You may have gotten pulled over by a law enforcement officer for a broken taillight, expired tags, or any other traffic violation (i.e., driving above the speed limit, failing to use a turn signal, making an illegal U-turn, etc). However, a law enforcement officer pulling you over for what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop may warp into them accusing you of a drug crime. At the time, you may be stunned by the sudden turn of events, overwhelmed with where to go from there. Well, continue reading to learn how to fight drug charges from a traffic stop and how one of the experienced New Jersey & Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers at The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. can help you build viable legal strategies.
How does a routine traffic stop lead to criminal charges?
First of all, a law enforcement officer may only need a suspicion that an infraction or crime has been made to conduct a routine traffic stop. From here, they may only need a reasonable level of evidence or suspicion (i.e., probable cause) that you possess drugs to search your vehicle without your consent.
For example, a law enforcement officer may notice drug paraphernalia resting on your vehicle’s dashboard, such as pill bottles or smoking pipes. This may give them reason to suspect that certain drugs may be accompanying this paraphernalia in your vehicle. Or, a law enforcement officer may observe a physical nervousness about you when answering their questions. This may be to the point where they begin questioning whether you are currently under the influence of drugs.
How do I fight drug charges stemming from a traffic stop?
In New Jersey, a drug charge may come with fines between $1,000 to $1,000,000 and prison time between six months to 30 years, along with the possible suspension or loss of your driver’s license.
So, if you are accused of drug possession during your traffic stop, the first thing you must do is remain calm. Remember, your Miranda Rights allow you to remain silent until you retain legal representation. At the same time, though, you must comply with the law enforcement officer’s orders and not resist arrest or otherwise act aggressively toward them.
Then, in your criminal court proceedings, you may bring different defenses that work in your favor. For one, you may have the court question whether the law enforcement officer at your traffic stop had probable cause to search your vehicle for drugs in the first place. Or, you may claim that a K9 being brought to sniff the exterior of your vehicle for drugs prolonged your traffic stop significantly longer than it would have taken to produce a traffic violation ticket. Lastly, you may argue that your Miranda Rights were violated at the time of your traffic stop.
We understand just how delicate this situation may be for you. If you need an emotional support system that doubles as a legal support system, look no further than The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. Retain the services of one of the experienced New Jersey & Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers today.
