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DUI Attorney Mark Matney - Matney Law PLLC - Newport News - Williamsburg

Mark Matney

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Reckless Driving, 37 MPH Over The Limit, Amended to Speeding

Reckless Driving Amended to Speeding
Posted by Mark Matney of Holcomb Law, PC Newport News, VA
www.matneylawpllc.com
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If you were charged with Reckless Driving by Speed at 72 mph in a 35 mph zone, would you prefer an amendment to Speeding or a conviction with a weekend of jail?  Today in court I represented the first driver.  When you go to court, it is like a job interview in the sense that you only get one chance to make a first impression.

My client, charged with reckless driving, 72 in 35, helped me prepare for court by completing the driver improvement course and arranging for the necessary witness.  At court, I spoke with the law enforcement officer and reviewed the situation with him.  When we presented our case, I was able to inform the court that my client stopped immediately for the officer and was cooperative throughout the encounter.  Additionally, I pointed out that the officer did not object to the amendment of the charge.  I then helped my client explain his side and what he learned from being charged and completing a driver improvement course.  Finally, we presented my client’s clear driving history and the testimony of a witness who spoke on his behalf.

The judge amended the charge from the criminal misdemeanor of Reckless Driving to the traffic infraction of Speeding.  He noted that he considered the officer’s input, the testimony of the character witness, and my client’s driving history, driver improvement course and acknowledgement of responsibility.

On the other hand, I observed a driver who was charged with Reckless Driving by Speed at 70 mph in a 35 mph zone.  That driver was found guilty and sentenced to two days of jail.  Despite the lower speed he received a more severe result.  What was the difference?  The other driver did not prepare effectively for his day in court.  He did not present that the officer was willing for the charge to be amended, nor did he present a driver improvement course or any other mitigating factors.

Sometimes the judges decide that the speed is too high and they do not amend despite all of our preparations.  However, by planning in advance we can obtain the best result based on the facts and circumstances.

 

Attorney Mark Matney - Holcomb Law, PC - Traffic Court Attorney - Newport News Virginia
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HOT TOPICS... Attorney Mark Matney - Holcomb Law, PC, serving Newport News and throughout the Virginia Peninsula, provides this section of informative in a blog format to help you with your case.  For more information, please review the topics pages of our site or call for a free consultation.  You may select your topic of interest by clicking on the bar with the article title.  We are a traffic court defense attorneys dealing in DUI, Speeding Tickets, Failure to Yield, DWI, Reckless Driving, etc.

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DUI Attorney Mark Matney - Matney Law PLLC - Newport News - Williamsburg

Mark Matney

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Two ASAP Non-Compliance Cases Dismissed This Week

Two ASAP Non-Compliance Cases
Posted by Mark Matney of Holcomb Law, PC Newport News, VA
www.matneylawpllc.com
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This week judges in two different cities dismissed ASAP show cause violations against my clients.  Both cases involved someone who triggered an ignition interlock violation soon after the machine was installed.  They completed six months with no new interlock problems before their court dates and remained in full compliance with respect to classes and payments.  It is important when dealing with an ASAP violation of any type to be straightforward with the ASAP case manager, to avoid any new issues, and to maintain strict compliance after the incident.

DUI Attorney Mark Matney - Matney Law PLLC - Newport News - Williamsburg

Mark Matney

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Dismissal of Brandishing a Firearm

Defending against a charge of brandishing a firearm requires carefully evaluating the language of the Virginia Code and comparing it to the facts and circumstances of the case.  The brandishing code section applies whenever someone points or handles a firearm in a manner that reasonably induces “fear in the mind of another.”  There is a exception for self-defense.  In our case, my client was charged with brandishing a firearm by the police officer who arrived and saw him pointing a gun at his friend.  At the trial, the friend was not called as a witness.  After cross-examining the police officer and questioning two neutral witnesses, it became clear that the person who the gun was pointed toward had been asked to leave the property twice and that one of the witnesses had actually escorted him from the property.  It was also evident that he supposed victim had continued to advance toward my client despite being told to stop and to leave the property.  The officer and the witnesses did not provide any statements that indicated that the gun had actually “induce[d] fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured.”  In fact, the continued advancing toward the weapon showed that he was not afraid.  Other factors that the judge considered were the intoxication of the supposed victim and that my client was the one who had called the police.  Brandishing is not to be taken lightly, but this charge can be successfully defended by analyzing the facts and challenging whether the officer or prosecutor has proven the elements set forth in the Virginia Code.

