Colorado Springs Legal Issues Blog

A domestic violence conviction works much like any other criminal charge -- it ends up part of your permanent record. If you're asked about your criminal history when applying for a job, then a domestic violence conviction on your record may limit your employment prospects. If your employer requires you to have a professional license to perform your job, then you may be unable to keep working there with a domestic violence conviction on your record.

Employers often run background checks on their employees before hiring them for almost any role in this era. They may look to see if you have convictions for certain crimes, depending on the type of job that you're seeking.

If a police officer has cause to believe that you're driving under the influence, they won't hesitate to pull you over. Should that happen, your stomach will tie up in knots and you'll begin to sweat.

On the plus side, when you know how to approach this type of traffic stop, it's much easier to do so in a confident manner. There are many mistakes you could easily make when stopped for suspicion of DUI. Avoid these three:

• Admitting to drinking alcohol: For example, you may say to the officer "I only had two drinks a few hours ago." That doesn't mean anything to them. It simply tells the officer that you do have alcohol in your system.
• Answering questions you don't understand: You have the legal right to remain silent, so don't be afraid to decline any questions that you don't understand or simply don't want to answer. The officer can't force you into doing so.
• Resisting arrest: Should the officer have cause to make an arrest, such as a failed breathalyzer or field sobriety test, it's not the time to put up a fight. Not only can this cause injury, but it's likely to result in additional criminal charges.

More so today than ever before, retail stores are on the lookout for shoplifters. And for this reason, you could find yourself accused of this crime when you actually did nothing wrong.

Here are three things you should do if you're accused of shoplifting by a store associate or security guard:

• Don't walk or run away: If you didn't violate the law, you may be tempted to simply leave the scene. However, this can result in a scuffle and more aggravation than it's worth.
• Explain yourself: Ask the person why they believe you were shoplifting. If you understand where they're coming from, you can then explain yourself. Remember, you weren't shoplifting unless you actually took the item out of the store without paying for it.
• Don't say too much: If it's obvious that no explanation will work, keep quiet. You don't want to say too much, as doing so could result in a slip that makes you appear guilty and can be used against you in court. You're best off keeping to yourself and waiting to see how the process unfolds.

Perhaps you have a history of ear infections and were fighting that condition again the night law enforcement stopped you on suspicion of DUI.

Unfortunately, you failed the one-leg stand during a field sobriety test. This is a serious matter that could affect your future. What happens now?