| About Criminal And Trial Law |
| Alcohol & Drug Crimes |
| Sex Crimes |
| White Collar Crimes |
| Violence & Theft Crimes |
| Federal,State & Juvenile Crime |
Alcohol & Drug Crimes
Alcohol and drug crimes have a great impact on the order of society. Alcohol-related driving accidents are often the main causes of several road fatalities. Drug addictions, on the other hand, are the causes of crimes such as assaults, theft, prostitution and even murder. Numerous studies have also shown that the use of alcohol and drugs is the major cause of domestic or family violence.
Alcohol Crimes
Alcohol-related offenses include violations of liquor law, such as sale of alcohol to minors, possession of alcohol in an open container in a public place, and public drunkenness. Mere possession of alcohol, however, is not a crime.
Because a combination of alcohol and automobile has proven to be lethal, legislative and public authorities have focused on drunk driving in recent years. The result has been stricter statutes and greater penalties against those who are caught driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or those who have a blood alcohol concentration of at least .08 percent.
Drug Crimes
The federal government and all states have enacted statutes similar to the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, a model act which the Commissioners on Uniform Laws have drafted. These statutes provide schedules that classify drugs according to their danger, abuse potential, and benefits in medicine. They also define the three basic drug crimes: possession, sale and/or distribution, and unauthorized use.
Unlike alcohol, mere possession of a prohibited drug is a criminal offense. If you are charged for the first time, and the quantity of possessed drugs is small, you can be convicted of a misdemeanor crime which usually results in probation. The sale and/or distribution of illegal drugs is the next most common drug crime. When the drugs are sold or distributed to minors, it becomes a federal crime which carries more severe penalties.
In case you are arrested for committing an alcohol- or drug-related crime, don’t waste any time. Locate a criminal defense lawyer who can help protect your rights.