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The Town Law LLC The Town Law LLC | Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorneys ⚖️ 450+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google reviews and a 5.0 rating. Call 215-307-5504.

Fierce, strategic defense for DUI, Gun, Drug, Assault, and Serious Criminal Charges. Relentless advocacy | Justice for All

“I have a medical ma*****na card. Can I still get a DUI?”Yes. Pennsylvania’s medical-ma*****na program does not give car...
10/19/2026

“I have a medical ma*****na card. Can I still get a DUI?”

Yes. Pennsylvania’s medical-ma*****na program does not give cardholders a blanket exemption from DUI law.

The important detail: certain ma*****na DUI charges focus on THC or its metabolites in the blood, without requiring proof of actual impairment. Feeling normal—or using ma*****na legally—does not necessarily defeat those charges.

That does not make a positive test an automatic conviction. The prosecution still must prove the charged offense, and the traffic stop, blood collection, and testing evidence can matter.

If you’re charged, keep your patient documentation and have counsel review the exact DUI subsection and laboratory report. Don’t assume that showing your card resolves the case, or that feeling unimpaired establishes you can legally drive.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

“I waived my preliminary hearing. Did I plead guilty?”No. In Pennsylvania, waiving a preliminary hearing allows the case...
10/18/2026

“I waived my preliminary hearing. Did I plead guilty?”

No. In Pennsylvania, waiving a preliminary hearing allows the case to move forward without that hearing. It is not a guilty plea or a conviction.

But the waiver has consequences. When represented by counsel, you generally give up a later challenge to whether the prosecution established enough evidence at the preliminary stage to move the charges forward.

Important exceptions exist: an agreement can preserve that challenge, and a documented waiver agreement that is not fulfilled can allow it. Preserving the challenge requires an agreement in writing or on the record—not an assumption.

Before signing, ask your lawyer what you are giving up, what any agreement provides, and what happens next. Keep a copy of the waiver and its terms.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

“Can I get a DUI in a private parking lot?”Yes. Private ownership does not automatically put a parking lot outside Penns...
10/18/2026

“Can I get a DUI in a private parking lot?”

Yes. Private ownership does not automatically put a parking lot outside Pennsylvania’s DUI law.

The law applies on highways and “trafficways.” A privately owned lot can qualify when it is open to the public for vehicle travel as a matter of right or customary use. That can include a shopping-center lot.

But not every private location qualifies. Actual access and use matter, and a “Private Property” sign alone does not settle the question. Prosecutors still must prove the other elements of the charged DUI offense.

Don’t assume moving the car across a parking lot is legally different from driving onto the street. Arrange a sober ride. If charges already exist, give counsel the exact location and any photos showing entrances, gates, and signs.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

“If I pay the citation, am I pleading guilty?”You can be. In Pennsylvania summary cases, sending the listed fine and cos...
10/17/2026

“If I pay the citation, am I pleading guilty?”

You can be. In Pennsylvania summary cases, sending the listed fine and costs without indicating a plea results in a guilty plea being recorded. Leaving the plea section blank does not preserve your chance to contest the charge.

There’s an important distinction: posting collateral with a not-guilty plea is different. Collateral is money deposited to secure your appearance at trial. It can equal the listed fine and costs, so the dollar amount alone doesn’t tell you what you’re submitting.

Before sending money, read the plea instructions and check the response deadline. If you intend to contest the citation, make sure your response clearly enters a not-guilty plea and follows the required procedure. Keep a copy.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

detained client may have a viable Rule 600 nominal-bail motion even when dismissal is not available.This is an existing-...
10/16/2026

detained client may have a viable Rule 600 nominal-bail motion even when dismissal is not available.

This is an existing-rule practice point, not a new appellate holding: Pennsylvania’s trial and pretrial-incarceration calculations use different exclusions.

For a court case initiated by complaint, Rule 600(A)(2)(a) generally sets a 365-day trial period. Under paragraph (C)(1), delay caused by the Commonwealth’s failure to exercise due diligence counts toward that calculation; other periods of delay are excluded.

The custody calculation is different. Paragraphs (B)(1) and (C)(2) generally establish a 180-day pretrial-incarceration limit, excluding only delay caused by the defendant. The rule preserves an exception for defendants not entitled to release on bail under law.

An interval properly excluded from the trial calculation can therefore still count toward custody relief. And the remedies differ: paragraph (D)(1) addresses dismissal with prejudice; paragraph (D)(2) addresses nominal bail, subject to permissible nonmonetary conditions. Both require a written pretrial motion and a hearing.

