CRIMINAL LAW

The procedure can vary from state to state but usually is something similar to the following: If someone was hurt or killed or damage to another person´s property exceeded a certain amount and the accident report shows you may be at fault, your State Department of Transportation may contact you. You will receive notice that […]

An officer need not suspect that a driver is operating under the influence to make an initial stop. It is not necessary for an officer to observe erratic or bizarre driving to make a stop. It is enough if the officer observes a traffic law violation or an equipment violation. Improper driving is not an […]

Are all arrests the same? No. In some arrests, you’re charged with a crime, while in others you’re not. You’re charged with a crime only if the possible penalty includes time in jail or prison. There’s one exception, though: you may face jail time for failing to pay a fine or forfeiture, but this failure […]

What a deposition is, and why it is important. Definition A deposition is “…A pre-trial discovery device by which one party (through his or her attorney) asks oral questions of the other party or of a witness for the other party. The person who is deposed is called the deponent. The deposition is conducted under […]

Guest post contributed by Sandy Attwood, for Attorneys.com. Sandy is a criminal defense attorney and in her spare time she enjoys writing about various other aspects of the law. The statute of limitations is a policy in the legal system that enforces a time limit on prosecuting someone for a crime. It applies to both […]

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution places significant limits on the government’s ability to search the homes and property of citizens. Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement officers must have a search warrant, issued on a showing of probable cause, in order to search a private home or premises without the consent of the […]