Various legal rights protect those dealing with the state. Police officers act on behalf of the state to protect the public, enforce the law and investigate various matters. As such, they are subject to many rules regarding their professional conduct. The law limits...
A pretext stop occurs when law enforcement pulls over a driver for a minor traffic violation with the underlying motive of investigating an unrelated suspicion of criminal activity. While pretext stops are legal under Whren v. United States (1996) as long as an...
Prescription medications are a type of controlled substance. They are only available with a doctor's recommendation and when procured from a licensed pharmacy. Generally speaking, medications are subject to prescription drug regulations because they pose a risk of...
Drivers usually recognize that they need to cooperate with police officers during traffic stops. They have to pull over when they notice a police vehicle attempting to stop them. They must provide identification and other documentation requested by law enforcement...
Identity theft may seem like a complex crime. People might associate identity theft with organized crime. However, individuals can end up accused of identity theft for seemingly minor actions. Just keeping a list or using the wrong name on paperwork could violate the...
Laws prohibiting certain drugs give police officers the authority to arrest those found in possession of illicit drugs. State prosecutors can bring charges against those who illegally possess prohibited drugs or possess prescription medication without the right...
California generally has more lenient penalties for drug possession compared to many other states. Most possession offenses in California are treated as misdemeanors, especially for first-time offenders, and often involve probation, fines and mandatory drug counseling...
Police officers have an interest in arresting people and gathering evidence that allows the state to prosecute their alleged wrongdoing. In some cases, they may even aggressively pursue evidence against those who may not have technically broken the law. Once police...
Professionals in a variety of different industries could find themselves accused of white-collar criminal offenses. Fraud, embezzlement and money laundering are among the more common financial crimes prosecuted in California. There are many different kinds of fraud,...
Non-citizens residing in the United States are expected to follow the laws of this country. If they fail to do so and are arrested, they may face deportation if they’re convicted of certain crimes. It’s always best to obey the law, but there are times when a person...