We would keep two calculations in every detained client’s file. For each interval, record the underlying event, supporting order or transcript, and treatment under each calculation. Don’t copy an “excluded” designation from the dismissal worksheet into the custody worksheet without checking why it belongs there.

Prepare the release proposal with the same care. Rule 527 permits tailored conditions, including reporting and travel restrictions, and requires specificity on the bail bond. Check for separate holds or detainers before explaining what a favorable ruling would accomplish.

The question at a status review should not stop at whether the charges can be dismissed. It should also ask whether continued detention remains permissible under the separate custody calculation.

“Does my PA carry license work across state lines?”Not everywhere. A Pennsylvania License to Carry Fi****ms does not aut...
10/16/2026

“Does my PA carry license work across state lines?”

Not everywhere. A Pennsylvania License to Carry Fi****ms does not automatically authorize concealed carry in another state.

Some states recognize Pennsylvania licenses; others do not. New Jersey, for example, does not recognize your Pennsylvania license as permission to carry a concealed handgun there.

Even where your license is recognized, that state’s requirements still apply. Recognition may come with conditions involving age, residency, identification, or the type of license. It is not blanket permission to carry anywhere you choose.

Before traveling, check the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s reciprocity guide and the current official guidance for every state along your route—not just your destination. Confirm carry and transportation requirements before bringing the fi***rm.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

“My suspension time is up. Can I drive?”Not until your driving privilege is restored.In Pennsylvania, serving the suspen...
10/15/2026

“My suspension time is up. Can I drive?”

Not until your driving privilege is restored.

In Pennsylvania, serving the suspension period and completing the restoration process are separate requirements. Reaching an eligibility date does not, by itself, authorize you to drive.

Depending on your record, PennDOT may still require a restoration fee, proof of insurance, court confirmation, or compliance with ignition-interlock requirements. Paying a fee alone does not resolve every other outstanding requirement.

Start with your PennDOT restoration requirements letter. It identifies the steps that apply to you—but it is not confirmation that restoration has occurred.

Before getting behind the wheel, complete the listed requirements and confirm with PennDOT that your driving privilege has actually been restored. Keep that confirmation and follow any remaining license restrictions.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

“My lawyer asked to move my court date. Can I skip it?”No—not just because the request was filed.In Pennsylvania, asking...
10/14/2026

“My lawyer asked to move my court date. Can I skip it?”

No—not just because the request was filed.

In Pennsylvania, asking for a continuance means requesting a postponement. The court must grant it. Until then, a pending request does not cancel your obligation to appear when required.

An emergency can justify a last-minute request, but it does not automatically excuse an absence. If illness or another serious problem prevents attendance, contact counsel immediately and preserve supporting documentation. Missing a required appearance can lead to a bench warrant or changes to bail.

Before changing your work schedule, childcare, or transportation, confirm with counsel that the postponement was actually granted. Get the new date, time, and location, and keep the updated notice.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

“I was asleep in my parked car. Can I still get a DUI?”Yes. Sleeping does not automatically prevent a Pennsylvania DUI c...
10/13/2026

“I was asleep in my parked car. Can I still get a DUI?”

Yes. Sleeping does not automatically prevent a Pennsylvania DUI charge.

Pennsylvania law covers driving, operating, or being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle. Police do not have to see the car moving. Courts consider the full situation, including the vehicle’s location, whether the engine or lights were on, where the keys were, and evidence suggesting the vehicle had already been driven.

But being asleep in a car does not automatically establish guilt either. An engine that was off, keys stored away, a passenger or back seat, and evidence showing how the person and vehicle reached that location may all matter.

Preserve receipts, rideshare records, messages, witness information, photographs, and video showing the vehicle’s location and condition. Don’t move the vehicle or invent an explanation.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

“They only have hearsay. Does that end the case?”Not automatically.Pennsylvania permits some hearsay at a preliminary he...
10/13/2026

“They only have hearsay. Does that end the case?”

Not automatically.

Pennsylvania permits some hearsay at a preliminary hearing. But the Commonwealth cannot establish its entire prima facie case solely through inadmissible hearsay. It must also present legally competent evidence connecting the accused to the alleged crime.

An important nuance: a statement that sounds like hearsay may fall within a recognized exception and therefore be admissible. Circumstantial evidence may also support the Commonwealth’s burden without an eyewitness identifying the accused in court.

A preliminary hearing can expose weaknesses, preserve testimony, and test whether the Commonwealth has enough evidence to proceed. Before waiving it, have counsel examine what each witness can actually establish and whether the evidence is admissible.

The Town Law LLC | 215-307-5504

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1650 Market Street Suite 3669
Philadelphia, PA
19103

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