Welcome to the Law Office of David Galison, P.C. Law Blog

Welcome to galisonlaw.com law blog. Our mission: to scour the universe for compelling stories in several related areas: DWI law, criminal law and and traffic law. Current changes in these laws offer broad interpretations, encompassing such recent news as the Leandra’s Law, and Jack Shea's law which eases restrictions on collecting blood in intoxication cases. We’ll write about industry news and legal trends, with a sprinkle of good old-fashioned gossip.

We’ll link to the best coverage of law and lawyers from around the Web, report some news of our own and look to you for contributions. We heartily invite your comments, tips and insights.

Along with my ruminations, this blog will include bits and bites from articles in the the New York Law Journal and Legal Newswires. Email me at david@galisonlaw.com.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Top Five Thing Every Motorist Should Know If Stopped By A Police Officer


TOP FIVE THINGS EVERY MOTORIST SHOULD KNOW
IF STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER
FOR A TRAFFIC TICKET OR A DWI

There are very few experiences in life that are more dreaded or feared then being pulled over by a police officer.  With the ever increasing costs of auto insurance and the state fines and surcharges associated with moving violations a motorist’s anxiety level can go through the roof.  If you have consumed any alcohol prior to the stop multiply this anxiety by ten.

1. The Stop. A motorist is under no obligation to answer any questions for a police officer. If you are pulled over by an officer the only information that you are required to provide is your license, registration and insurance. 

(Listed below is suggested conduct for a motorist to follow if stopped.)

Place your car in park and turn on your interior lights.
Have your license, registration and insurance in hand before the officer arrives at your window.
Keep your seatbelt on during the stop so that you do not get ticketed for failure to wear it. Often          times an officer will not believe that you took off the seatbelt to reach your documentation, so keep it on.
Be polite, but do not volunteer information. If you are asked, “Do you know why I stopped you?” answer no. The police write down your answers to be used against you.
Keep your hands where the officer can see them at all times. 
Never argue or raise your voice to the officer.
If you receive a ticket accept it graciously and consult with an attorney.

2. Roadside Tests. A motorist is under no obligation to perform any roadside field sobriety tests. If you are asked to exit the vehicle, there is an extremely high likelihood that the officer has already determined to arrest you for DWI. On the side of the road there is no fair judge of your performance and there is no video of how you perform. The only judge of your performance is a police officer who often times is going to make overtime based upon your arrest. 

Performing field sobriety tests under less then ideal conditions can affect the validity of the tests. Consider the following before you agree to do any DWI field sobriety testing. 

Are you tired?
Are you Nervous?
Are you uncoordinated?
Are you overweight by more then fifty pounds?
Do you have any medical conditions that can affect your balance?
Are you wearing appropriate footwear?
Is the location of the testing appropriate for the testing?

o Is it well lit?
o Is it level?
o Are there distractions close by like passing cars, or pedestrians?

You have the right to refuse standardized field sobriety tests.  If any of the above conditions are present it can have a major impact on the results of the testing which will then be used against you in court. Keep in mind that at this point in the stop you are likely to be arrested. The question is whether performing standard filed sobriety test in the field (on the road) will help exonerate you, often times they will not no matter how well you really perform. People fail sobriety tests when they are sober. Sobriety tests are subjective tests unless they are recorded with audio and video so that they can be judged fairly by others.  With all the factors that can affect DWI sobriety tests on the roadside it is often better to refuse all testing.

3. Breath Testing. Every motorist who is arrested and charged with a DWI in New York, is required to submit to a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine to determine their alleged blood alcohol concentration or BAC. Though a person has the right to refuse this testing (and often times should), a knowing refusal will result in the revocation of their driver’s license for a one year period if proper refusal warnings are given by the officer. The question then becomes do you give a breath sample. 

