Grand Forks Criminal Law Blog

You can expect the police to be out in full force this New Year's Eve. Most people celebrate the holiday by drinking, and the cops will be particularly vigilant to see if anyone has driven while intoxicated. 

Last year alone, Minnesota police arrested 117 people across the state for DUI. Even if you think you can get yourself home, you always want to play it safe and find another way. Here are some tips for having an enjoyable New Year's Eve that does not end with a trip to the police station. 

Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft might have made it easier for people to enjoy a night out without worrying about driving or finding a parking space. However, some people worried that there is also the possibility for fraud. A North Dakota man was recently arrested and faces criminal charges for theft over what some people are calling vomit fraud.

The charges stem from two incidents that occurred during the summer of 2018, at which time the man was driving for both Uber and Lyft. In one incident, a Lyft rider used the app to secure a ride home with the defendant driver. He was initially billed only $9.01 but was later slammed with an additional $150 for damages to the driver's vehicle. The passenger's wife contacted Lyft to report a potentially false claim, but she was told that the driver had submitted evidence for the damages, including photographs and personal anecdotes.

When facing serious criminal charges, the nature of a person's arrest might feel inconsequential. However, for those who are hoping to have their charges thrown out, what transpired before and during the arrest is actually extremely important. In North Dakota, drug crimes charges from five different instances were all recently thrown out of court. 

In one instance, a 38-year-old male driver was reportedly pulled over because the attending officer thought he looked suspicious. However, before initiating the traffic stop, the officer had apparently pulled alongside the man's vehicle and stared at him. He then followed him for the next 10 miles. The driver eventually stopped at a rest stop and used the bathroom, only to find the officer waiting for him when he was done. 

Facing criminal charges of any type can be frightening, but defendants in North Dakota who have been accused of a white collar crime may feel especially worried. Because white collar crimes typically involve significant amounts of money, the consequences of a conviction can be severe. Understanding some of the most common types of charges in this category can help ease defendants' fears and make it easier to proceed with defense planning. 

Commonly referred to as insider trading, securities fraud involves a person who uses inside information regarding a company to act unlawfully. The most common example of securities fraud is that of an employee who has advance knowledge of a deal, earnings report or other financial news, and uses that information to sell off stock before the price plummets. This charge can also involve misleading potential investors. Purposely misstating a company's financial situation or prospects in a bid to bring in new investors is another example of securities fraud.