The Town Law LLC, 1650 Market Street Suite 3669, Philadelphia, PA (2026)

05/30/2026

Where Do You File a Protection From Abuse Order in Philadelphia?

In Philadelphia, a Protection From Abuse Order — commonly called a PFA — is filed through Philadelphia Family Court.

The main filing location is:

Philadelphia Family CourtDomestic Violence Intake Unit1501 Arch Street, 8th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19102

This is where a person can file a petition asking the court for protection from abuse involving a family member, household member, intimate partner, former intimate partner, or someone they share a child with.

A PFA can potentially order the other person to have no contact, stay away from the home, stay away from work or school, leave a shared residence, surrender fi****ms, and follow other court-ordered restrictions.

For after-hours emergencies, Philadelphia also has an emergency domestic violence process through the Criminal Justice Center, located at:

1301 Filbert Street, Room B-03Philadelphia, PA 19107

A PFA can have serious legal consequences for both sides.

If you are seeking protection, take the process seriously and bring any relevant information, messages, photos, police reports, witness names, and details about prior incidents.

If you have been served with a PFA, do not ignore it. A temporary order can affect your home, your children, your firearm rights, and your criminal exposure if there is an alleged violation.

Whether you are seeking a PFA or defending against one, the details matter.

The Town Law LLCPhiladelphia Criminal Defense & PFA Defense215-307-5504

05/29/2026

A DUI Case Is Not Just About the Blood Test

A lot of people think that once there is a blood or breath test in a Pennsylvania DUI case, the case is over.

That is not true.

A DUI case is about much more than a number on a lab report.

The defense has to look at the entire investigation:

Was the traffic stop legal?
Did the officer have a valid reason to pull the car over?
Was there probable cause for the arrest?
Were field sobriety tests properly explained and administered?
Was the blood draw done lawfully?
Was the sample handled correctly?
Was the lab testing reliable?
Was the person actually driving or in actual physical control of the vehicle?

Every step matters.

If police violated your rights before the blood test, the evidence may be challenged. If the testing procedure was flawed, the result may be questioned. If the Commonwealth cannot prove driving, impairment, or lawful police conduct, the case may be weaker than it looks.

A DUI charge is serious.

But a blood test does not automatically equal a conviction.

Charged with DUI in Pennsylvania?

The Town Law LLC
Pennsylvania DUI Defense
215-307-5504

05/27/2026

Consent Searches: Should You Let Police Search Your Car?

During a traffic stop, an officer may ask:

“Do you mind if I search the car?”

A lot of people say yes because they feel nervous, pressured, or afraid that saying no will make them look guilty.

But you generally do not have to consent to a vehicle search.

You can calmly say:

“Officer, I do not consent to any searches.”

That does not mean police will always stop. They may still search if they believe they have another lawful basis. But refusing consent can preserve important legal issues for your defense.

In Pennsylvania drug, gun, and DUI cases, the search is often one of the most important parts of the case.

Was the stop legal?
Was the detention extended too long?
Was consent truly voluntary?
Did police search beyond what was allowed?
Does the body camera match the report?

A traffic stop should not become a fishing expedition.

Charged after a car search in Pennsylvania?

The Town Law LLC
Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorneys
215-307-5504

05/25/2026

Memorial Day 2026

Today, we pause to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Memorial Day is not just a long weekend or the start of summer. It is a solemn reminder that the freedoms we enjoy were protected by people who made the ultimate sacrifice.

To the fallen heroes and the families who carry their memory forward — we honor you, we remember you, and we are forever grateful.

From all of us at The Town Law LLC, we wish everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

The Town Law LLC
Justice for All.

05/24/2026

Can Flight From Police Be Used Against You in a Gun Case?

Yes — but it does not automatically prove guilt.

In many Philadelphia gun cases, prosecutors try to argue that a person ran from police because they knew they had a gun.

But flight can happen for many reasons.

Fear.
Panic.
Confusion.
An outstanding warrant.
Probation or parole concerns.
Distrust of police.

Running from police may become part of the Commonwealth’s case, but it does not replace what prosecutors still have to prove.

In a gun possession case, the Commonwealth generally still has to prove that the accused person knew about the firearm and had the ability and intent to control it.

That matters especially when the gun is not found directly on the person.

Was it in a car?
Under a seat?
In a bag?
Near multiple people?
On the ground after a chase?
Was there DNA or fingerprints?
Did police actually see the person discard anything?
Does the body camera match the police report?

Flight may be evidence — but it is not the whole case.

Gun possession cases often come down to the details: the stop, the chase, the search, the recovery, the video, and whether the Commonwealth can actually connect the person to the firearm.

A gun charge is serious.

But running does not automatically mean conviction.

Charged with a gun crime in Philadelphia?

The Town Law LLC
Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorneys
215-307-5504

05/24/2026

DUI Checkpoints in Pennsylvania: What Drivers Should Know

DUI checkpoints are legal in Pennsylvania — but that does not mean police can do whatever they want.

At a checkpoint, officers may briefly stop vehicles to look for signs of impaired driving. But the checkpoint still has to follow constitutional rules. Police cannot use a DUI checkpoint as an excuse for an unlimited investigation.

In many cases, the key questions are:

Was the checkpoint properly approved?
Was it conducted in a lawful location?
Were drivers stopped according to a neutral plan?
Was the stop brief and limited?
Did police have a valid reason to expand the investigation?
Were field sobriety tests properly requested and administered?
Was there probable cause for an arrest?

A DUI checkpoint does not automatically mean a DUI conviction.

