Posted on November 09,2020 in Marijuana Possession

Laws prohibiting the consumption and sale of marijuana are changing rapidly across the country. However, this does not mean that the substance is not subject to strict regulations. In Connecticut, marijuana has been decriminalized. Possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana is punishable by a modest fine, and, if the offender is under age 21, a 60-day suspension of his or her driver’s license. However, possession of larger amounts of marijuana, transportation of the drug across state lines, or driving under the influence of marijuana can result in serious criminal consequences, including jail time.

Marijuana Possession May Be a Misdemeanor or Felony Offense

If you are caught with more than a half-ounce of marijuana, you face a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. However, you may be able to avoid jail time by participating in a pretrial diversion program. With this option, you may be required to undergo drug treatment, mental health counseling, community service, and/or ongoing drug testing.

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 Posted on October 23,2020 in Driving Under the Influence

Anyone who drives a motor vehicle with an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) may be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Connecticut. An elevated BAC is defined as 0.08 percent for adults and 0.02 percent for drivers under the age of 21. If convicted of drunk driving, an individual faces an immediate administrative driver’s license suspension and a possible jail sentence of up to 6 months. If the offender’s BAC was significantly above the legal limit, he or she has previously been convicted of DUI, or there are other aggravating factors, the penalties associated with DUI are much more severe. If you or a loved one have been charged with DUI, read on to learn about the legal defenses that may be used to avoid conviction.

Defending Against a Connecticut DUI

To secure a conviction for DUI, prosecutors must prove that a driver’s alcohol consumption led him or her to be intoxicated and therefore unable to operate a vehicle safely. DUI defenses typically fall under one of two categories:

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 Posted on October 15,2020 in Real Estate Law

Buying a home is too important for you to finalize the purchase without inspecting the home first. Finding major problems with your new home after you have moved in may force you to pay for expensive repairs or leave you stuck in a flawed home. Most real estate contracts include a home inspection contingency clause, which gives the prospective buyer the right to hire a professional home inspector and to cancel the contract if the inspection report concerns them. The buyer should at least be aware of the problems so they can be factored into the selling price. Here are six parts of a home inspection where problems can arise:

• Foundation and Basement: A weak foundation can threaten the stability of the home. Signs of foundation problems may include cracks in the foundation or moisture in the basement, The foundation problem could be something that can be repaired or may be caused by the land the house was built on.

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 Posted on October 14,2020 in Juvenile Crimes

This is an update to an article originally posted October 20, 2020.

Connecticut lawmakers have been wrangling with ways to combat increased juvenile crime, especially with the increased rates of repeat motor vehicle theft. Earlier this year, Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act 22-115 which brought changes to procedures and requirements in juvenile arrests, monitoring, and sentencing. That law went into effect on October 1st.

Under the new law, authorities must now bring a juvenile who has been arrested - as long as the juvenile is not being detained – in front of a judge within five business days of that arrest.

A juvenile can now be held up to eight hours (increased from six) if authorities are either trying to locate the youth’s parent or guardian or waiting on a detention order to be issued by a judge.

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 Posted on September 28,2020 in Real Estate Law

If you are thinking about selling your home, you may be exploring your various options. While many people choose to utilize the expertise of a real estate agent, it is possible to sell your home on your own. “For sale by owner” or FSBO sales come with advantages as well as disadvantages. Selling your home without a real estate agent’s assistance is a significant undertaking that will require a great deal of your time and energy. Consequently, it is important to be fully educated about the FSBO process before embarking on this endeavor.

Will I Save Money By Selling My House on My Own?

By now you probably already know that real estate agents make their living by taking a commission from home sale proceeds. Many individuals look into FSBO sales because they do not want an agent’s commission to be deducted from their sale profit. While selling your home on your own does eliminate this particular cost, there is no guarantee that an FSBO sale will save you money on the whole. In fact, it is possible that the profit you will make from the sale will be even less than it would have been if you did work with a real estate agent. Selling your property for too little is one of the most common pitfalls that FSBO sellers fall victim to.

