Encounters With the Law Never Take a Holiday
Like most people, you work hard, and want to enjoy your summer vacation. While many of us worry most about the airline losing our luggage, or the trusty van breaking down in the middle of nowhere, few consider an all too common cause of a bad vacation, an encounter with the law.
Statistics show that the most deadly month to be on the road is August. Very aware of these facts, law enforcement agencies are out in force during the summer holidays, and are in no mood for leniency.
In recent years, in response to the rising number of maritime accidents, law enforcement has stepped up waterborne patrols in many jurisdictions. Nowadays there are as many things to worry about as a boater as there are as a motorist.
So how can you protect yourself while enjoying your vacation? First step is to know the local laws wherever you are spending your holiday.
Make sure you have all necessary safety equipment on board, and that all of the lights are in good working order. Steering a boat when underage can draw a significant fine in places, and even the most simple fishing expedition can be derailed by lack of the appropriate license, or ignorance of restrictions on catching certain species of fish or fishing in certain areas.
A criminal lawyer likely knows the focus of law enforcement during holidays, and what crimes a particular jurisdiction frowns most strongly upon. Some places are fairly relaxed overall in their enforcement of alcoholic beverage consumption, but will immediately arrest and prosecute anyone suspected of boating under the influence, even if they are close to the legal limit.
Knowing the number of a good lawyer can make the difference between a prosecution resulting in a fine, jail time, or being let off with a warning. It is a smart plan to consult a criminal attorney to make sure you are aware of all relevant local laws and rules before you travel.
Attorney Marc A. Zeve offers the highest quality of Worcester County, MD criminal law in the area. He is a year-round resident with offices in Ocean Pines and Snow Hill who has been focusing on the practice of criminal law and DUI law for 20 years. We also serve in Wicomico and Somerset Counties.
This entry was posted on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 3:41 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.