I-40 illegal stop and search in Oklahoma has affected tens of thousands of motorists. An unequal number of drivers involved were from out-of-state, although police claim the stops are totally legal and are in reply to heightened activity of the Mexican cartels, not to shake down unsuspecting visitors. On the other hand, many of their approaches and practices have been shown unconstitutional in courts.
I-40 Illegal Stop and Search Penalties
I-40 illegal stop and search methods can yield evidence against you, like drugs and drug paraphernalia. Facing possession alone can be bad enough, especially if you are caught with a high amount of a dangerous drug like methamphetamine. Under the conviction of possession, you could receive thousands of dollars in fines and years in prison. A drug trafficking charge is a completely different matter, though, with penalties that far outweigh most simple possession charges.
Drug trafficking is when a person is accused of selling, transporting or importing illegal substances within the United States. The two charges of possession and distribution sometimes overlap into a charge known as “possession with intent to distribute.” This charge is made when the prosecutor establishes that the individual caught intended to sell illegal substances, which is identified by the amount and type of drugs found. If you are charged with possession of marijuana with an intent to distribute, you could spend a minimum of 2 years up to life imprisonment and pay a fine of up to $500,000. The punishment for any drug charge can escalate on your second or next offense.
I-40 Illegal Stop and Search Defense
I-40 illegal stop and search approaches can at times be proven. If the police made mistakes or infringed your constitutional rights when they stopped you on I-40, it could be used in your defense. Some of the common inaccuracies by police may include the lack the probable cause to pull you over. Probable cause refers to the requirement that police have sufficient reason to arrest someone, conduct a search or seize property linking to the crime.
Once pulled over, the officer involved may have committed an illegal search because there are stringent rules regulating what the police can actually do when they are given permission to conduct a search. Some cases may show that the officers may have handled an unfair and irregular checkpoint stop as well.
I-40 Illegal Stop and Search Lawyer
I-40 illegal stop and search tactics are rampant, and for this reason, in order to protect the rights of every citizen, the police officers are restricted in what they can do when stopping and arresting people for a suspected drug crime. When police break these limitations, it can render all proof inadmissible in court. If you have been arrested for a drug crime, call a competent attorney to address these affairs.