Virginia Code § 18.2-282. Pointing, holding, or brandishing firearm, air or gas operated weapon or object similar in appearance; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to point, hold or brandish any firearm or any air or gas operated weapon or any object similar in appearance, whether capable of being fired or not, in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another or hold a firearm or any air or gas operated weapon in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured. However, this section shall not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor or, if the violation occurs upon any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, including buildings and grounds or upon public property within 1,000 feet of such school property, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

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Lawyer Mark Matney of Matney Law PLLC - Newport News Virginia - DUI and Traffic Court Lawyer

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Expungements of Trespassing, Public Intoxication & Petit Larceny Charges.

Posted by Mark Matney
Attorney Mark Matney - Holcomb Law, PC Newport News VA
www.matneylawpllc.com

I recently obtained expungements for four clients with prior charges of trespassing, public intoxication, and petit larceny. Sometimes people ask why they should seek expungement when the charge was dismissed. When your criminal history is searched, everything you have ever been charged with appears in the record. It does not matter whether you were found guilty or not guilty - the fact of being charged will continue to appear. This means that you could have to explain the dismissed charge to a potential employer. An expungement removes dismissed charges from your criminal record and avoids the awkwardness of having to explain these charges to employers or others who are interested in your record.

Many employers believe that where there is smoke, there is fire. If they have to choose between a potential employee with a clear criminal history and someone who was charged with a misdemeanor, then they select the person whose record is clear.

To qualify for an expungement, the charge must have been dismissed. The dismissal can be accomplished by not guilty, nolle prosequi or other dismissal. However, dismissals after a first offender program or a finding that the evidence was sufficient are not eligible.

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Lawyer Mark Matney of Matney Law PLLC - Newport News Virginia - DUI and Traffic Court Lawyer

Mark Matney

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Not Guilty of DWI / DUI, 2nd Offense

Posted by Mark Matney
Attorney Mark Matney - Holcomb Law, PC Newport News VA
www.matneylawpllc.com

This month I helped a client charged with DWI 2nd offense and Refusal 2nd offense. To achieve a not guilty decision, we had to show that the evidence was not sufficient for the judge to find my client guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, my client made good decisions during his contact with the police that helped me win his trial.

The police approached my client due to an accident. He cooperated with the police, but refused to participate in any field sobriety tests and declined a handheld preliminary breath test (PBT). A driver is not required to complete these tests. He also refused to submit to the formal breath test on the Intoxilyzer EC/IR II at the police station. Refusing a breath test results in an additional charge of Refusal. However, it also avoids a presumption of being under the influence. Additionally, the lack of a blood alcohol level and field tests meant that the officer was limited to testifying about my client’s appearance. When combined with a detailed timeline of my client’s activities and a description of his medical issues, the judge concluded that there was a lack of evidence that my client was under the influence at the time of the driving.

The dismissal of the 2nd offense DWI avoided 20 days mandatory minimum jail, three years license suspension, $500 minimum fine and completion of ASAP. Although refusing the breath test helped him avoid the DWI conviction, it did result in a refusal conviction that he appealed.

 

What if the officer doesn't have the
calibration certificate for the radar or lidar?

Posted by Mark Matney
Attorney Mark Matney - Holcomb Law, PC Newport News VA
www.matneylawpllc.com

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The law enforcement officer must provide a certificate of accuracy that is dated within six months preceding the date the motorist was stopped. Otherwise, the speeding or reckless driving by speed may be dismissed. The officer is not required to show the certificate to the judge unless the motorist or his lawyer requests it.

I regularly review the law enforcement officer’s calibration certificates as part of representing my clients. The officers are professional and usually have their documents, but in the past two weeks two clients have benefitted from dismissals when officers did not having the necessary certificates. In one case, speeding 38/25 in Newport News, the officer did not have his lidar certificate. In the other case, speeding 45/30 in Hampton, the officer’s radar certificate was outdated.

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Lawyer Mark Matney of Matney Law PLLC - Newport News Virginia - DUI and Traffic Court Lawyer

Mark Matney

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Attorney Mark Matney - Holcomb Law, PC - Traffic Court Attorney - Newport News Virginia

Attorney Mark Matney - DUI Lawyers - Traffic Court Attorneys - Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, YorktownReckless Driving by Speed, 43 in 30

Posted by Mark Matney of Holcomb Law, PC Newport News VA
www.matneylawpllc.com
__________________________________

This morning my client’s speeding case was dismissed! The officer was operating stationary Lidar (laser) in a 35 mph zone just past the point where the speed limit changed from 35 mph to 30 mph.

When I asked the officer for the certification for his lidar equipment, I found that he did not have a certificate that covered the date when my client was stopped. The Virginia Code provides that “no calibration or testing of such device shall be valid for longer than six months” (Sec. 46.2-882). The officer’s certificate must be dated during the six months preceding the date of the stop. It cannot be dated after the stop or more than six months before the stop.

