College Park Student Rights Attorney

Serving Clients in College Park, Gaithersburg, and Throughout Maryland

You have rights. When confronted by the police, you can walk away if you are doing something lawful. It may take gumption to walk away from a police officer but you have that right. If the police don't have a warrant, and they come to your door, you have the right to not open the door.

These rights are important and, whenever possible, you should take a stand and defend your rights. When speaking to the police, you could unknowingly implicate yourself. If you crack open your door, the police may see something inside that gives them a reason to enter your room.

At the Law Offices of Steven M. Jacoby, we stand up for the rights of college students at the University of Maryland and other area colleges. I have more than 37 years of experience as a College Parks student rights lawyer. I can help you understand your rights, protect yourself, defend you from criminal charges and I provide student representation in any judicial board hearings at your college.

Know Your Rights

You have rights:

• When the police come to your dorm room or residence, you have the right to not open the door, unless they have a warrant. The RA or community director of you dorm may have the right to enter your room but you do not have to let the police in. If an RA comes to your door with a police officer, don't open the door and do not, under any circumstances, try to throw potentially incriminating evidence out of the window. Often, police post officers below dorm windows to catch just this sort of evidence.
• When pulled over in your car, you do not have to get out of the car. I often hear stories where a student is pulled over, shows their license and registration to the officer, and the officer says "I smell drugs. Get out of the vehicle." If what you are doing is lawful, and the police officer is lying to get you out of the vehicle, you do not have to get out of your car. Simply state that you have done nothing wrong, that you have provided your license and registration, and you are not getting out of the car. It may seem difficult but you have that right.
• You can refuse a Breathalyzer, but you may lose your license. When you are pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving, you can refuse to take a Breathalyzer but if you do so, you will still have your license taken away and a temporary license given to you by the officer. If you refuse the Breathalyzer, you could lose your license for 120 days or have an ignition interlock device placed on your vehicle for a year. If you take the breathalyzer, depending upon your results, the proposed MVA suspension may be shorter. Regardless of whether or not you take the test, you will likely be charged with DUI/DWI, and related traffic offenses. Remember, as a condition to drive in Maryland, and most states, you have given your implied consent to submit to a breath or blood test for alcohol or drugs, when you are properly stopped by the police. You may refuse the test, but the adverse result of that refusal, may be quite serious.

I can help you protect your rights and your future in the face of criminal charges or disciplinary proceedings at your college. I have defended hundreds of college students in criminal court, juvenile court and before college judicial boards or the Offices of Student Conduct.

Contact a Defense Attorney for Students Serving Gaithersburg and College Park

Contact me to discuss your rights and your options by calling the Law Offices of Steven M. Jacoby at 301-779-5560 or 800-864-4488.