by Bickerton Law | Feb 11, 2019 | Blog, Case Law Summaries, Constitutional Rights, DUI, Legal Briefs, Mandatory Sentence
Topic: DUI – Refusal of Chemical Testing – Birchfield – Mandatory Sentence – Alleyne Summary: The mandatory minimum sentence given by the Venango County Court of Common Pleas for a DUI chemical test refusal was unconstitutional. 1.) Defendants cannot be given a...
by William Bickerton | Jan 3, 2019 | Blog, Criminal Records and Employment, In the News
On December 26th, 2018, Pennsylvania’s new Clean Slate Law took effect and made more people with certain misdemeanor convictions eligible to get their criminal records sealed. Under the previous law, many with convictions for lower level simple assault...
by William Bickerton | Dec 12, 2014 | Blog, Blog Posts, DUI, New Laws, sentencing, Sentencing and Punishments
On October 20th, 2014, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a law changing the way courts handle prior drunk driving (DUI) convictions at sentencing. In Pennsylvania, you face harsher punishments if you have prior DUI convictions. Before the change, prior DUI...
by Lea Bickerton | Oct 20, 2014 | Blog, Blog Posts, In the News, Megan's Law, Sex Offender Registration, SORNA
On December 20, 2012, the Adam Walsh Act (SORNA) required many individuals who were convicted of sex offenses but not classified as violent sex offenders to begin registering as sexual offenders. A new law passed in March 2014 has removed the registration requirement...
by Lea Bickerton | Sep 17, 2013 | Blog, Blog Posts, Castle Doctrine, In the News
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that a Munhall, PA man shot and killed a man who had broken into his garage. After calling 911, the homeowner informed the intruder that the police were on their way. Munhall police reports that the intruder began an exchange of...
by Lea Bickerton | Sep 11, 2013 | Blog, Blog Posts, In the News, Traffic Ticket
WPXI reports that 60 Pittsburgh-area drivers received traffic citations for improper use of the carpool/high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on the Parkway North. Under the law, the HOV lane may only be used by motorcycle operators and cars that are carrying at least...