Body Cameras: The Modernization of Policing

Need a legal question answered RIGHT NOW? Text Chris Reid @ (205) 913-7406

Recently there has been a notable increase in the public’s desire for local police officers to wear body cameras. Many areas of our country, including right here in the Birmingham, Alabama area, have begun to invest in this technology. However, there are a number of pros and cons to the use of body cameras.

Police body cameras involve a relatively new form of technology, so it is difficult to weigh the full effects just yet. While proponents for the use of body cameras have received a great deal of support, the actual implementation of body cameras may be a bit more complicated than is often initially reported. There are certainly a number of concerns relating to police body cameras.

Firstly, jurisdictions must consider the cost of the body cameras. The amount of impact on local municipal budgets could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. For most communities a figure of that magnitude can not be taken lightly. Police departments across Alabama and the nation will have to work to find a reasonable price tag and implementation strategy for the technology.

Second, there are a number of privacy concerns associated with the cameras. If an incident occurs within a home, school or hospital, officers must decide to what extent the video will be released to the media and elsewhere. Police often deal with the public in both tragic and unflattering moments. It may not be fitting to have these videos on the news or social media. So, we must weigh the benefits of the videos in order to arrive at a proper conclusion for release.

Lastly, problems arise when it comes to the logistics of storing the videos. A substantial database of high quality video is required if every officer in a jurisdiction is expected to record every official moment of their daily shift.

While all of these concerns are valid, there are also a number of suspected benefits associated with body cameras. The implementation of body cameras has been known to yield a decline in incidents of force and in number of citizen complaints; thusly, body cameras are expected to benefit both police officers and the general public. Body camera footage is most often used to exonerate officers and clear up misconceptions regarding a given incident.

Undoubtedly, a number of logistics are left to be determined. While there is a clear, nationwide shift towards the use of police body cameras, an exact policy route remains unclear. So much goes into obtaining and regulating the cameras; hopefully, the route Birmingham has taken will prove effective in the future. 

If you or someone you know has recently been arrested in Alabama, please contact the Reid Law Firm today. We would be more than happy to review your case and there is never a fee for an initial consultation. We are an experienced law firm who will work hard to get the job done. If you'd like to schedule a time to talk, please contact the Reid Law Firm today at 205-913-7406! You can also text us at (205) 913-7406 for a quick answer to any legal question. Chris Reid can be reached by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com. All communication to the Reid Law Firm is protected by attorney client privilege, so any information submitted will be held in confidence. Initial consultations are always free. For a complete list of our practice areas please visit www.reidlawalabama.com. 

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.

Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Is Marijuana Use Becoming Mainstream?

Need a legal question answered RIGHT NOW? Text Chris Reid @ (205) 913-7406

As we progress further into an election year, the call for the legalization of marijuana is being pushed with greater frequency to the forefront of political discourse. There are impassioned arguments on each side concerning whether it is in our country's best interest to lessen restrictions on the drug. In the past 20 years, 23 states have passed laws allowing for some form of recreational or medicinal use of the drug. Colorado, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon have all passed initiatives legalizing the sale and distribution of marijuana to adults 21 and older. 

One of the strongest arguments for the legalization of marijuana deals with the drug’s medical benefits. Marijuana can be used to release stress and anxiety. It is also known to increase appetite and decrease pain. Therefore, many people fighting diseases such as cancer find the drug to be extremely beneficial. There are those on the opposing side, though, who feel that marijuana is a gateway to more dangerous drugs. For this reason, many are in favor of a more limited form of legalization, permitting solely the legalization of medical marijuana as directed by a prescribing physician.

The debate continues regarding whether or not the legalization of marijuana would stimulate the economy. Colorado continues to act as a testing ground for the nation. The state has enacted a 2.9% retail and medical marijuana sales tax, a 10% retail marijuana special sales tax, and a 15% marijuana excise tax. As these regulations are still relatively new, the jury is still out as to what lasting effect marijuana sales might have on the economy. 

Many view the possession marijuana as a harmless offense and feel the incarceration rate of those found with marijuana is too high. In October of 2013, the United States’ incarceration rate was the highest in the world. While the United States represents only 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses nearly 22 percent of the world's prisoners. It is believed by many that reducing restrictions on marijuana laws would help us get a better handle on overcrowding within our prison system.

