Drug charges are quite serious and can threaten to derail your future. While the most serious drug offenses can lead to years or decades in prison, even seemingly minor offenses can result in jail time, fines, and a black mark on your record that could cause a ripple effect, making it difficult to secure housing and employment. If you’re a professional, then a conviction on drug charges could even affect your professional license.
So, there’s a lot on the line in these cases, which means you need to be prepared to aggressively defend yourself. Depending on the facts at hand, you might have a number of options at your disposal. One of the most effective, though, may be trying to suppress evidence. Here, you’ll attempt to show that the evidence being used against you was collected in violation of the law. This may come in the form of an illegal traffic stop that resulted in a search and seizure, or a search of your person that lacked probable cause.
Case law has shaped what constitutes reasonable suspicion necessary to justify a traffic stop, as well as probable cause necessary to render a search legal. But it’s an ever-moving target that doesn’t always fit neatly to the facts at hand. This leaves the door open to legal argument. You’ll need to address evidence suppression in the pre-trial phase of your case, though, which means filing a motion and arguing the issue in front of a judge.
If this is a frightening thought to you, don’t worry. You can have a skilled legal advocate by your side to help you fight for a favorable outcome. While no guarantee can be given with regard to any particular outcome, working with an attorney of your choosing may help you strengthen your position and increase your odds of success.
