Scottsdale DUI Lawyers at Corso Law Group Warn of Increased DUI Patrols During Arizona Spring Training

During the first week of spring training in 2015, the Arizona Department of Safety reported 59 DUI arrests near the games. With millions of fans expected to turn out this season, baseball fans should be aware that increased DUI patrols are expected, according to Scottsdale DUI lawyer Christopher Corso.

As fans around the state prepare for the games, it’s important to note that after a game is over, the Center for Advancing Health estimates that 40 percent of fans will still have alcohol in their body.

“During spring training, law enforcement will not hesitate to arrest or give citations to those who who appear to be acting irresponsible while under the influence,” said Corso, founder of Corso Law Group. “If you or someone you know finds themselves in a difficult legal situation, it’s important to understand your rights and to stay silent until you have a DUI defense attorney present.”

Last year, law enforcement officials told 3TV, “more people were drinking and driving home from ball games than any other time in recent memory – with many offenders being from out of state,” an important wake up call to out-of-state residents who need to understand the seriousness of driving under the influence in Arizona.

“With so many out-of-state residents traveling to Arizona to follow their favorite baseball team, it’s important for them to know they’re not exempt from our tough DUI laws,” Corso said.

In Arizona, the penalties for drinking and driving are serious and can result in a mandatory jail sentence of 24 hours to 10 days. Along with jail time, offenders may be potentially required to undergo alcohol education, equip their vehicle with a certified ignition interlock device and be ordered to perform community service.

“During this fun time, we want to remind fans to stay safe and be responsible,” Corso said, “However, if for some reason you find yourself in legal trouble, remember that Corso Law Group is here to defend your rights and help to ensure your civil liberties aren’t violated.”

Corso Law Group is an experienced team of legal professionals who have handled thousands of Arizona DUI cases. Founder Christopher Corso is a former Maricopa County prosecutor who can help with drunk driving cases as well as other criminal defense needs such as criminal speeding, CDL tickets, photo radar tickets, felony charges, drug possession, weapons possession, violent crimes and more.

Free consultations are available with Corso Law Group by visiting https://www.corsolawgroup.com or calling (480) 471-4616.

Corso Law Group, PLLC Arizona offices are located at 8655 E. Via De Ventura, Suite F-165 in Scottsdale, Arizona 85258. The firm’s Texas offices are located at 5177 Richmond Ave., Suite 1250 in Houston, Texas 77056.

Lawyers Caution of Increased DUI Patrols on St. Patrick’s Day

Scottsdale, Arizona — With 240 DUI arrests during last years St. Patrick’s Day, Arizonans can expect an increase in DUI enforcement for this year’s celebration, according to Phoenix DUI lawyer Christopher Corso.

Widely celebrated across the country, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most dangerous holidays due to the number of drunk drivers on the road. In 2013, 40 percent of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As Arizona law enforcement gears for up St. Patrick’s Day, DUI patrols will be out in full force in order to combat DUI’s and other alcohol-related arrests.

“When it comes to holidays, like St. Patrick’s Day, law enforcement takes a closer look at the roads to stop drivers,” said Christopher Corso, founder of Corso Law Group “The police are ready to make these DUI arrests and that can come with deep consequences.”

In Arizona, DUI consequences are harsh. First time DUI offenders can face up to 10 days in jail, expensive fines, mandatory alcohol education, community service and the installation of an ignition interlock.

As well as the legal consequences, a DUI conviction can also come with increased car insurance premiums. According to Nerdwallet, after a DUI conviction, drivers face an average increase of $857.53 a year for insurance.

“If you plan on drinking during St. Patrick’s Day, understand that Arizona has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country,” Corso said “We always ask people to stay responsible during this holiday, however, if you find yourself in legal trouble, know that the experienced DUI lawyers at Corso Law Group are here to help.”

Corso Law Group is an experienced team of legal professionals who have handled thousands of Arizona DUI cases. Founder Christopher Corso is a former Maricopa County prosecutor who can help with drunk driving cases as well as other criminal defense needs such as criminal speeding, CDL tickets, photo radar tickets, felony charges, drug possession, weapons possession, violent crimes and more.

Free consultations are available with Corso Law Group by calling (480) 471-4616.

