Greeley Criminal Law Blog

Control the damage from your legal situation

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Monday, April 15, 2019.

So, you may have made a mistake with legal implications. What happens next? The first thing you should know is that you have rights. You could probably do many things when faced with having to go through the criminal justice system in Colorado.

You should also know that making decisions about the law is not about immediate concerns. It is about consequences, penalties and costs over the long term. The best possible thing you could do in most situations is to take a step back and review your case from this perspective.

Can you refuse field sobriety tests in Colorado?

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

Colorado police officers have the right to administer field sobriety tests. They can conduct the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. During this test, you must follow an object with your eyes. The officer looks for any jerking in the eyeballs that would imply you are under the influence of alcohol. There is also the walk-and-turn test where you must take several steps from heel to toe, turn around and take several more steps. Again, the officer looks for anything that would imply intoxication.

Having evidence you should not drive gives the police officer sufficient reason to place you under arrest. Even if you did not say or do anything inside the vehicle to suggest intoxication, then a field sobriety test can provide that reasoning. However, you actually do not have to submit to them.

Understanding the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

In all likelihood, you have never heard about the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. Nevertheless, if you face criminal charges in Colorado, this long established legal doctrine could spell the difference between your conviction and your acquittal.

The U.S. Supreme Court first hinted at the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine in 1886 when it decided the case of Boyd v. United States. The doctrine did not receive its official name, however, until Justice Felix Frankfurter coined the phrase in his opinion in Nardone v. United States in 1939.

What to know about wet reckless charges

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

Plenty of people think they can safely drive home from the bar while intoxicated. However, Colorado police are out in full force. In 2017 alone, police arrested over 10,000 Colorado residents on suspicion of DUI.

If you ever find yourself in custody over a DUI charge, then you need to go about the process wisely. That may involve trying to reduce your charges to only a wet reckless. A lot of people have never heard the term "wet reckless" before, so here is everything you need to know about it.

The difference between reckless and careless driving in Colorado

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Friday, January 11, 2019.

You are probably already aware that reckless driving laws exist in Colorado. However, you may not know what constitutes reckless driving behavior, or the penalties for it. Another surprising fact is that Colorado has a separate offense for careless driving.

It is vital to understand the differences between reckless and careless driving, especially if facing a ticket and/or criminal charges. Below is a brief explanation of these two traffic violations.

How a DUI conviction can negatively impact your life

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Thursday, December 13, 2018.

The last thing you want on your record is a DUI conviction, and you do not want to lose your freedom and spend substantial time in jail or prison. But have you ever thought about what other negative impacts a DUI conviction can have on your life? For instance, you could lose your driving privileges and face hefty fines, fees and court costs before you can get your driver’s license back.

Unfortunately, any type of a criminal conviction, for DUI or anything else, can pose additional negative consequences for your future, especially when it comes to getting and keeping the job you want. For example, if you need a license to practice your chosen profession or vocation, Colorado’s various licensing boards may refuse to grant you one. Should you require a Commercial Driver’s License, you can rest assured that your chances of getting one are slim to none with a DUI conviction on your record.

How much do you know about DUIs in Colorado?

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

Many drunk drivers in Colorado are first-time offenders who have never previously faced the criminal justice system. An arrest for DUI can be a frightening experience, especially if your DUI is the result of a one-time bad choice or mistake.

Whether you are facing a DUI charge or you are just curious to test your knowledge about DUI in Colorado, read on to see what you already know.

A DUI conviction, a license suspension and your future

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

Perhaps you were partying with some college buddies, had a couple of beers, then got in your car to drive home.

Unfortunately, you were driving somewhat erratically and law enforcement pulled you over on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. You are scared and very concerned about losing your license. What now?

4 common types of nonviolent crime

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

When some people hear that someone is a criminal, they often imagine a violent person. Studies show that people in the U.S. assume the crime rate is high even though evidence proves otherwise. Violent crime is actually at a low rate; there has been a steady and sharp decline in violent crime since 1993.

Criminals are often not dangerous people. Individuals facing criminal charges or convictions are often ordinary citizens who may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time or made the wrong judgment. Many who commit crimes are not violent or want to cause physical harm to others. Crime statistics show that property offenses are far more prevalent than violent ones. Here are some of the most common nonviolent crimes:

3 possible outcomes of a DUI traffic stop

On behalf of McAdams Law Office on Monday, September 17, 2018.

Around major holidays, it is not uncommon to hear about law enforcement establishing sobriety checkpoints to ensure drivers are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even when it is not a holiday weekend, there are typically cops on the road patrolling for drivers they suspect may be inebriated. There are many reasons why police may target you for such a traffic stop.

If you find yourself pulled over and facing this situation, there are a few possible outcomes you can expect. Regardless of what happens, you should remain calm, obey an officer's requests and be respectful at all times. The following are three potential results that may occur.