Posted on September 29, 2021 in Traffic Violations

Truck drivers are required to follow strict regulations related to the operation of commercial vehicles. Some of the most important of these regulations address the amount of cargo a commercial truck is allowed to carry. Weight limits are based on the number of axles on a truck and trailer, and truck drivers are required to have their trucks weighed regularly to ensure that they are in compliance with these limits. Drivers who are charged with overweight truck violations will need to understand the specific penalties they may face and how these penalties may affect their ability to continue driving a commercial vehicle.

Fines and Other Penalties for Overweight Violations

Most of the time, the amount that a driver will be fined will be based on how far their truck is over the weight limit. The fines are charged as follows:

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 Posted on September 20, 2021 in Driving Under the Influence

Being pulled over by a police officer can be a stressful and intimidating experience, especially if the officer may have reason to believe that a person was driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An officer will look at a number of factors when determining whether a person may be intoxicated, and in some cases, a driver may be asked to take field sobriety tests. These tests involve multiple physical or verbal activities that allow an officer to gauge a person’s level of intoxication, and the results of these tests may provide probable cause to make an arrest. Drivers can be sure they are addressing these situations properly by understanding the types of tests they may be asked to perform and how these tests may indicate intoxication.

Standardized Field Sobriety Tests

People may be familiar with tests that may be used by a police officer to determine whether a driver is intoxicated, if only because they have seen them performed on TV shows. Some of these depictions may involve a person being asked to recite the alphabet backwards or touch their fingertips to their nose. However, there are only three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) that are approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

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 Posted on September 15, 2021 in Theft and Property Crimes

There are multiple different types of offenses that fall under the category of property crimes. While some of these crimes involve blatant theft, such as shoplifting or robbery, others are more subtle, and they may be related to a person’s activities as an employee or their handling of someone else’s money or property. Embezzlement is one such offense, and those who have been accused of this crime will need to understand the nature of the charges they may face and their options for defense.

What Is Embezzlement?

A person may be accused of committing embezzlement if they wrongfully take or appropriate someone else’s property that is in their possession or care. Embezzlement is generally related to a person’s activities when handling money or property for an employer, although it may also involve the mismanagement of property or assets that a person holds on behalf of a family member, friend, or business associate.

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 Posted on September 03, 2021 in Driving Under the Influence

Originally published: February 26, 2018 -- Updated: September 2, 2021

UPDATE: In addition to the consequences of causing someone’s death due to driving while intoxicated, a person may also face criminal charges if they cause a serious injury to one or more people. In some cases, a driver may be charged with assault, and when the assault is committed with a motor vehicle, this is a felony offense.

The charge of second-degree assault with a motor vehicle applies when a person causes a serious physical injury to someone else because they were operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An injury is considered a serious physical injury if it puts a victim at risk of being killed, results in disfigurement, or causes them to experience significant impairments to their health (including the loss of an internal organ or the loss of function of organs or bodily systems).

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 Posted on August 31, 2021 in Real Estate Law

When buying or selling a home, a purchase contract will be created once the seller accepts the buyer’s offer. This agreement will detail the terms of the sale, including important dates during the transaction and the requirements that both parties must meet. Contingencies are an important part of a real estate purchase contract. Buyers and sellers will need to understand the types of contingencies that may be included in an agreement and how these will affect them as they work to complete the transaction.

Types of Contingencies in a Real Estate Transaction

Contingencies are terms in a purchase contract that describe certain conditions that must be met during the transaction. In many cases, these terms will allow one party to back out of the transaction if certain requirements are not met. Common contingencies include:

• Financing contingency - The buyer will need to qualify for a mortgage loan that will allow them to purchase the home. This type of contingency will allow the buyer to back out of the purchase if they are unable to obtain financing with certain terms, such as a specific interest rate or an affordable monthly payment.

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 Posted on August 27, 2021 in Sex Crimes

While all types of criminal charges can result in serious penalties, sex crimes are often treated differently than other offenses. A person who is accused of committing these types of offenses may have their reputation and personal character attacked, and they may face consequences to their personal life, their relationships, and their career, even if they are never convicted of criminal charges. Offenses related to child pornography are taken especially seriously by law enforcement. Those who are accused of these types of crimes will need to understand how the law addresses these situations and the potential penalties they may face if convicted.