Corso Law Group, PLLC Arizona offices are located at 8655 E. Via De Ventura, Suite F-165 in Scottsdale, Arizona 85258. The firm’s Texas offices are located at 5177 Richmond Ave., Suite 1250 in Houston, Texas 77056.

 

 

Maricopa County Attorney Bans iPhones for Prosecutors

Maricopa County Attorney Bill MontgomeryWith Apple fighting the FBI about unlocking the San Bernardino’s shooters iPhone and creating a backdoor for the government to unlock all iPhones, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said today that his office will no longer provide iPhones to prosecutors and other employees.

“Apple’s refusal to cooperate with a legitimate law enforcement investigation to unlock a phone used by terrorists puts Apple on the side of terrorists instead of on the side of public safety,” Montgomery said. “Positioning their refusal to cooperate as having anything to do with privacy interests is a corporate PR stunt and ignores the Fourth Amendment protections afforded by our Constitution.”

Citing privacy concerns, Apple is standing up to the U.S government and the National Security Agency by not allowing them backdoor access to all iPhones.

With citizens around the nation using their iPhones for private conversations, photos, music, notes, calendars, contacts, finances and health, government access to iPhones could be viewed as an invasion of privacy.

A Legal Perspective on the Government’s New Gun Plan

A new gun plan was recently presented by the government, proposing new rules and increased regulations for gun control. Despite political differences on the freedoms of gun control, the legal perspective of gun laws is separate, important topic.

Here’s a summary of what these new, potential gun laws could mean legally.

The proposed requirements seek to change the status of a “gun dealer”. A gun dealer will no longer be categorized by the number of armed weapons they sell but instead by the “totality of the circumstances”, looking to change the way in which firearms are sold, according to The Wall Street Journal.

According to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the new rule is focused on those selling guns online saying, “It’s really an internet loophole. Gun sales are moving online.”

Will this be fair to certain individuals? If prosecuted for not following the regulation due to disagreeing with the proposed status, one has the opportunity to present the government’s criteria as that of “too vague”.

Assessing the mental health of a person prior to them purchasing a gun is another key factor in the proposed plan. The White House stated the Social Security Administration will implement regulations, working to help the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) distinguish those who have mental health concerns, preventing them from purchasing a gun.

The problem here is this piece would require new laws, not just new regulations. Additionally, those who would be identified as mentally ill, might be wrongfully identified at that, resulting in an entirely separate issue of taking away the rights of those who should be allowed the right the purchase a firearm.

Lastly, The White House seeks to fix the current problem of those bypassing restrictions, purchasing guns through trusts and corporations.

Lynch addressed this in saying, “The trust loophole is something we’ve been looking into for a long time.” Legally, despite stronger restrictions and regulations with this type of ruling, a person who fits into this category but still wants to purchase a firearm could go to court to challenge their purchasing status.

As this complex, proposed new gun plan arrives, Texas too is adjusting to a new normal, Open Carry. The new gun has caught many Texans off guard, especially causing confusion for Texas law enforcement.

Kevin Lawrence, executive director of of the Texas Municipal Police Association said, “ What authorities do the officers have? We need to get that clarified as much as possible so the officers know what’s expected of them going into any given situation.”

In these situations, where a new and different law is now active, it takes time to understand how things will work. With others besides law enforcement exposing open firearms, citizens wonder the intention of each gun holder. The new law has also forced businesses to make a decision on whether they allow those carrying openly in their stores.

If a business chooses to not allow guns inside their doors, they must post a 30.07 sign, banning handguns on their property.

Some business have adapted other regulations, such as Walmart, where when employees see someone openly carrying a gun, they must tell their manager who then asks the gun holder to see their paperwork.

Overall, as the nation sees changes in gun laws, it’s important for citizens to recognize and understand their rights.

The “Affluenza” Case: A 2016 Update

Criminal defense attorneys represent a range of cases, but recently, one case caught the media’s attention again, the “Affluenza” case. After killing four people in a drunk driving accident at the age of 16 in 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas, Ethan Couch was convicted of four counts of intoxication manslaughter but was not sentenced to any jail time.

