Ocean City Drug Possession Enforcement

There are a number of common scenarios which tend to lead to someone being charged with illegal possession in Ocean City. One example of direct possession would be a police officer searching someone’s person and finding drugs in their pocket, purse or backpack. Other scenarios that happen frequently are the police stopping a vehicle and finding drugs somewhere in an area of the car,  in a place where multiple people would be able to have access to the drugs, such as in the center console or the glove box. Another situation that happens very frequently in Ocean City is possession of illegal drugs in hotel rooms or condominiums.

Because Ocean City is a vacation destination, there are many hotels and motels and condominiums, and people will oftentimes rent these rooms in large groups. For example, a group four friends might come to vacation for a time, and all four of them would be staying in a condo. If the police have reason to come into the room and they find drugs somewhere, the drugs might be in an area where everybody could have had control over them. Such areas include the TV stand, on the coffee table, or on the kitchen table. In a situation like that, the police can charge every single person who was renting that room and had control over that area.

Treatment

Drug possession is a priority for law enforcement in Ocean City. They spend significant resources on having officers conduct investigations of controlled dangerous substance cases. There are officers who are on patrol who investigate any sort of complaint for anything drug related, and there is also a task force of undercover officers whose jobs revolve around constant attempts to purchase drugs in order to find out who is distributing drugs within the jurisdiction.

Keep in mind that Ocean City works to promote itself as a family-friendly tourist destination, and so law enforcement is especially keen when it comes to cases involving actions that directly conflict with or endanger that effort. Illegal drug possession falls in that category, and therefore anyone who may be implicated can expect to be investigated and charged.

Trends

Which particular behavior law enforcement usually targets really fluctuates depending on what is causing the biggest problem in the area. For example, it is very common for recent high school graduates to come to Ocean City in the month of June, and there are a lot of college students in the area on summer break. Historically, these groups in particular tend to bring with them a significant influx of what are often coined party drugs, including hallucinogens.

There are many negative consequences related to those drugs, and they can be very dangerous. There are individuals who have needed to be hospitalized as a direct result of taking those drugs. When law enforcement hears of these cases, they are often quick to investigate.

Another piece of information to consider is that, just as in every other part of the state, there is a significant heroin epidemic in Ocean City and the nearby Worcester County. Therefore, law enforcement makes it a priority to heavily enforce and investigate any case of possession or distribution of heroin in the area.

How An Attorney Can Help

If you find yourself charged with possession, it is important to have a clear understanding of just how seriously law enforcement takes these charges. Having a knowledgeable attorney by your side will enable you to build the strongest defense possible in your case, as well as mitigate the potential damages should you be convicted. A qualified attorney will be able to guide and advise you throughout the often complex and intimidating process, working to achieve the best outcome possible.