In considering the decision on whether or not to give a breath sample you should be aware of the following:

The Nassau County Crime Lab was closed in early 2011 because of departures from the minimum standards of care necessary to run a police crime lab. The crime lab was responsible for mixing the simulator solutions that the breath testing equipment in Nassau County utilizes. 
Kathleen Rice, the Nassau County District Attorney pointed out at a morning news conference that she asked county executive Mangano to shut the lab down "because supervisory activity and potentially intentional personnel conduct relate not only to the drug chemistry testing performed at the lab but to the entirety of the lab."
In Nassau County it is police policy that no video will be made of your performance tests (Standardized Field Sobriety Tests) if you take a breath test. In other words if you want to have a video made of your testing so that your performance can be judged by a neutral person (a jury) rather then a police officer you must refuse a breath test. Essentially, if you want a video made to show your innocence you must give up your driver’s license!! That is ridiculous and unfair.
Breath testing equipment is not perfect and it can make mistakes.
Consider the factors listed below as a partial list of items that can affect the reliability of the breath testing machines:

o If a person has a fever it can throw of the machine.
o If a person burps, regurgitates or has acid reflux it can throw off the machine.
o If a person has dentures it can throw of the machine.
o If a person blows for too long it can throw off the machine.
o If the mouth piece is not changed it can throw off the machine.
o If the chamber is not properly purged it can throw off the machine.
o If the person has certain chemical compounds in their system in can throw off the machine. (Painters, Carpenters, Chemists, etc…)
o If the persons blood to breath partition ratio deviates from the median it can throw off the machine, not everyone is in the middle of a bell curve. 
o There police do not wait 10 - 15 minutes and then perform a second test to confirm the results of the first test. Unfortunately if you believe the machine has made a mistake and request a second test you will be denied.

Juries often are kept in the dark about just how many things can go wrong with a breath testing machine despite the best efforts of the defense attorney. Deciding whether to take the breath test or not is a case specific decision, and often times the best decision is not to take the test, especially if you do not trust the police.

4. Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST). In Nassau County, Suffolk County and Queens County the decision to take SFST back at the station is a hard one. Often times you are being pressured to take tests that are not properly explained under conditions that would make anyone uncomfortable. As mentioned above in Nassau County DWI testing is not video taped unless you are willing to give up your license for a year! However, if you want the best evidence of your testing preserved you must refuse the breath test or no audio/video will be made. 

SFST testing is not an exact science and the results reported can vary on the same subject depending on who gives the test. All of the issues that can impact the roadside SFST testing listed above are present but add to that the pressure and nervousness of having been placed in handcuffs and told you are under arrest for the first time in your life. Under those conditions only you can decide if taking the tests would be fair and accurate. I believe that for the average person it is better to refuse the test as they are typically administered in an unfair and coercive manner. 

5. Call Your Attorney. Attorneys are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help you. Make sure that you have your attorneys name and phone number in your cell phone and in your wallet or purse. Do not speak or give a statement to the police without consulting with your attorney first. Be definitive.  Say “I want to talk to my attorney now.” And do not volunteer any information just wait with your mouth closed.

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At the Law Office of David Galison, P.C., we strive to ensure that your rights are protected. If you are charged with any driving offense from a speed contest to a red light ticket  to a DWI give us a call. Call 516-242-4477 to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss your case. Visit our website at for further informaiton: David Galison, P.C.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Shoplifting Website for Nassau and Suffolk Counties


SHOPLIFTING LAWYER NASSAU COUNTY
Larceny and Grand Larceny
DAVID GALISON, P.C
1539 Franklin Ave, Mineola, NY 11501

If you have been charged with a larceny crime in Nassau, Suffolk or Queens County, call the Law Office of David Galison, P.C. immediately for a free consultation. An attorney will answer your call and speak with you directly regarding the charges and your defenses. The phone number is 516-242-4477, and calls are answered 7 days a week
 
Shoplifting is one of the most common crimes charged in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties. It is a theft crime and can be charged as a petit larceny or a grand larceny. A petty or petit larceny is theft of property valued at less then one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and a grand larceny is theft of property valued over one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
 
Larceny can be charged as either a misdemeanor (petit larceny) or a felony (grand larceny) depending on the value of the item taken and the manner in which the item is taken. For example; taking a wallet from a store without paying for it would be charged as a misdemeanor petit larceny, however, taking a wallet from a person (pick-pocketing) would be charged as a felony grand larceny.
 
The consequences of a conviction for a petty larceny can vary from up to one year in jail to three years probation or just a fine and surcharges. And although it is not typical for a first time offender to be placed in jail the social stigma that is attached to a conviction could affect future employment and professional licensing, as well as, immigration and naturalization.
 
A conviction for grand larceny carries with it the potential for a sentence of more then one year in upstate prison or five years probation. However, under certain circumstances a sentence of a fine, and state surcharges can occur with no jail or probation being ordered.
 
