Many law enforcement agencies use drug dogs to find evidence of controlled substances. If law enforcement stops you on the road, can the police search your vehicle with a drug dog? The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on the matter in Rodriguez v. United States. In this case, the petitioner, Rodriguez, was stopped by […]
Read MoreMost people think of assault and battery as the same crime, but the two ideas are different. Assault is a threat which creates apprehension of harm, while battery is the actual physical act that does harm someone. Under Wisconsin law, battery is an intentional act of causing injury to another person. Whether battery is considered […]
Read MoreLaws passed in 2014 have changed the consequences for domestic violence, even when no arrest is made. “Domestic violence is defined as intentional infliction of physical pain, injury or illness or an act that may cause another person to fear imminent danger of those things.” Under the Wisconsin statute 968.075, a law enforcement officer shall […]
Read MoreWhen the police investigate crimes, they often depend on information provided by suspects and witnesses to begin to form their conclusions about how the crime progressed and exactly who was involved when. This process has its flaws, though, and one of them is that during the early investigative stages, it is easy for witnesses to […]
Read MorePolice, prosecutors and juries often rely on eyewitness testimony to determine what really happened at the scene of a crime. While this may seem like a concrete way to get a conviction, eyewitness testimony isn’t rock solid and can be affected by several factors. When you are the accused in a court case, it’s vital […]
Read MoreIt seems easy on television. A crime is committed, crime scene techs come in and prove who did or did not commit the crime based on a stray hair, or a tennis shoe print. For a time it seemed to be that concrete in the real world too. Bite marks, hair identification, footwear analysis all […]
Read MoreYou might feel relieved to see a line of Uber cars outside a bar at closing time. None of the people climbing in are going to be driving drunk, and the streets will be safer for everyone. Or will they be? Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft often boast that they make cities safer, and […]
Read MoreHeading out for happy hour with friends, enjoying your favorite music at a local club and social gatherings are common events that may occur before a traffic stop. Some drivers are surprised when, after only a couple of drinks or so, their blood alcohol content level is at or above .08 percent — the legal […]
Read MoreA well-known personal injury lawyer was recently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. A sheriff’s deputy spotted the attorney’s Lamborghini speeding in a 35 mph zone. When he pulled over the car, the deputy thought he smelled alcohol on the attorney’s breath. The attorney said he had not been drinking and refused a […]
Read MoreIn late April, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed into law a bill that significantly increases penalties for people who have been charged with a fourth offense OWI or greater. Here are the changes: Fourth offense OWI is now an automatic felony rather than a criminal misdemeanor Fifth and sixth offense OWIs can now land a […]
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