If an officer smells alcohol, sees open containers, observes signs of impairment, or hears an admission, the stop may quickly turn into a full DUI investigation. But the Commonwealth still has to prove the case — and the defense can still challenge the stop, the detention, the testing, and the arrest.

If you are stopped at a DUI checkpoint, stay calm, be respectful, provide required documents, and avoid making unnecessary statements.

You have rights — even at a checkpoint.

Charged with DUI after a checkpoint in Pennsylvania?

05/23/2026

Memorial Day Weekend 2026

This weekend, we pause to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Memorial Day is more than the unofficial start of summer. It is a reminder that freedom has a cost — and that many Americans made the ultimate sacrifice so the rest of us could live freely.

As families gather, travel, barbecue, and spend time with loved ones, we encourage everyone to celebrate responsibly, look out for one another, and get home safely.

From all of us at The Town Law LLC, we remember and honor those who never made it home.

Justice for All.The Town Law LLC

05/22/2026

Can Police Charge You With DUI If the Car Was Parked?

Yes — in Pennsylvania, they can.

A lot of people think DUI only applies if the car is actively moving down the road.

That is not true.

Pennsylvania DUI law does not only use the word “drive.” The law also applies when a person operates or is in actual physical control of the movement of a vehicle while under the influence. That phrase matters. It means police may still charge someone with DUI even if the car was parked when officers arrived.

But that does not mean every parked-car DUI case is automatically valid.

The facts matter.

Was the engine running?Were the keys in the ignition?Was the person in the driver’s seat?Was the car legally parked or stopped in the roadway?Were the headlights on?Was the vehicle warm?Was there evidence the person recently drove?Was the person sleeping it off instead of driving?

These details can make a major difference.

A parked car can still lead to a DUI investigation — but the Commonwealth still has to prove the legal elements of the charge. Being near a car, sitting in a car, or sleeping in a car does not automatically mean the person was driving under the influence.

If you were charged with DUI in Pennsylvania, the key question is not just what police found.

It is what they can actually prove.

05/20/2026

Can Police Search Your Car Just Because They Think There Is a Gun?

Not automatically.

In Philadelphia gun cases, one of the biggest questions is not just “Was there a gun?”

It is also:

How did police find it?

Police generally need legal justification to stop a car, detain the occupants, search the vehicle, or seize evidence. A vague suspicion or a bad feeling is not supposed to be enough.

That matters because many gun possession cases are built around traffic stops, vehicle searches, and officer observations. Sometimes police claim they saw a firearm in “plain view.” Sometimes they say they smelled ma*****na. Sometimes they say someone made a movement, acted nervous, or ran.

But every detail matters.

Was the stop lawful?
Was the person actually free to leave?
Did police have reasonable suspicion?
Did they have probable cause?
Was the gun really in plain view?
Was the search done before or after a warrant?
Was the body camera consistent with the police report?

In Pennsylvania, carrying a firearm in a vehicle without a valid license can lead to serious charges. Philadelphia also has specific rules for carrying fi****ms on public streets or public property. But even in serious gun cases, the Constitution still matters. Police do not get to skip the rules just because a firearm is involved.

A gun charge is not automatically a conviction.

The search, the stop, the body camera, the police report, and the timeline all need to be challenged.

Charged with gun possession in Philadelphia?

The Town Law LLC
Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorneys
215-307-5504

05/20/2026

Having a Medical Ma*****na Card Does NOT Mean You Can Smoke and Drive in Pennsylvania

A lot of people misunderstand this.

Medical ma*****na may be legal in Pennsylvania, but driving after using ma*****na can still lead to a DUI charge.

And here is where people get themselves in trouble:

An officer asks, “When was the last time you smoked?”

The driver says, “Earlier today.”

That answer may feel harmless — but it can become a major piece of evidence in a DUI investigation.

THC does not leave your system immediately. Depending on the person, the amount used, and the timing, active THC and/or THC metabolites may still be present long after use. That means a statement like “I smoked earlier today” can give police a reason to believe ma*****na may still be affecting your ability to drive.

In Pennsylvania, a medical ma*****na card is not a free pass behind the wheel.

You can still be charged with DUI if police believe you were impaired, and ma*****na-related DUI cases can carry serious consequences — including license suspension, probation, fines, and even jail exposure depending on the case.

The bottom line:

Legal use does not mean legal driving.

If you are a medical ma*****na patient, be extremely careful about when you drive, what you say during a traffic stop, and how quickly a routine stop can become a DUI investigation.

Charged with a DUI in Pennsylvania?

The Town Law LLC
Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorneys
215-307-5504

05/17/2026

Refusing a breath or blood test after a DUI arrest in Pennsylvania can create serious consequences.

A lot of people think refusing means the Commonwealth will have less evidence. But in Pennsylvania, a refusal can trigger:

A PennDOT license suspension
Enhanced DUI penalties
Possible jail exposure
Higher fines
Refusal evidence being used in court

There is also a major difference between a roadside portable breath test and a post-arrest chemical breath or blood test. Refusing the wrong test at the wrong time can seriously affect your license and your case.

But a refusal does not automatically mean you are guilty.

The stop, arrest, warnings, alleged refusal, bodycam footage, chemical test request, and PennDOT paperwork all need to be reviewed carefully.

At The Town Law LLC, we defend clients facing DUI, refusal, drug DUI, alcohol DUI, and license suspension issues in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania.

The Town Law LLC
Philadelphia DUI Defense Attorneys
400+ Five-Star Google Reviews
Call 215-307-5504

The Town Law LLC

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

05/24/2026

05/23/2026

05/22/2026

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

05/17/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category