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 Posted on September 21,2020 in Sex Crimes

Being accused of sexual assault may come as a shock, especially if you believe the accusation to be partly or completely fabricated. You may have never had sexual relations with your accuser or have believed that your encounter was consensual. Though prosecutors have the burden of proving your guilt, the mere accusation can be enough to tarnish your reputation and throw your life into turmoil. You need to fight back against false sexual assault charges and can help your defense by taking the following actions when you have been accused:

• Find a Good Defense Lawyer: Whenever you face criminal charges, your first step should be to contact a criminal defense lawyer. What you say and do following your arrest can become evidence in a criminal trial. A criminal defense lawyer will speak on your behalf and make sure that you are treated fairly by the law.

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 Posted on September 14,2020 in Real Estate Law

Connecticut families, like the rest of the country, have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals have had their work hours significantly reduced while others were laid off permanently. Parents have had to find alternative childcare or were forced to stay home from work to watch their children. The financial implications of this virus continue to be wide-reaching. Fortunately, the federal government has taken steps to alleviate at least some of the financial stress caused by the lockdowns. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently announced extended suspensions on real estate owned (REO) evictions and single-family foreclosures.

Financial Relief for Homeowners

The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the financial resources of millions of families throughout the United States and across the globe. Many Americans have spent sleepless nights worrying about being unable to pay their bills and losing their homes due to foreclosure. Some even feared homelessness. In response to the significant financial harm caused by the pandemic and associated lockdowns, both state and federal government agencies have instituted changes designed to provide financial relief.

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 Posted on September 07,2020 in Traffic Violations

Given the recent scarcity of traffic on Connecticut roads, it is perhaps understandable that Connecticut police have been issuing more speeding tickets in recent months, as less traffic usually means more chances to speed. That said, it is never a good idea to speed, even if you believe that no one is watching. The ensuing ticket may seem inconsequential, but its future ramifications can be very serious.

Speeding Leads to More Fatalities

Despite the significant decrease in traffic on Connecticut’s roads, statistics from the National Safety Council point to a major increase in road traffic fatalities for the state in 2020, with the state seeing a 42 percent jump in fatalities per miles driven between March 2019 and March 2020. Overall, the auto accident death rate is approximately 2 percent higher in 2020 than it was in 2018 or 2019, which reverses the downward trend in those years. Anecdotal evidence abounds to suggest that a major proportion of those being injured and dying on state roads are speeding or otherwise driving in a reckless manner.

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 Posted on August 28,2020 in Drug Charges

Connecticut law on drug possession and trafficking establishes crimes that are committed when a person holds or sells illegal drugs (or legal drugs obtained illegally). However, there is another type of drug-related crime that is commonly charged, referred to as possession of drug paraphernalia. If you have been charged with this, either on its own or on top of a drug possession charge, it is crucial to understand that it can sometimes be treated as a relatively minor infraction, but in some cases, can lead to additional fines and even jail time.

Hard to Define

Possession of drug paraphernalia is a fairly common offense, with Connecticut law on the subject following the same patterns as are seen in other jurisdictions. The relevant statute holds that it is illegal to either use drug paraphernalia, or to possess it with the intent to use. The definition of drug paraphernalia, however, is extremely wide, covering seemingly every possible manner in which an item can be used to use, sell, or handle drugs - meaning that if you are arrested for drug possession, you may very well face a paraphernalia charge if anything even remotely related to drugs can be found in the near area or in your possession.

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 Posted on August 21,2020 in Real Estate Law

Are you on the hunt for a house to call home? For first time home buyers, the purchasing process can seem overwhelming and you may be so excited to finally own a home that you jump the gun. When you make an offer on a house, you will complete lots of paperwork that includes the terms of your offer. It is always advisable to work with a real estate attorney while drafting these documents to properly outline your offer and avoid paying more than necessary. Connecticut does not require homebuyers to hire a real estate attorney, but their expertise can keep you from falling victim to unnoticed contingencies included in the seller’s proposal.

Financial Details

It is unlikely that you will forget to include your payment offer on the home while drafting your offer contract; however, this is hardly the only financial consideration that must be done in the purchasing process. Be sure to do your research on the interest rate environment since you will likely have to take out a mortgage to finance your home. It is imperative that you list an interest rate that is affordable in the long term. Any loans that you may need to take out for the purchase of the home should also be listed.

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