Could a mysterious illness be the cause of your DUI?
Imagine this scenario in which one East Coast man unwittingly found himself: Despite not drinking a drop of alcohol, he displayed all the typical signs of intoxication. He became belligerent, slurred...
View ArticleShould you turn yourself in if you commit a hit-and-run?
It's never a good idea to flee the scene of an accident, but sometimes people get scared or don't realize that a crash happened at all. If you know that you were the cause of a collision or were...
View ArticleCan you still go to jail for growing marijuana in California?
California may not have been the first state to fully legalize marijuana, but it still has a reputation for being a state with a liberal policy on this popular drug. Now that legalization has taken...
View ArticleHow an impulse-control disorder could mitigate a theft charge
When most of us think of reasons that people steal, we often think of people coveting items they cannot afford or stealing to resell the items elsewhere. Those kinds of motives are pretty much within...
View ArticleWhat are the collateral consequences of a DUI conviction?
Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common criminal offenses in the state of California. If you are convicted of drunk driving, you will be punished in accordance with California DUI...
View ArticleWhen can a police officer stop you on suspicion of DUI?
Police officers can't initiate a traffic stop just because they feel like it. Instead, their reason for the stop has to meet or exceed the standard of reasonable suspicion. This isn't as strict as...
View ArticleWhat happens if your teenager receives a DUI?
Just about anyone who has a teenager worries about what happens when their kids or their kids' friends get behind the wheel of a car. No one wants to think about their teenager getting a DUI, but...
View ArticleIf you’re drunk, don’t do these things
There are plenty of myths that tell you what you should do when you're drunk but that could get you into trouble with the law. For example, you probably have heard that you should just sleep off...
View ArticleCan intoxication be used as a defense to a criminal charge?
Alcohol tends to lower people's inhibitions and affect their ability to reason – which is why alcohol is heavily associated with everything from bar fights and thefts to other poor choices. Can...
View ArticleWhat does decriminalization of shoplifting in California mean?
Shoplifting, in the most basic sense, means that a person deprives a store owner of the profit from the merchandise they're selling by taking the merchandise or changing the price tags on it. People in...
View ArticleCan you still get in trouble for marijuana?
You know that marijuana is legal for both recreational and medical use. This is vastly different than things have been in the past – prior to 1996 in California, for medical use – and it means that a...
View ArticleHow to handle a DUI checkpoint
Drinking and driving is a serious problem throughout California. To help eliminate some cases, police and other law enforcement officers set up DUI checkpoints. If you encounter a checkpoint, it's...
View ArticleHow do police build a possession with intent case?
When police officers catch you with prohibited drugs or controlled substances for which you do not have a prescription, they will arrest you and charge you with a crime. Usually, having a drug that you...
View ArticleWhat are the consequences of a “possession for sale” drug conviction?
For some people, recreational use of drugs starts becoming an addiction. They may find themselves making bad decisions to support their habit. They may even start considering selling drugs as a way to...
View ArticleIs it stealing to keep lost possessions?
You may be walking down the street when you run across a lost wallet. You open it up and find a few gift cards, a movie ticket and a few twenties. You think to yourself, what harm would come to you if...
View ArticleCan you be charged with possession by association?
There's an old saying that “one bad apple spoils the batch.” In other words, you should always be careful who your friends are. If you know someone who happens to use drugs — even if it's unknown to...
View ArticleWhy July Fourth is prime DUI season
The July Fourth holiday weekend is one of the most dangerous times to be on the road. When people celebrate this holiday with friends and family, they often like to drink alcohol, and some then drive....
View ArticleWill the California courts make you install an IID after a DUI?
California drivers accused of driving under the influence (DUI) offenses have to deal with numerous possible penalties. For example, there will be fines and possibly jail time or probation after a...
View ArticleTag switching can get you in trouble
Shoplifting is defined as the willful concealment of retail merchandise. It is not limited to taking an item out of the store without paying for it, which is the most common form of shoplifting. Some...
View ArticleThe problem with eyewitness testimony
Eyewitness testimony can be some of the most compelling evidence in a criminal trial. However, they can also be some of the most unreliable forms of evidence because eyewitnesses often remember things...
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