Recently, Ethan Couch and his mother, Tonya Couch went missing after Ethan didn’t show up to a check-in with his probation officer. This resulted in U.S. Marshals releasing a wanted poster and announcing a $5,000 reward for details about Ethan Couch’s location.

After being found in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Ethan Couch and his mother were arrested. Tonya Couch was extradited back to the United States while Ethan remains in Mexico. Questions still remain as to why Ethan and his mother fled to Mexico in the first place.

Either way, the fault of the case seems to be with the prosecution. While the “Affluenza” defense is not common, Ethan’s lawyers presented a case that worked for their client and proved that due to Ethan’s upbringing, there were never any consequences associated with his actions because in his mind, wealth could fix anything.

The irritating factor is that the government seems to have given Ethan a better deal due to the fact that he had money.

It can be difficult to understand cases like this one. It seems that this case was given more consideration by the court due to the money behind it. Prosecutors work on statistics and there are only so many “get out of jail free cards”.

In this situation, the advancement of the arguments continued, then the case went to sentencing where most likely, several politically important people spoke, a crucial factor in any case. However, when looking at this case from a criminal defense perspective, it’s frustrating.

Corso Law Group works with clients all the time that ask, why not me? the end, the state’s decision will not help anyone.

As of now, Ethan Couch remains in Mexico. What will happen when he returns the United States is still in question. After a Mexican judge granted the “Affluenza” teen a temporary stay in Mexico which in return stopped transfer proceedings, it’s difficult to say if he will face jail time in the United States.

“Making a Murderer” Series Explained from a Criminal Defense Perspective

The newly famous Netflix series “Making a Murderer”, based on the life of Steven Avery, and the murder trials he and his nephew Brendan Dassey endured, questions the legal system, DNA evidence and the legitimacy of the justice system. The documentary took ten years to make, questioning, explaining and presenting each piece of Avery and Dassey’s cases and personal stories from beginning to end.

After spending 18 years in prison for a sexual assault crime he was innocent for, Avery was exonerated by DNA evidence. This is the first of the legal battles discussed in the non- fictional crime series, where not only was there no specific evidence to incarcerate Avery in the first place, but he also had an alibi for the crime he was convicted of. Avery was framed by the Manitowoc County but after his release, Avery questionably stayed in the same town.

Years later, the main case of the series begins, as Avery is charged with the murder of Teresa Halbach, by the same law enforcement that wrongly accused and sentenced him to prison the first time. From this point on, what’s interesting to a criminal defense attorney is how the state worked to collect, maintain and present the evidence they said proved Avery’s guilt.

Christopher Corso, founder of Corso Law Group recently discussed the Avery case on Price of Business, where he gave his criminal defense point of view. In regards to the DNA portion, Corso spoke to the point that although DNA technology continues to improve, criminal defense attorneys are still skeptical.

In the Steven Avery case, the state was allowed to search Avery’s home without him there several different times for any evidence relating to Halbach’s murder. During one of the last searches, police found Steven Avery’s DNA on a car key in his home that they said belonged to Halbach. However, the DNA found in this case doesn’t fully make sense.

Christopher Corso went on the say that defense attorney’s skepticism lies in the fact that when labs pull DNA off of “evidence”, it’s difficult to separate the multiple strands present. This is not a new issue either, as prosecutors tend to be selective. While it depends on the region and the situation you’re in, crucial case outcomes have been determined by a simple strand of DNA. How is it that one DNA test can prove so much?

Prosecutors want to use this evidence because they feel it’s unique and strong towards their case. How can DNA be completely reliable? The level of the sophistication in the technology is good and advancements continue, but the true question is who is actually pushing the buttons? Who are the people facilitating this and is it fair?

Avery seemed to be the target for the murder of Halbach since the beginning. In his Price of Business segment, Corso goes on to say that the longer Avery stayed in that town, the more that circle of law enforcement profiled him. Avery was doomed, and he was going to be the first suspect Manitowoc County looked to for this type of crime.

Since the series began, a petition was started for Avery and his nephew Dassey to be pardoned for the murder. A response to the petition  was released on whitehouse.gov.

The statement says “Since Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey are both state prisoners, the President cannot pardon them.”

Avery has since also written a letter from prison, declaring that “the truth will set him free.” Currently, Avery is serving a life sentence for the murder of Teresa Halbach.

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