With the consequences of a larceny related conviction being so severe it is of utmost importance to retain an experienced criminal defense lawyer who will fight to protect your rights. Whether it is taking your case to trial or negotiating a favorable plea bargain the law office of David Galison, P.C., will stand by your side throughout all stages of the case. Call the office today at 516-242-4477 for a Free Consultation.
 
The New York State Penal Law defines Larceny as follows:
1. A person steals property and commits larceny when, with intent to deprive another of property or to appropriate the same to himself or to a third person, he wrongfully takes, obtains or withholds such property from an owner thereof.
2. Larceny includes a wrongful taking, obtaining or withholding of another's property, with the intent prescribed in subdivision one of this section, committed in any of the following ways:
(a) By conduct heretofore defined or known as common law larceny by trespassory taking, common law larceny by trick, embezzlement, or obtaining property by false pretenses;
(b) By acquiring lost property. A person acquires lost property when he exercises control over property of another which he knows to have been lost or mislaid, or to have been delivered under a mistake as to the identity of the recipient or the nature or amount of the property, without taking reasonable measures to return such property to the owner;
(c) By committing the crime of issuing a bad check, as defined in section §190.05;
(d) By false promise. A person obtains property by false promise when, pursuant to a scheme to defraud, he obtains property of another by means of a representation, express or implied, that he or a third person will in the future engage in particular conduct, and when he does not intend to engage in such conduct or, as the case may be, does not believe that the third person intends to engage in such conduct. In any prosecution for larceny based upon a false promise, the defendant's intention or belief that the promise would not be performed may not be established by or inferred from the fact alone that such promise was not performed. Such a finding may be based only upon evidence establishing that the facts and circumstances of the case are wholly consistent with guilty intent or belief and wholly inconsistent with innocent intent or belief, and excluding to a moral certainty every hypothesis except that of the defendant's intention or belief that the promise would not be performed;

Sunday, April 15, 2012

New Shoplifting Website for Long Island and Queens


SHOPLIFTING ATTORNEY NASSAU COUNTY
Larceny and Grand Larceny
DAVID GALISON, P.C
1539 Franklin Ave, Mineola, NY 11501

If you have been charged with a larceny crime in Nassau, Suffolk or Queens County, call the Law Office of David Galison, P.C. immediately for a free consultation. A lawyer will answer your call and speak with you directly regarding the charges and your defenses. The phone number is 516-242-4477, and calls are answered 7 days a week
Shoplifting is one of the most common crimes charged in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties. It is a theft crime and can be charged as a petit larceny or a grand larceny. A petty or petit larceny is theft of property valued at less then one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and a grand larceny is theft of property valued over one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
Larceny can be charged as either a misdemeanor (petit larceny) or a felony (grand larceny) depending on the value of the item taken and the manner in which the item is taken. For example; taking a wallet from a store without paying for it would be charged as a misdemeanor petit larceny, however, taking a wallet from a person (pick-pocketing) would be charged as a felony grand larceny.
The consequences of a conviction for a petty larceny can vary from up to one year in jail to three years probation or just a fine and surcharges. And although it is not typical for a first time offender to be placed in jail the social stigma that is attached to a conviction could affect future employment and professional licensing, as well as, immigration and naturalization.
A conviction for grand larceny carries with it the potential for a sentence of more then one year in upstate prison or five years probation. However, under certain circumstances a sentence of a fine, and state surcharges can occur with no jail or probation being ordered.
With the consequences of a larceny related conviction being so severe it is of utmost importance to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney who will fight to protect your rights. Whether it is taking your case to trial or negotiating a favorable plea bargain the law office of David Galison, P.C., will stand by your side throughout all stages of the case. Call the office today at 516-242-4477 for a Free Consultation.
The New York State Penal Law defines Larceny as follows:
1. A person steals property and commits larceny when, with intent to deprive another of property or to appropriate the same to himself or to a third person, he wrongfully takes, obtains or withholds such property from an owner thereof.
2. Larceny includes a wrongful taking, obtaining or withholding of another's property, with the intent prescribed in subdivision one of this section, committed in any of the following ways:
(a) By conduct heretofore defined or known as common law larceny by trespassory taking, common law larceny by trick, embezzlement, or obtaining property by false pretenses;
(b) By acquiring lost property. A person acquires lost property when he exercises control over property of another which he knows to have been lost or mislaid, or to have been delivered under a mistake as to the identity of the recipient or the nature or amount of the property, without taking reasonable measures to return such property to the owner;
(c) By committing the crime of issuing a bad check, as defined in section §190.05;
(d) By false promise. A person obtains property by false promise when, pursuant to a scheme to defraud, he obtains property of another by means of a representation, express or implied, that he or a third person will in the future engage in particular conduct, and when he does not intend to engage in such conduct or, as the case may be, does not believe that the third person intends to engage in such conduct. In any prosecution for larceny based upon a false promise, the defendant's intention or belief that the promise would not be performed may not be established by or inferred from the fact alone that such promise was not performed. Such a finding may be based only upon evidence establishing that the facts and circumstances of the case are wholly consistent with guilty intent or belief and wholly inconsistent with innocent intent or belief, and excluding to a moral certainty every hypothesis except that of the defendant's intention or belief that the promise would not be performed;

