I-25 illegal stop and search in New Mexico has impacted tens of thousands of motorists. An unequal number of drivers involved were from out-of-state, although police state the stops are completely legal and are in response to increased activity of the Mexican cartels, not to shake down unsuspecting visitors. On the other hand, many of their procedures and practices have been shown unlawful in courts.
I-25 Illegal Stop and Search Penalties
I-25 illegal stop and search methods can generate evidence against you, like drugs and drug paraphernalia. Facing possession alone can be damaging enough, especially if you are caught with a high amount of a dangerous drug like methamphetamine. Under the conviction of possession, you could receive thousands of dollars in fines and years in prison. A drug trafficking charge is a completely different case, though, with penalties that far outweigh most simple possession charges.
Drug trafficking is when a person is accused of selling, transporting or importing illegal substances within the United States. The two charges of possession and distribution sometimes overlap into a charge known as “possession with intent to distribute.” This charge is made when the prosecutor establishes that the individual caught intended to sell illegal substances, which is identified by the amount and type of drugs found. If you are charged with possession of marijuana of 100lbs or less with an intent to distribute, you could spend up to a year and a half in jail and pay a fine of $5,000. If you are charged with selling cocaine you may be incarcerated for up to 18 years incarceration and pay $15,000 in fines. The punishment for any drug charge can escalate on your second or next offense.
I-25 Illegal Stop and Search Defense
I-25 illegal stop and search methods can at times be proven. If the police made errors or violated your constitutional rights when they stopped you on I-25, it could very well be used in your defense. Some of the common mistakes by law enforcement may well involve the lack of probable cause to pull you over. Probable cause refers to the requirement that police have appropriate reason to arrest someone, conduct a search or seize property linking to the crime.
Once pulled over, the officer involved may have committed an illegal search because there are stringent rules regulating what the authorities can in fact do when they are given consent to perform a search. Some cases may show that the officers may have conducted an improper and irregular checkpoint stop as well.
I-25 Illegal Stop and Search Lawyer
I-25 illegal stop and search procedures are rampant, and for this reason, in order to protect the rights of every citizen, the police officers are restricted in what they can do when stopping and arresting people for an alleged drug crime. When police break these limitations, it can render all evidence inadmissible in court. If you have been apprehended for a drug crime, contact an expert attorney to defend your case.