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Lawyer Mark Matney of Matney Law PLLC - Newport News Virginia - DUI and Traffic Court Lawyer

Mark Matney

DUI - DWI Lawyer
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Call Attorney Mark Matney at
(757) 703-4556

Lawyer Mark Matney of Holcomb Law, PC - Newport News Virginia - DUI and Traffic Court Lawyer

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A Promise & A Testimony

Posted by Mark Matney of Holcomb Law, PC Newport News VA
www.matneylawpllc.com
__________________________________

A Promise & A Testimony

A promise: “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4:8.

My testimony: I am a Christian who just happens to be practicing law. I hope my story will be an encouragement to you in this challenging and extraordinary time.

My journey of faith began in my childhood. As a child, I attended our neighborhood’s church where I participated in the choir and learned about the Bible through the Sunday School program. My father was not a Christian, but church was important to my mother.
By the time I reached high school, I knew a lot about church, the Bible and Jesus, but it was in a sheltered environment of our local church and neighborhood.

When I entered high school, I experienced several significant changes that left me vulnerable. Immediately before high school, my parents separated and I relocated from the home, church, neighbors and friends I had enjoyed from the age of two until the beginning of high school.

I ended up with a group of so-called friends who were pushing me toward drinking and drugs. I had to make a decision about what I really believed. Fortunately, when I prayed and asked God to guide me, I found that, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even when I was not pursuing God, he was pursuing me. God led me through a time of repentance and rededication that resulted in me putting my full faith in Jesus and accepting that he loves me and forgave me.

The result of entering into a relationship with Jesus is that I found the peace and purpose that I was missing as I floundered through high school. I now have hope and a secure future. I know that God has a plan and a purpose for my life and that I will live forever with Jesus in heaven after my physical body dies.

I would be glad to discuss my faith with you. Just contact me. I also share this simple statement of what the Bible teaches:

God’s plan—peace and life. God loves you and wants you to experience the peace and life He offers. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life” (John 3:16, NKJV). He has a plan for you.

Our problem—separation from God. By nature, we are all separated from God. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NKJV). He is holy, but we are human and don’t measure up to His perfect standard. We are sinful, and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23, NKJV).

God’s remedy—the cross. God’s love bridges the separation between you and Him. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, He paid the penalty for our sins. The Bible says, “‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed’” (1 Peter 2:24, NIV).

Our response—receive Jesus. You cross the bridge into God’s family when you accept Christ’s free gift of salvation. The Bible says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

To receive Jesus, a person needs to do four things:
• Admit that you are a sinner and you need the Savior.
• Be willing to turn from your sins and ask God to forgive you.
• Believe that Jesus died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
• Invite Jesus to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Here’s a prayer you can pray to receive Jesus:
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and separated from You. I want to turn from my sins and enter into relationship with You. Forgive me for my sins. I believe that Jesus is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him from death to life. I want Jesus to come into my heart and I give Him control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lawyer Mark Matney of Matney Law PLLC - Newport News Virginia - DUI and Traffic Court Lawyer

Mark Matney

DUI - DWI Lawyer
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5 Steps to Succeed With Your New Year's Resolutions

Posted by Mark Matney of Holcomb Law, PC Newport News VA
www.matneylawpllc.com
__________________________________

Did you set financial goals for the New Year? As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2020 are you on track? Many people use the change of year to start something new. Unfortunately, few follow through. Think of all the new gym memberships and budgets that end up unused as January rolls into February. Here are 5 steps to success:
1. Choose Reasonable Goals: The best first step to accomplishing a new goal is to set a target you can reach within a reasonable period of time. If you are in debt, tackle the smallest one first. If you are starting or building your retirement savings, then set a monthly goal. Setting up an automatic investment plan is a worry-free way to keep you on track.

2. Write Your Goals Down: When you write down what you want to accomplish, you are 200% more likely to achieve it. When it is just a thought, then it is only a wish. Working with a financial coach will help you identify how much money is needed to reach your goals. A good coach will make sure you account for inflation and estimated rates of return.

3. Don’t Judge Yourself Too Severely. There will be ups and downs as you work toward your goal, don’t be discouraged. Maybe you had to use all of your emergency fund savings. Be excited that you had the money available and recommit to your original plan.

4. Focus On How You Will Feel When You Succeed. How will you feel when you become debt free, fully fund your emergency savings, or save enough to have the option to stop working? Imagine crossing the finish line! It will be 100 times better than you think!

5. Reward Yourself Along The Way. Did you pay off your first debt, finish building your emergency account, achieve a milestone in your retirement savings? Congratulate yourself and share with others what you achieved. You will be amazed how you can encourage others.

Mark Matney is a financial and legal services professional who helps families and businesses throughout Hampton Roads to get their money working for them so they can worry less about money and enjoy their lives more. Call him for a free consultation at (757) 703-4556.