What is the Difference Between a Misdemeanor and Felony? When you are charged with a crime it may be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Regardless, any criminal charges against you are serious and could result in severe consequences. Some penalties could include a prison sentence, fines, probation,…
Pretrial Integrity Act Now in Effect A new law is in place in North Carolina. The Pretrial Integrity Act went into effect on October 1, 2023. The bill was initially introduced as House 813 and was signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper on July 1, 2023. The law is…
Mecklenburg County Courts Going Digital – Delays are Expected We all like efficiency and there is a need to bring all of our governmental processes into the digital age. With this in mind, the court system in North Carolina has been undergoing a transition to digital. The new system is…
Can I Record a Traffic Stop? We live in the digital age, where everyone has a phone that takes photos and videos. Because of this, people have access to recordings everywhere they go. You are likely aware of the many postings of traffic stops and police encounters that are posted…
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime?” A new report by Charlotte Observer explores the most murderous stretch of road in the city. The street, which is about 3,350 feet long, is one of Charlotte’s “hot…
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Can the police search my car without a warrant?” The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms. This is not to say that a person is lawfully permitted to carry a weapon at all…
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “If I am charged by campus police could I still face jail time or probation?” It’s something relatively few people have experienced (thankfully), but if and when you do, the practice likely comes as a terrible surprise. Police, unbeknownst to many,…
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Can the police search my car without a warrant?” James Lee Johnson was indisputably impaired as he drove to his Hendersonville, North Carolina home one night in February of 2013. He blew a 0.13 on the blood alcohol test the police…
Charlotte DWI and Criminal Defense Attorney J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “What am I obligated to do if I’ve been pulled for Drinking and Driving?” The United States Supreme Court is comprised of nine judges whose legal educations began at either Harvard or…