Friday, April 6, 2012

Bayville, Farmingdale and Floral Park Websites Go Live

David Galison, P.C.
Nassau County Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney
Announces the creation of three new traffic ticket court websites
Click the Links below for more information.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Reward Offered In Mailbox Explosions Case

On April 2nd, 2012 several young men were arrested in Nassau County, New York, and charged with criminal mischief as a B felony. The allegations assert that the defendants used fireworks to cause damage to several mailboxes. The defendants have all entered pleas of not guilty.

The family of Jacob A. Guerrero III, has authorized my office to issue a reward in the amount of ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00) to anyone who has information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals who are actually responsible for causing the damage. (See terms of reward below)

Mr. Guerrero maintains his innocence and has offered through counsel, David P. Galison, Esq., to participate in a lie detector test to be conducted by and through the Nassau County District Attorneys Office. 

Anyone with exculpatory information should contact David Galison by email or telephone. The email address is david@galisonlaw.com and the phone number is 516-242-4477. Additionally, the Nassau County Police Department should be notified.

Terms of reward:

The reward is in the amount of ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00) total. If more then one person comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the actual perpetrators the reward will be divided among them equally. 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Valley Stream Village Court Traffic Ticket Website Launched


NASSAU COUNTY TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY
VALLEY STREAM VILLAGE COURT
123 South Central Ave, Valley Stream, NY
 
Valley Stream Speeding Ticket Attorney
Valley Stream Traffic Ticket Lawyer
 
If you have been issued a traffic summons or traffic ticket in the Valley Stream VillageCourt you should have a lawyer protecting your rights. Any moivng violation can causepoints on your license putting both your driver's license and your auto insurance at risk. The law firm of David Galison, P.C., appears regularily at the Valley Stream Village Court handling all types of traffic tickets. If you have been give a traffic summons for any of the following please call for a FREE CONSULTATION: Speeding TicketRed Light Ticket,Stop Sign TicketFailure To Signal Ticket, Unsafe Lane Change Ticket or Reckless Driving. The office handles all moving violations, traffic infractions, traffic tickets, andcriminal matters.

The Valley Stream Village Court Justice is the Honorable Robert G. Bogle.

A personal appearance is required by the Court for those charged with criminal law violations or traffic violations. However, your appearance can be waived by the Court for non-criminal traffic ticket with a properly executed authorization. With this authorization I can appear on your behalf in your absence.

It is important to habe an experienced attorney who knows the rules of the Valley Stream Village Court and is familiar with the vehicle and traffic law in order to protect your rights. I am Nassau County traffic ticket lawyer David P. Galison, and for over a decade, I have handled traffic tickets ranging from minor equipment violations, to trucking violations to 100 mph plus speeding tickets in the Nassau and Suffolk County Courts. I routinely appear in the Valley Stream Village Court and am fully familiar with the Court rules and procedures. I handle all tickets no matter what the violation and strive to keep your points and insurance premiums down.

At the Law Office of David Galison, P.C., the Defense of Traffic Tickets is taken extremely seriously. Despite the fact that traffic tickets and moving violations are not normallycriminal in nature the consequences of a conviction can have long lasting effects on your driver's license and auto insurance policy. Traffic tickets convictions can lead to any one of, or a combination of the following:


*The failure to answer a Traffic Summons can result in the suspension of your driver's license. If you are subsequently stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation while you are operating a motor vehicle you can be arrested and handcuffed and charged with a criminal offense.

**If you receive more then ten points in any 18 month period, your driver's license can be suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Points are computed by the Department of Motor Vehicles from the date the summons is issued, not the date of conviction.

