By Curtis Sluder | February 12th, 2015

North Carolina Drug laws are governed generally by NCGS chapter 90. The most common offenses charged are minor misdemeanor possession charges. However, possession of larger quantities of even victimless drugs such as marijuana can quickly escalate to a felony. In addition, North Carolina can levy an excise tax on possession of controlled substances (drugs) resulting in huge financial penalties even when the criminal charge is reduced or you...

By Curtis Sluder | February 10th, 2015

Asheville Traffic Attorney insurance increase from ticket chart.

By Curtis Sluder | January 17th, 2015

Bail Bonds Bail bonds help to assure a person’s appearance in court. A person who has been arrested for an offense and placed under a “secured bond” may be released from custody by putting up the full amount of the bond in cash, with the signature of a person who has enough property to cover the amount of the bond, or by a bail agent. Bail agents charge a non-refundable fee of up to 15 percent of the amount of the bond. Upon signing the...

By Curtis Sluder | January 17th, 2015

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s primary mission is to reduce collisions and make the highways of North Carolina as safe as possible.  If you are reading this blog, though, your interaction with them was probably over a routine traffic matter, or speeding ticket, and you probably have a different opinion at the moment. I understand. Considering the fact that North Carolina has more miles of State and Federal roadways than any...

By Curtis Sluder | January 16th, 2015

Attorney General Eric Holder is barring local and state police from using federal law to seize cash, cars and other property without evidence that a crime occurred. The Post’s Robert O’Harrow Jr. explains the most sweeping check on police power to confiscate personal property since the seizures began three decades...

By Curtis Sluder | January 14th, 2015

“Running Tags.” Sometimes, an officer will decide to “run” a vehicle’s “tag” – that is, run a computer check to determine whether the license plate on the vehicle is current and matches the vehicle, and perhaps whether the vehicle is registered to a person with outstanding warrants or who is not permitted to drive. When this is done randomly, without individualized suspicion, defendants sometimes argue that the...

By Curtis Sluder | January 1st, 2015

The NC Department of public safety website has a search portal th epublic can use to search for offenders in the State Prison system.  We used it to locate a criminal who had stolen the identity of a client, and it was a great aid to proving my clients innocence. You can check it out here- DOC Offender search portal

By Curtis Sluder | December 22nd, 2014

United States Supreme Court Rules that Reasonable Suspicion May Be Based on Reasonable Mistakes of Law Posted on Dec. 16, 2014, 8:52 am by Jeff Welty • Shea blogged here about State v. Heien, the case in which the court of appeals ruled that having one burned-out brake light was not a violation of G.S. 20-129 and so did not support a vehicle stop. (The stop led to a consent search of the defendant’s vehicle, which led to the discovery of...

By Curtis Sluder | December 2nd, 2014

When it comes to being arrested, different people react in different ways. Some react in a way that is understandable given their predicament but nonetheless can be detrimental to their case. While no one really plans on getting arrested (at least anyone of a sound mind), there are a few things you should know in case you ever do. The general rule of thumb to follow when arrested is to do as you are told but there are also a few things you...

By Curtis Sluder | December 2nd, 2014