Did you know that a police officer can arrest someone, without a warrant, for a violation of the Maryland Vehicle Law? Not only can an officer conduct an arrest without a warrant for a violation of Maryland transportation law, he or she can also arrest someone without a warrant for a violation of any local traffic law or ordinance. However, the regulation or ordinance must fit into certain categories under Maryland law. They are: 1. The person has committed or is currently committing the … [Read more...]
Baltimore County Police Officer Hurt in Crash with Tractor-Trailer
December 29, 2011 By
The following article appeared in The Baltimore Sun yesterday: By Arthur Hirsch, The Baltimore Sun 2:47 p.m. EST, December 28, 2011 A Baltimore County Police officer and two other victims are being treated for injuries they suffered after the officer's cruiser was struck by a tractor-trailer on the Baltimore Beltway in Towson late Wednesday morning, forcing police to temporarily close the highway. Detective Cathy Batton said the officer, who was the only person in the patrol car, … [Read more...]
Anne Arundel County Police Beat for December 28
December 29, 2011 By
The following is a column listing recent crimes that occurred in Anne Arundel County. It appeared yesterday on The Capital newspaper’s Website: BROOKLYN PARK Pedestrian robbed A man was robbed by two masked men while walking in Brooklyn Park on Christmas Eve, county police said. The 45-year-old Brooklyn Park resident told police he was walking in the 100 block of Church Street near Johnson Street at about 11:45 p.m. when he was confronted by two men. The men punched him, … [Read more...]
What to Do If You are Involved in a Car Accident
December 29, 2011 By
Whether it is a minor fender bender or a multi-car crash, being involved in any type of vehicle accident can be scary. However, it is important that you cover all of your bases immediately to make sure that you are taken care of later. The first thing that you should do is call the police regardless of whether the accident resulted in any apparent injury. If someone is obviously injured, ask for an ambulance as well. Make sure that you get the number of the police report so that you can obtain a … [Read more...]
What is the Value of My Personal Injury Case?
December 29, 2011 By
Predicting the settlement value or jury award for a personal injury case can very difficult. The reason for this is that so many factors are involved in determining what a person should receive for the injuries that they have suffered. Some of these factors include the seriousness of the injury, the amount of concrete evidence available to prove that the injury resulted from the accident, the particular insurance company, the attorney representing the plaintiff and even the makeup of the … [Read more...]
Will Terminology
December 28, 2011 By
If you are writing a will in Maryland, the following definitions may be useful to know: Administrator: a court-appointed representative for an estate who will carry out the will’s instruction Attestation clause: a clause affirming the truth or genuineness of the will; the clause is authenticated when a witness signs it Beneficiary: the person designated to receive proceeds or benefits of a trust, an estate or life insurance Decedent: a person who has died Estate: a person’s … [Read more...]
The Purpose of Speed Cameras
December 28, 2011 By
This column on speed cameras appeared in the Our View section of The Baltimore Sun yesterday. Do you agree? It's not difficult to get people incensed over a speeding ticket. It's an unwanted expense, a burden of paperwork, an embarrassment, an annoyance. And perhaps worst of all, they feel like the business end of a trap, a way for government to hook the unwary. If nothing else, Maryland's unmanned speed cameras have been a boon to local talk-radio hosts as motorists call in to vent their … [Read more...]
Temporary Protective Orders in Maryland
December 28, 2011 By
Maryland law allows a judge to enter a temporary protective order to protect a person from immediate abuse. However, it is not meant to be a permanent fix. The protective order is only effective for a maximum of seven days. It can be extended by the Maryland judge as needed, but not for a period exceeding six months. A final protective order can be a more permanent solution. A temporary protective order may provide for the following types of relief: 1. Order the respondent to refrain from … [Read more...]
Types of Wills
December 28, 2011 By
Two basic types of wills exist: formal wills and holographic wills. A formal will is the only type of will recognized in Maryland. A formal will is signed by the testator of the will in front of two competent witnesses who sign an attestation clause. The testator is the person who leaves a will in force at his or her death. An attestation clause affirms the truth or genuineness of the will when the witness signs it. Although an attestation clause is not needed for the will to be valid, it can be … [Read more...]
Spousal Privilege in Maryland
December 28, 2011 By
If your husband or wife has been charged with a crime in Maryland, you may not be required to testify against him or her. Two types of spousal privilege exist in Maryland. The first type is spousal immunity, or the privilege not to testify in a criminal case. The second type is the privilege for confidential marital communications. When spousal immunity is invoked, a married person whose spouse is the defendant in a criminal case may not be called as a witness by the prosecution, and a … [Read more...]