It is also worth noting that a sizable number of our citizens remain in vehement opposition to any change in marijuana law. Those in opposition feel the drug has a significantly negative effect on its users and would work only to disadvantage our country. Demotivation, laziness, and apathy are all strongly associated with marijuana users. Marijuana’s affect on health is also largely debated. Some view the long-term use of marijuana as dangerous for lung health. It is also widely debated as to whether or not the drug is addictive. While it does not contain nicotine, those in opposition feel the behavior of a frequent marijuana user mirrors that of any other addict. 

Despite the push for legalization, public opinion over the drug is as fluid as ever. The drug is continually brought to the debate stage as we, as a nation, work to improve our economy and ameliorate our prison systems. Regardless of your opinion on the drug, it is difficult to deny the weight of the marijuana debate in today’s political discourse.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a marijuana offense in Alabama, please contact the Reid Law Firm today at 205-913-7406! You can also text us at (205) 913-7406 for a quick answer to any legal question. Chris Reid can be reached by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com. All communication to the Reid Law Firm is protected by attorney client privilege, so any information submitted will be held in confidence. Initial consultations are always free. For a complete list of our practice areas please visit www.reidlawalabama.com. 

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.

Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

How Does Drug Use Affect DUI Arrests in Alabama?

Need a legal question answered RIGHT NOW? Text Chris Reid @ (205) 913-7406

A recent study cited by AL.COM reports that Xanax is now the second leading cause of DUI arrests in Alabama. According to statistics from the Alabama Department of Forensic Science, a full 29% of DUI cases in Alabama now involve the use of Xanax (or the generic equivalent, Alprazolam). That's compared to 23% for DUI cases involving marijuana use. 

Testing for Xanax (Alprazolam) usage during a traffic stop or following a crash is more difficult than testing for alcohol use alone and requires law enforcement to depend heavily on field sobriety tests and other indicators.

If you were recently arrested for DUI or drug possession in Birmingham, Alabama and would like to discuss the particular facts of your case, please contact the Reid Law Firm today at 205-913-7406! You can also text us at (205) 913-7406 for a quick answer to any legal question. Chris Reid can be reached by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com. All communication to the Reid Law Firm is protected by attorney client privilege, so any information submitted will be held in confidence. Initial consultations are always free. For a complete list of our practice areas please visit www.reidlawalabama.com. 

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.

Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Is Mediation the Best Way to Handle a Divorce?

Need a legal question answered RIGHT NOW? Text Chris Reid @ (205) 913-7406

One of the hardest things that attorneys must deal with is when a new client comes to them who is seeking a divorce. As an attorney, I feel that it is our job to ask the client if there is any way reconciliation is a possibility in their marriage. Thankfully, when reconciliation is an option we are able to recommend counseling for couples who are willing to give their marriage another try. Our firm works with many different counseling centers in Alabama and often these centers will see couples at no charge.

However, under some circumstances marriages are just simply beyond reconciliation. Under these circumstances we at least try to mitigate the fallout from what is always the most trying emotional time in the lives of our clients.

The law is inherently adversarial and because of that many broken marriages are made even worse by pursuing a scorched earth policy of winning at any cost. This approach can be very damaging, especially when young children are caught up in the fallout of a contentious divorce or custody battle.

That is why we at the Reid Law Firm think that mediation is often the best approach to handling a divorce. Granted, there are times where the parties are so far apart that adversarial proceedings are necessary and under those circumstance we will zealously work to advance our clients goals using every legal tool at our disposal. Under most circumstances though, we have found that after enough time has passed both parties are willing to work together in the interest of decreasing the damage to their children.

The truth is that even when we win every single thing our client desires in a divorce or custody case, the children are often left in a very vulnerable position. And the fallout from going hard after a spouse or parent on the stand can cause damage for many years to come. This type of damage makes working together in the years to come a difficult proposition.

At the Reid Law firm we believe that the best outcome is one that considers the consequences of our actions not just in the courtroom but also in daily life. We will do whatever it takes to assist our clients through the challenges that they face.

If you know someone who is going through a divorce and needs an attorney to assist them, please have them call or text the Reid Law Firm at 205-913-7406! Chris Reid can be reached by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com. All communication to the Reid Law Firm is protected by attorney client privilege, so any information submitted will be held in confidence. Initial consultations are always free. For a complete list of our practice areas please visit www.reidlawalabama.com. 

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.

Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).