If law enforcement stops you on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, how should you respond when the officer begins asking questions? You have heard about Miranda Rights, but what exactly are they? Do these “rights” always play a role in an arrest for...
SIOUX FALLS CRIMINAL DEFENSE BLOG
5 things to do if you are suspected of DUI
There is no doubt that the best way to avoid a DUI conviction is not getting behind the wheel when you have consumed alcohol. Still, many people are pulled over under suspicion of drinking and driving for a variety of reasons. Officers must have probable cause to stop...
How do domestic violence allegations impact a family law case?
Criminal charges or allegations of any sort can upend your life. But they can be especially damaging when they concern people in your own home. Domestic violence accusations and charges regularly lead to protective orders and often spur divorce and child custody...
S.D. greenlights recreational pot, but users should pump brakes for now
South Dakota voters amended the state constitution to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. They also ordered legislators to regulate medicinal pot and the sale of hemp next year. Still, police can bust smokers. The amendment goes into effect July 1, 2021, as...
Study shows significant racial disparity in misdemeanor arrests
Regular readers of our Sioux Falls Criminal Defense Blog might recall a post we published in late July about a study that found “extreme racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests.” The ACLU report stated that “Black people are 3.64 times more likely than...
How to Secure Suspended Imposition of a DUI Sentence
The worst happens. You were charged with driving under the influence (DUI), and you and your attorney did everything possible to fight the charge, but you are still found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony. Your criminal record is now tarnished forever, right? Not...
Once again, marijuana legalization will be on the ballot in November
Sioux Falls residents may remember that there have been two failed South Dakota ballot initiatives to legalize medical marijuana. Pro-legalization advocates will get a third chance this year thanks to a pair of initiatives. Medical marijuana initiative The first...
You can still be charged with a DUI even if you weren’t driving
The “D” in DUI may stand for driving. However, you can still be arrested for suspicion of DUI even if your car was never moving. This could be a rude realization if you were “sleeping it off” or were even just sitting in your car listening to music after a night of...
Report: Wide racial disparity in marijuana arrests
Protests against racial injustice and police brutality have occurred across the nation this summer, including here in Sioux Falls. We had an incident that started very peacefully but ended up with many individuals charged with serious crimes. Our marijuana laws may...
Sioux Falls police look to prosecute riot participants
Sioux Falls police are currently seeking to prosecute protesters who may have been involved in unrest on the night of May 31 at the Empire Mall, amid a nationwide uprising in response to the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd just days earlier. A crowd of...
