Marijuana Possession Leads to Arrest of Driver

According to a recent news report, a 30-year-old man was arrested after a traffic stop led to the discovery of marijuana. Police said that a Layton man was pulled over for speeding on the night of Friday, October 26 around 9 p.m. The man, identified as Richard Samartin, was hit with a slew of charges stemming from the traffic stop.

The Charges

The charges levied against Samartin included speeding, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana), and possession of a controlled dangerous substance while in a vehicle.

The charges were levied following the traffic stop, which was initiated by a patrol officer who was conducting stationary radar checks on Main Street in Newton. The patrol officer observed Samartin driving faster than the posted speed limit for Main Street. When the vehicle was stopped by the officer it was discovered that Samartin had less than 50 grams of marijuana, which was found in the center console of the vehicle. Samartin was charged and then released pending an appearance in court.

Defenses to Drug Charges in NJ

Despite being hit with a marijuana possession charge, you don’t have to give up on your freedom. There’s a chance you can fight the charges and have them either dropped or reduced. So, what are some defenses you could use if ever facing drug charges? Let’s take a look at the possible defenses to drug charges, specifically marijuana, in this section:

• Lack of probable cause (police need probable cause to make a traffic stop and this can include speeding, reckless driving, failure to yield, burnt lights, missing license plate and more)
• Illegal search (if the police have no reason to search your person or vehicle this can lead to the charges being dropped)
• Drugs were planted (it is quite possible that the drugs were either planted on you by the officer, by someone looking to get you into trouble or were accidentally left in your vehicle by a passenger)
• Missing drugs (it’s possible that by the time the case reaches trial the drugs that were confiscated from you are now missing)
• Entrapment (if officers set up a trap to catch you in the act, it could lead to the charges being dropped)
• Medical marijuana exception (it’s possible that if you have a medical marijuana exception that you can get the charges dropped by showing the prescription or medical card)

Contact an Experienced Moorestown Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Marijuana Charges in New Jersey

Were you arrested or charged with marijuana possession or marijuana distribution in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at The Law Office of Michelle Finizio have successfully represented clients charged with marijuana possession in Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Camden, Mount Laurel, and throughout New Jersey. Call (856) 242-7300 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 9 E. Main St, Moorestown, NJ 08057.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.