Call the Law Office of David Galison, P.C., to setup your FREE CONSULTATION. At this meeting we will advise you fo the various options available to you. You will be informed of the legal fee charged for handling your case and the anticipated outcome.

In many cases your traffic violations can be resolved without your presence being required in Court, saving you time and money from loss of work and other important obligations.

I routinely handle the following types of traffic ticket cases; Speeding Ticket,Stop Sign TicketRed Light TicketFailure To Signal Ticket, Driving on a Suspended License, Driving on a Revoked License, Driving While Intoxicated, DWIDriving While Impaired, DUI, Illegal Turn Ticket, Improper Turn Ticket, Unsafe Lane Change Ticket, Failure to Yield Ticket, No Insurance Ticket, Reckless Driving Ticket, Speed Contest Ticket, Passing a School Bus Ticket, Tailgating Ticket, Following to Closely Ticket, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device Ticket, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Ticket, Cell Phone Ticket, and all others.

Experienced, Trustworthy, Results-Oriented
Call 516-242-4477 For a FREE CONSULTATION

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Monday, April 2, 2012

ROCKVILLE CENTRE WEBSITE FOR TRAFFIC TICKETS


NASSAU COUNTY TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY
ROCKVILLE CENTRE VILLAGE COURT
One College Place, PO Box 950, Rockville Centre, NY 11571
 
If you have received a traffic ticket returnable in the Rockville Centre Village Court you should have a lawyer protecting your rights. Any moving violation can cause points on your license putting both your license and your auto insurance policy at risk. The law office of David Galison, P.C. routinely appears at the Rockville Centre Village Courthandling all types of moving violations. If you have received a traffic ticket or summons for any of the following please feel free to call: Speeding TicketRed Light TicketStop Sign TicketFailure to Signal Ticket or Unsafe Lane Change. The office handles all moving violations, traffic infractions and criminal matters.
 
In the Rockville Centre Village Court the Justices are the Honorable William J. Croutier and the Honorable Kevin P. McDonough.
 
Like most other Courts, in Rockville Centre Village Court a personal appearance is required for those charged with a traffic violation, though often times I can appear on your behalf in your absence with a properly executed authorization.
 
It is very important to have an experienced attorney who knows the rules of the Court in order to protect your rights and your driving record. I am Nassau County traffic ticket lawyer David P. Galison, and for over a decade, I have handled traffic tickets ranging from minor equipment violations to 100 mph plus speeding tickets in the Nassau and Suffolk County Courts. I appear frequently in the Rockville Centre Village Court and am fully familiar with the Court rules and procedures. I handle all traffic violations no matter what the ticket and strive to keep your points and insurance premimus down.
 
At the law office of David Galison, P.C., the Defense of Traffic Tickets in the Rockville Centre Village Court Court is taken extremely seriously. Though most Traffic Tickets are not criminal in nature the consequences of a conviction can have long lasting effects, on your license and your wallet. Traffic violation convictions can lead to any one of, or combination fo the following:
 
*The failure to answer a Traffic Ticket in the Rockville Centre Village Court can result in the suspension of your driver's license. If you are subsequently stopped by the police for a traffic violation while you are operating a motor vehicle you can be arrested and charged with a criminal offense.
 
**If an operator receives more then (10) ten points in any 18 month period of time on their driving abstract, your driver's license is subject to suspension by the Department of Motor Vehicle. Points are computed by the NYS DMV from the date the summons is issued, not the date of conviction.
 
Call the Law Office of David Galison, P.C., to setup your FREE CONSULTATION. At this meeting I will advise you of the various options availabe to you. You will be informed of the legal fee charged for handling your case and the anticipated outcome.
 
In many cases your traffic matter can be resolved without your presence being required in Court, thus saving you time and money from loss of work and other important obligations.
 
Experienced, Trustworthy, Results-Oriented
Call 516-242-4477
or fill out the form below for a Free Consultation
 
I routinely handle the following types of traffic ticket cases; Speeding TicketStop Sign TicketRed Light TicketFailure to Signal Ticket, Driving on a Suspended License Driving on a Revoked License, Driving While Intoxicated, DWIDriving While Impaired, DUI, Illegal Turn Ticket, Unsafe Lane Change Ticket, Failure to Yield Ticket, No Insurance Ticket, Reckless Driving Ticket, Speed Contest Ticket, Passing a School Bus Ticket, Tailgating Ticket, Following to Closely Ticket, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device Ticket, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Ticket, Cell Phone Ticket, and all others.