General

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

Repeat drunk driving offenders in Pennsylvania are often required to install ignition interlock devices in their cars for a period of time before they are able to obtain their driver’s license. An ignition interlock device prevents a person from driving a vehicle until someone blows into the device and no alcohol is detected. A Millersburg… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

Two 13-year-old boys have been charged with Rape and Indecent Assault after they allegedly coerced an 11-year-old girl to perform sex acts on them by threatening to post a previously recorded sexual video of the girl online. The boys recorded the sex act and then posted it online. Some people that viewed  the video then… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

According to a Philadelphia newspaper, a New Jersey man undertook a cost-benefit analysis and felt that it was better to borrow a friend’s car and drive to a court hearing for drug charges instead of missing the court appearance and having a warrant issued. In most criminal cases, a person that has pending misdemeanor or… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

Harrisburg could be the third city to pass laws that would reduce the severity and penalties associated with marijuana possession in Pennsylvania. Currently, a person that possesses up to thirty grams of marijuana for personal use in Pennsylvania is charged with an ungraded misdemeanor offense under 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(31), and that charge is punishable… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

Mere Encounter or Detention People often question whether or not they are required to stop and talk to a police officer if they are approached on the street. As with almost everything, the answer is “it depends.” There is a distinction in the law between a “mere encounter” with a police officer and an “investigative… view more

Posted in General, Penn State on January 12, 2015

Despite the Penn State football team’s disappointing loss to Ohio State yesterday, Penn State continues to rally in support of the university.  Many outsiders point to the Sandusky travesty and claim that the football program was above the law and bigger than the university.  They use the allegations that school administrators covered up the early… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ I recently read an article that a supermarket in England used a life-sized cardboard cutout of a police officer as a “scarecrow” of sorts to curb retail theft. According to the article, the cutout actually reduced theft incidents by 75%. Not so surprisingly, some practical jokers stole the cutout and… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ Rockview State Police recently filed a charge Public Drunkenness before a Centre County district court against a Bellefonte woman after they found her walking topless near the State College Nittany Mall.  The police stopped the woman to investigate, and they came to the conclusion that she was under the influence… view more

Posted in General on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ The Pennsylvania legislature is currently considering a proposal to amend the Simple Assault and Aggravated Assault laws to impose stiffer punishments for assault charges against children. The proposed changes were just approved by the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and still must be considered by the entire House…. view more

Posted in General, Recklessly Endangering Another Person on January 12, 2015

By Jason Dunkle on G+ A Florida man was recently charged with DUI, Child Cruelty, and Reckless Driving after the police clocked him driving drunk at over 127 mph with three small children in the car. Just last year, Pennsylvania modified its DUI law to increase  the penalties for a conviction of DUI in which… view more