Police can stop motorists for a variety of reasons, including minor issues such as not using a turn signal, having a broken tail light, having window tinting on your windows or similar issues. These stops for minor crimes are considered “pretext” stops because police usually use these issues as a pretext to hopefully find evidence […]
True Crime Fans Will Love the CrimeDoor App, But Will it Help Society?
True crime has always had its share of fans, ranging from those with a morbid obsession with murder cases to amateur sleuths. The new CrimeDoor app furthers those interests by allowing users to get a 3D, augmented reality view of real crime scenes -supposedly designed to look just like they did when the police first […]
Applying for a Certificate of Rehabilitation in San Diego, California
If you have been convicted of a felony or certain sex offenses, a California certificate of rehabilitation might be beneficial in helping you move past the conviction so you can get on with your life. Aside from making it easier for you to apply for jobs and professional licenses, getting a certificate of rehabilitation serves […]
Health and Safety Code 11351 (HS): Possession With Intent to Sell
In California drug sales cases, the most important aspect is the intention of the person arrested. As any San Diego drug sales attorney will tell you, our state has no hard set legal rules regarding what quantity of drugs defines possession for the purpose of sale. This means that you should only face standard drug […]
Yes, Forensic Hypnosis is Real, It’s Also Disturbingly Unreliable
One of the problems with forensic science is that something can seem scientifically sound and still be totally subjective. In fact, recent research has even raised questions about the legitimacy of blood splatter analysis and the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, which is one of the standard field sobriety tests used to establish whether someone has […]
When to Call a Criminal Defense Lawyer
You’ve probably heard countless criminal defense attorneys say that people should “call immediately.” But it’s one thing to say people should call immediately and another for them to be able to start dialing a phone while a police officer slaps handcuffs around their wrist. So when should you (or can you) call a defense lawyer […]
California May Enact a Law to Enable Police Decertification
Police have far greater authority than just about anyone else in our society. They are given the right to detain, search and arrest people. They are even permitted to use deadly force in certain situations. As such, it seems reasonable to hold officers of the law to a higher standard than the average civilian. After […]
Prosecutors Can’t Compare a Defendant to a Homicidal Maniac
Prosecutors are limited by ethical and legal standards. But the problem with many ethical and legal standards (these included) is that the boundaries are not set in stone and vary on a case by case basis. This was most certainly the problem when prosecutors decided to compare an alleged bank robber to Jack Torrance of […]
Think Twice Before Forging Coronavirus Vaccine Records and Test Results
As the coronavirus wears on for almost a year now, we’re starting to have more tools to fight it, both in because we are now better able to identify who has the disease and prevent them from spreading it and because the vaccines are starting to be given to the public. While it seems we’re […]
How Police Determine Who is Responsible in a DUI Car Accident
Whenever a car accident occurs, insurance companies will always look to find who is at fault when someone files a claim. While police may sometimes compile a report that can be beneficial to the insurance companies, they aren’t necessarily required to be involved at all. But when a car accident involves serious injury or death, […]
