2016 is finally here, and with the New Year there are new criminal laws. Under AB 604 it is now an infraction to operate an "electrically motorized board" while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This means that hoverboards and their equivalents have been added to all manner of personal electric vehicles, not to mention full sized cars and trucks, which carry criminal penalties for operating while under the influence. The good news is that there is no specific prohibition for riding an executive's chair down the street while drunk (just kidding!).

Another change is that to plea bargains with regard to deportable offences. Under AB 1343 the District Attorney must consider whether a particular charge will cause a non-citizen to be subject to deportation as a result of taking the plea deal. While this change does not apply to all crimes committed by non-citizens (for example capital crimes are exempted) for those charged with drug crimes or moral turpitude crimes it does offer an opportunity to plea to some other charge that does not carry deportation consequences. In practice this may in fact result in steeper fines, and possibly longer time in custody, but for many that additional time and expense will be worth taking if it means that they will not face separation from their families, homes, and livelihoods.

All of us at the Law Office of Christopher Martens wat to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Also, keep in mind that it is best to seek tacos during normal business hours. Otherwise, you will make your friendly defense attorneys job a lot more difficult!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=kzdv4FUHqP8

Happy New Year!