In New York, it is against the law to text while driving. This seems like a worthwhile way of demotivating people from engaging in this activity, but there is problem with the new law. The new law is does not make texting while driving a primary offense. The police officer must first see someone violating the law. However, he cannot pull the … [Read more...]
Anti-Semitism and Tolerance
It was the 1990's in Billings, Montana. Tammy Schnitzer and her five-year-old son, Isaac, had placed a Menorah in Isaac's bedroom window. They were celebrating the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. Without warning, a large cinder block careened through their window. Glass was shattered throughout the room. The Menorah was destroyed! This is one of … [Read more...]
Leandra’s Law
On October 11, 2009, Carmen Huertas was driving on the West Side Highway in Manhattan. She had a blood alcohol level of .012. She was speeding. In addition, she had 7 young girls in the car with her! Carmen lost control of her car due to her speeding while intoxicated. The car flipped over, throwing some of the young girls from the vehicle. … [Read more...]
DNA Evidence
Curtis Goodman was charged on September 4th, 2009, with a burglary. The criminal charges against him state that he burglarized a Brooklyn Heights movie theater. A screwdriver with DNA evidence was found near the cash box in the movie theater.This was the only evidence connecting Curtis Goodman to the felony. The burglary took place when the … [Read more...]
Gang Colors Not Enough To Search Car
A district court judge in Nassau County threw out a search of a car due to the fact that the reason the police officers gave for searching the car could not be substantiated. The occupants in the car were charged with weapons possession (which includes charges for violent crimes, both felonies and misdemeanors) At the time, the officers … [Read more...]
Not Your Average Domestic Violence Case
An unnamed woman had previously claimed in New York that her boyfriend called her more than 300 times from jail. She testified to this before a grand jury. The purpose of the phone calls were to intimidate her into refusing to testify against him at the time of trial. The case is entitled People v. Smith. It is pending in Brooklyn before … [Read more...]
Tougher Drunk Driving Laws in New York
Governor David A. Patterson recently signed a new statute into law that affects individuals convicted of drunk driving. The new "Driving While Intoxicated" statute requires individuals convicted of drunk driving to install interlock devices in their cars. The new law is referred to as "Leandra's law", named after Leandra Rosado, an … [Read more...]
Dumb And Dumber
A local newspaper recently published an article about an incident that occurred recently on a New York highway in which two individuals were charged with driving while intoxicated. An on-duty highway police officer noticed that a vehicle was being driven erratically. After pulling over the vehicle, the police officer gave the driver a series of … [Read more...]
New York DWI Law Tightened
In January of 2002 Jack Shay, a Lake Placid resident, was hit by a drunk driver. Jack had been a world class speed skater. He had won the 500 and 1500 meter races at the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid. He was killed in an accident by a drunk driver. At the time of the accident both drivers were taken to a local hospital. At the hospital a medical … [Read more...]
Police Officer Becomes Intoxicated and Crashes – Wrongful Death Suit Settled
Police officer Christine L. Miller was off duty. She drove some friends to O'Leary's Bar and Restaurant. Christine was an officer in the Sunset Hills Police Department. Christine was served numerous drinks at O'Leary's Bar. After consuming "a high quantity" of alcohol Christine got in her car to drive home. Christine drove her Mitsubishi east in … [Read more...]