Child Pornography Offenses in Connecticut

Connecticut law defines child pornography as a visual depiction of a child under the age of 16 engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In cases involving child pornography, a person may face multiple different types of charges, including:

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 Posted on August 12, 2021 in Marijuana Possession

While marijuana has long been treated as a controlled substance, attitudes surrounding this drug have changed in recent years. Many states have allowed the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and a number of states have legalized marijuana for recreational use as well. Connecticut recently joined these states when the legislators passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana. Residents of Connecticut will want to understand how this new law addresses the use of marijuana, as well as how it will affect those who have previously faced criminal charges for marijuana possession or other drug-related offenses.

How the New Law Affects Criminal Cases Involving Marijuana

As of July 1, 2021, marijuana has been made legal for recreational use by adults over the age of 21. A person can possess and use up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis plants or an equivalent amount of products that contain marijuana, such as oils or edibles. In addition, a person can possess up to five ounces of marijuana that is kept in a locked container in their residence or locked inside the trunk or glove compartment of their vehicle. While marijuana is not yet available for retail sale in Connecticut, the state expects that it will begin being sold near the end of 2022.

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 Posted on August 05, 2021 in Domestic Violence

There are many different situations in which a person may face domestic violence charges. For example, an argument between spouses or other family members may spiral out of control, and law enforcement may be called after receiving a report from a neighbor or someone else who was involved. While reports of domestic violence may be made for legitimate reasons, they can also be based on false accusations, such as when a parent is attempting to gain an advantage in a child custody dispute. Those who have been accused of committing domestic violence will need to understand the specific charges they may face and the potential consequences of a criminal conviction.

Connecticut Family Violence Charges

Under Connecticut’s laws, domestic violence is referred to as “family violence,” and it involves any incidents in which a family or household member suffers bodily injury or physical harm or faces the threat of violence. “Family or household members” may include spouses, former spouses, parents and children, other family members who are related by blood or marriage, people who are in a dating relationship or who have formerly dated each other, unmarried couples who are cohabitating or who have lived together in the past, and people who share a child, regardless of whether they are currently living together or have ever lived together.

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 Posted on July 19, 2021 in Driving Under the Influence

There are many ways that being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can affect your life. This offense is commonly referred to as DUI or DWI, but it is known as Operating Under the Influence (OUI) in Connecticut. While you may be concerned about some of the more serious consequences that you could face, such as large fines or potential jail time, you may also be subject to a suspension of your driver’s license, even if you are not convicted on criminal charges. If your license is suspended, you will also need to understand your requirements for using an ignition interlock device on your vehicle once your license is reinstated.

Connecticut IID Requirements

If you are arrested on suspicion of drunk or intoxicated driving, and a chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine shows that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was over the legal limit, or if you refuse to take a chemical test, your driver’s license will be suspended for 45 days. A conviction for a first-time OUI or second OUI will also result in a 45-day license suspension, although you may be eligible to have your license restored immediately if you have already served a 45-day administrative license suspension.

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 Posted on July 12, 2021 in Theft and Property Crimes

There are multiple different types of offenses that are categorized as property crimes, and they usually involve taking or damaging someone else’s property. In addition to facing criminal charges for larceny or theft, a person may also be charged with burglary, which involves entering someone else’s property with the intent of committing a crime. Those who have been accused of these types of offenses will want to understand the specific charges that may apply in their situation and the potential consequences they could face if they are convicted.

Burglary and Related Offenses

Burglary charges may apply in situations where someone enters a building, vehicle, watercraft, trailer, railroad car, or another structure while planning to commit a crime inside that building. Burglary offenses are grouped into three categories:

• First-degree burglary - This charge will apply if a person was armed with a deadly weapon or explosives, if they inflicted bodily injury on someone else or attempted to do so, or if they entered or remained in a building at night. This offense is a Class B felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. The maximum sentence is 20 years with a fine of up to $15,000.

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