Were You Affected by These Crimes on the 4th of July?
The holiday has come and gone, but if you were unlucky enough, the holiday left its mark. While the 4th of July is meant to be a time of celebration for our country, people celebrate in ways that lead to them breaking the law. In fact, some laws are broken so often on the 4th of July that they’re associated with the holiday.
If you’ve left the 4th of July weekend as a victim, or as the perpetrator, contact Mazzoni Valvano Szewczyk & Karam to get representation. The courts won’t be easier on anyone just because something happened over the holiday.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Every holiday, it may appear as if DUIs were a bigger deal than the last. Holidays are when people feel safe drinking, and that has made the holidays quite the opposite. DUIs rise with every three-day weekend and the 4th of July is the worst offender. In 2018, there were a reported 193 deaths from 4th of July car accidents and 40% were caused by drunk drivers.
Driving under the influence is a common mistake on the 4th of July, one that can permanently affect all involved. If you find yourself or a loved one a victim of a drunk driving accident, Mazzoni Valvano Szewczyk & Karam is here to take your case. If you need to defend yourself in court after getting behind the wheel, we are experienced in providing consultation under the influence.
Criminal Damage
Now, our firm understands that fireworks are a staple of the 4th of July, but people break a lot of laws for them. The last 4th of July reportedly experienced a huge increase in firework-related injuries and accidents, and these were for legal fireworks. Fireworks are dangerous items, quite literally made to explode. When people who use them aren’t careful enough, it can all lead to other people being injured.
Also known as malicious trespass and malicious mischief, if someone or someone else’s property was damaged by your fireworks, you’ve broken the law. If you’re a victim of such a crime this past holiday, you can see the guilty party face fines and prison time based on the damage to your person or property. Whether you’re the victim or the one using fireworks, you need representation for your day in court.
Fireworks
Even if you didn’t cause someone personal harm or damage to their property, if you have been caught using any fireworks containing over 50 milligrams (mg) of explosives, you’ve broken the law. It’s against the law in Pennsylvania to use fireworks that surpass that threshold. These are usually the kind only allowed at select venues, by licensed professionals, and at sanctioned events.
Despite that, people still find ways to acquire these fireworks and use them on their property. People who use illegal fireworks are likely to face the consequences because fireworks of this kind make it obvious to tell who fired them. If you’ve been charged for using fireworks over the 4th of July weekend, talk to the criminal defense lawyers of Mazzoni Valvano Szewczyk & Karam.
Protect Yourself After the Holiday, Contact Mazzoni Valvano Szewczyk & Karam
Whatever crime you have been charged with, no matter how minor or serious your charge might seem, make sure you contact our law firm as soon as possible. A delay in contacting us may hurt your case.
The time to act is now. Contact the Scranton criminal defense attorneys at Mazzoni Valvano Szewczyk & Karam today for a free consultation. Remember if this is your first offense, there may be ways to prevent you from having a criminal record.
