The first court appearance you will need to attend after a domestic violence arrest is known as an arraignment. This step of the court process is one of the most important, as it allows you to hear the charges that have been filed against you, deal with bail, schedule future court dates, and re-addresses the […]
Corporal Injury to a Spouse or Cohabitant Charges in Vista
When domestic violence results in injury, it can be charged as corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, filed under California Penal Code 273.5 (PC). This crime is one of the most commonly charged domestic violence offenses in San Diego County. If you have been accused of corporal injury to a spouse in San Diego, […]
Court-Ordered Community Service for Misdemeanors in Vista, California
If you have been charged with a low-level misdemeanor in Vista or the rest of San Diego County, you may be eligible for an incarceration alternative, which could include community service. Not everyone is eligible for these opportunities, so speak with an alternative sentencing lawyer if you hope to perform community service as part of your […]
Biking Under the Influence: 21200.5 (VC)
You know you shouldn’t drive drunk, so it may seem reasonable to take a bike to Pure Project Vista and then enjoy a scenic ride through Buena Vista Park. But despite your good intentions, riding a bicycle after drinking at a party, microbrewery, or bar to avoid the dangers of drunk driving is still risky […]
How to Help Protect Undocumented People You Care About from ICE
If you’ve been spurred to action to help protect their neighbors, friends, and family members who may be targeted by the ramped up ICE raids, do your research before taking action. While social media users have a lot of “advice” for how to protect people from ICE and Border Patrol raids, much of their suggestions […]
California Search and Seizure Laws
For you to be charged with a crime, police must find enough evidence to indicate your guilt. For the charges to result in a conviction, the evidence must be strong enough to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. While the California and US Constitutions protect citizens from illegal and unreasonable search and seizure, police […]
Here’s How to Legally Film California Police
Between all the recent cases where police have been accused of sexual abuse, racism, and brutality, it’s hardly surprising that more and more people in California are choosing to film their interactions with the police. Criminal attorney Peter M. Liss offers these tips for those who want to record their experiences with law enforcement officers […]
Evidence Tampering Laws in Vista, California: 132 (PC), 134 (PC), 135 (PC), and 141 (PC)
Evidence integrity in the court system is critical, especially as the US justice system requires prosecutors to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Unreliable or missing evidence could result in great injustices. To protect evidence accuracy, California has passed many laws prohibiting its destruction, concealment, or alteration. If you have been accused of […]
What is BAC Used for in California DUIs?
BAC is an abbreviation for Blood Alcohol concentration, which estimates how intoxicated someone is while driving. Under California law, the maximum BAC someone can have while driving is typically 0.08%, but commercial drivers must have a BAC below 0.04%, and minors must not have a BAC above 0.01%. If your BAC is above the legal […]
Sometimes Ignorance of the Law May be an Excuse
You’ve no doubt heard the expression that “ignorance of the law is no excuse,” and while that’s true in most cases, it’s not the full story. For one thing, there are a handful of laws that are only crimes if the defendant knew they were breaking the law -for example, it is illegal to bring […]
