Salisbury, Maryland, Criminal Defense Lawyer
Highway Interdiction
Were you stopped by the police on Route 50 while driving to or from your vacation at the beach in Ocean City, Maryland? Were you charged with drunk driving or drug possession while vacationing in Ocean City? Were you traveling through Salisbury or the Eastern Shore of Maryland on Route 13 or Route 50 on your way north to Philadelphia or New York when the police stopped your car for an alleged minor traffic violation that turned into a criminal charge for possession of drugs or drunk driving? Did the police search your car and find illegal drugs, counterfeit clothing or DVD's, untaxed cigarettes? Did the police officer claim to smell the "odor of Marijuana" coming from your vehicle? Did a minor traffic stop turn into a serious criminal arrest? Do you feel that you were the victim of racial profiling by the police?
If so, you are not alone. The Maryland State Police, Worcester County Sheriff's Office, Ocean City Police, Wicomico County Sheriff's Office and Somerset County Sheriff's Office aggressively patrol Route 50 and Route 13 on the Eastern Shore of Maryland looking for out of state drivers to stop, search, and arrest for drunk driving and drug possession. The police target out of state drivers and rental vehicles from Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and other northeastern states. These police agencies routinely use drug sniffing dogs to justify a search of a car after stopping drivers for speeding, improper lane change, following too close and other minor traffic violations.
If you are an out of state resident, facing criminal charges such as drunk driving, driving under the influence, possession of controlled dangerous substance (drugs/Cocaine/Marijuana), illegal possession of a weapon, gun or firearm, trademark counterfeiting, untaxed cigarettes or other crimes, you need a LOCAL criminal defense attorney who knows the local court system, judges and prosecutors who will handle your case. I have been representing clients on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in criminal law for over a decade. I routinely represent out of state residents who have been caught up in a criminal justice system far from home. Many of my clients were arrested during traffic stops on the busy highways running through the Eastern Shore. I have the knowledge and experience to aggressively challenge illegal traffic stops and unconstitutional police searches of motor vehicles. I fight to protect my clients' right to be free of unconstitutional searches and seizures. The police are aggressively patrolling the roadways; you need an aggressive attorney to protect your rights.
College Students
There are many college students living and vacationing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Salisbury, Ocean City, and Princess Anne. The students attend colleges and universities such as Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Unfortunately, many of these college students end up charged with crimes such as drunk driving (DUI/DWI), Underage Possession of Alcohol, Possession of CDS (drugs), theft (shoplifting) and other minor offenses. I am especially aware of the need to keep the records of these college students clean so that they can move on to pursue promising careers without the burden of a criminal record. I am familiar with local court diversionary programs (misdemeanor offender programs) and sentencing options, such as PBJ (probation before judgment) and expungement that can preserve a "clean" criminal record for the college students I represent, and other clients. I fight to get my clients in these programs when they qualify.
I understand that worried parents of college students are often in the difficult position of balancing discipline and responsibility with the serious sanctions threatened by their child's criminal charges. My firm will guide the client and the client's parents through the criminal justice system making every effort to achieve the result that is in the best interest of the client.
Call me, Andrew M. MacDonald, today so that we can discuss the legal problems that you face.
Law Office of Andrew M. MacDonald, LLC
110 Baptist Street
P.O. Box 33
Salisbury, MD 21801
Phone: 410-341-7575
Fax: 410-341-4004
E-mail
Wicomico County • Worcester County • Somerset County • Dorchester County • Talbot County