On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, February 8, 2018. There’s a decided irony concerning drug courts in Missouri presently. And that is this, as noted in a recent media report: Although the courts are flatly confirmed to be “the most cost-effective way to combat the opioid crisis,” they have been operating on a proverbial shoestring of late owing to state budget cuts. The result is that the tool that is optimally effective and cheap in helping addicts has been materially withdrawn from use. Ultimately, Missouri might well be saving more money by jacking up the drug court …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. The litmus test for behind-the-wheel intoxication in Missouri and nationally is a driver’s blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or greater. What if that was to change to a BAC threshold of 0.05? Lobbying attempts are clearly on display that seek such an adjustment. They were given a proverbial shot in the arm recently with the issuance of a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Researchers with that entity endorse a change in the long-applicable national standard, saying that it would lead to improved safety outcomes …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Tuesday, December 12, 2017. We get straight to the point on our criminal defense website at Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry concerning one key point that is centrally relevant to police conduct in every traffic stop. That point is reasonable suspicion (probable cause) that must be present in order for a police officer to make a stop and continue to subject a citizen to further inquiry or search in a lawful detention. We pose these questions on our site: “Did law enforcement officers have permission to search your vehicle, home or person? If not, did …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, November 27, 2017. Drunk or drugged driving are serious matters that need to be tended to quickly. For the people accused of these crimes, time is of the essence. There are very severe penalties associated with these offenses, and these penalties aren’t solely left to the realm of legal punishments. In all DUI cases, financial penalties — both directly tied to the DUI arrest and indirectly tied to the charge — can really hurt an accused person. So what specifically are we talking about here? Well, consider some of the basic elements in …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Wednesday, November 22, 2017. A conviction for a driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense in Missouri can come with serious criminal penalties. In addition to fees and potential prison time, drivers may also need to install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle they operate in order to drive. What is an ignition interlock device (IID)? An ignition interlock device is used to keep drivers who have consumed alcohol from driving. Essentially, the driver must provide a breath sample into the IID before the engine of the vehicle will start. The breath sample is tested and …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, November 16, 2017. As noted in a recent St. Louis Post Dispatch article, there is more than one type of drug monitoring program operative in states across the country. What the paper terms a “traditional” model is a scheme in which physicians and pharmacists can access a government database tracking patient prescription information. Online data showing prescription history can alert medical actors to patterns of abuse and allow for intervention. Authorities often tout such initiatives as important cogs in flagging individuals at risk and getting them help. Less commonly noted is …