, and a certificate of completion of an educational program that deals with the effects of alcohol.

For a free consultation regarding your Minor in Consumption, contact a local Riley County Criminal Defense Attorney. The sooner you have contacted a Kansas attorney to represent you the sooner he or she can help you navigate your way through your Minor in Consumption and all the steps that will need to be taken in Pottawatomie County, Riley County, or Manhattan Municipal Court.

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.

Bonding out of Riley County Jail

When you are arrested and taken to jail it's probably because you're suspected of a crime. Going to any jail, including the Riley County Jail, is an uncomfortable experience and usually once you're there you want to get out as soon as possible.

Unless you have a large amount of liquid cash sitting in a bank account, or your bond is extremely low, you will probably need the use of a Riley County bail bondsman.  This bondsman will "post bond" for you and in exchange you will pay 10% of the bond.  This bondsman now becomes indebted to the courts for the amount of the bond if you fail to show up.  This means every bondsman who bails you out has a vested interest in you showing up to court.  They will actively find you in the event you fail to appear.

For something like a DUI in Riley County, most bond amounts will be between $500.00 and $1,000.00.  For felonies, violent crimes, or for defendants who are deemed a "flight risk" bonds can be much, much higher. 

A bondsman who is available 24/7 is going to be your best bet for bonding out of jail as soon as possible.  The sooner you've bonded out the sooner you can contact a Riley County Criminal Defense Attorney about your case.  The sooner an attorney is on your case, the sooner he or she can begin helping you achieve a speedy, discrete resolution of your legal issue.

If you need an attorney but can't afford to bond out you may have a family member contact an attorney for you or make a collect call to an Manhattan, KS lawyer who can assist you.  You may have an option for a bond reduction at your first appearance or some other way to put up collateral in order to satisfy your 10% bond requirement. 

Manhattan, KS Criminal Defense Attorney - Personalized Representation

Needing a criminal defense attorney? When I get a call from someone in trouble with the law a common question is: "Can I just go do it myself?"

If you're charged with a crime in Manhattan Municipal Court or Riley County District Court getting a favorable resolution is not your typical do-it-yourself projects. 

There are a number of steps that must be taken in order to fully prepare for defending a criminal case.  It won't be enough to just go in front of the judge and explain what happened and why you shouldn't be convicted of the crime charged.   If you want a chance to do that, you will have to have a trial and you will have to testify.  Unfortunately you will likely be testifying against a police officer who made a report of the alleged crime shortly after the arrest or citation was made.  This means that the Riley County Police Department officer will have things in front of him or her that will refresh their recollection of the event and their testimony will likely carry more weight than yours.

It's not always right, but that's often the way it is.  Luckily, there are ways to prepare your case so that you will have a fighting chance.

Of the things you can do in order to fully prepare for a criminal defense trial, many are not obvious.  A criminal defense attorney with experience evaluating, trying, and defending criminal charges in Riley County and Manhattan, KS will give you your best shot.  Contact our Manhattan, KS law office for a no-cost consultation.  At our new downtown Manhattan location, our staff will give you the personalized representation you deserve.  When you call, you'll talk directly to a Manhattan, KS attorney who regularly practices in Manhattan, KS, Junction City, KS, and Pottawatomie County.

This is not legal advice but simply a blog written by the folks over at  Blake Robinson Attorney at Law in Manhattan, KS for information purposes only.