Legal Proceedings DMV hearings are administrative proceedings separate from the criminal court. Generally speaking, a hearing is a brief proceeding used to establish certain facts or issues relevant to the case. Typically, a hearing involves both the presentation of evidence and arguments. On the...
Driving on a suspended license is a serious offense in California that can result in fines and even jail time. But believe it or not, many people are caught driving on a suspended license and argue they didn't know about the suspension. To make sure you aren't caught unaware, you should learn abo...
The Initial Hold Counties across California can issue steep fines for even minor traffic violations. And when you can't pay those fines—or go to court to contest them—you put your license at risk. 40509.5 is the legal code section that permits the traffic court to tell the DMV to put a hold on yo...
Lifting Restrictions Probation is a common penalty for criminal convictions. Many crimes can result in one to three years of probation, during which time the defendant is subject to certain restrictions and requirements. Violating the terms of your probation can result in a longer probation perio...
An Important Right Your right to due process is protected under the U.S. Constitution. This is an important right to understand because it protects you on all levels of government, including the state government in California. This right ensures that without fair judicial proceedings, you cannot ...
Summertime Sobriety Checkpoints Sobriety checkpoints are ubiquitous in summer months across the State of California. Summer, with its holidays, festivals, and other events and activities, can result in more drunk drivers on the road. California operates around 2,500 sobriety checkpoints across th...
When You Are at a Disadvantage Being convicted of a crime is a life-altering event. Not only will you be punished by the criminal court, but you will also carry that conviction with you the rest of your life in the form of a criminal background. And, unfortunately, many people can access that inf...
A DUI With Complications Many factors can affect a DUI case in California. One of the more significant ones is whether you caused an accident, injured someone, or damaged property while driving under the influence. If you caused a minor accident and no one was injured, you will probably only face...
Know Your Rights Californians possess many rights when it comes to when and how a criminal conviction can be held against them for employment purposes. At this point, most non-governmental employers cannot inquire about a conviction that has been expunged or an arrest that did not end in a convic...
When Your Status Changes The California Department of Motor Vehicle's Negligent Operator Treatment System keeps tabs on all Californian drivers. Acting as a centralized database of driving records, the system assigns points for driving code violations and accidents and takes action when a driver ...
Removing Evidence of Serious Offenses California recognizes two main types of criminal offenses: misdemeanors and felonies. Between the two, felonies are more serious, and misdemeanors are less serious. Not surprisingly, a felony conviction can hold you back in many ways and haunt you for the res...
Theft is a prevalent crime in California. How a defendant is sentenced for a theft conviction depends on many factors. There are two main theft crimes in California: grand theft and petty theft. Each is sentenced differently. Petty theft is typically charged as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors are typ...
Driving Without the Right The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can suspend or revoke your license for many reasons, some of which are unrelated to driving. Many people need a car to get around California where public transportation is lacking, and this creates a problem. If you need ...
In California, you can be charged with a crime if you help—in any way—a felon avoid getting in trouble. Helping someone who has committed a felony avoid the authorities or prosecution is referred to as being an accessory after the fact. The legal definition of “accessory after the fact” is harbor...
The Domestic Violence Threshold Domestic violence is one of the lesser-understood types of California criminal charges, in part because so many different actions can be considered domestic violence and there doesn't necessarily need to be hard proof of violence. A prosecuting attorney can file do...
When Your Career Is on the Line The future of freight is changing as the push to get self-driving trucks on the road continues. Eventually, freight truckers might face job insecurity because of this new technology, but until we reach that point, truckers are a vital part of our economy. Freight...
How Public Opinion Can Affect Criminal Court Proceedings In recent years, there has been growing public outcry over California courts handing down lenient sentences for domestic violence crimes. From the protests that stemmed from the March 2016 sentencing of Brock Turner, the Stanford student wh...
What Is the Maximum Sentence? California recognizes three categories of criminal offenses: infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Infractions are the least serious and aren't considered true criminal convictions. Many infractions are simple traffic citations and are punishable by nothing more t...
Conduct On and Off the Job Medical professionals in California are held to high standards. Not only do licensed medical professional need to be at their best on the job, but they also need to be mindful of their conduct off the job as well. Medical professionals have to abide by a code of ethics ...
Infractions vs. Criminal Convictions Not all traffic tickets are created equal. Traffic citations (i.e. tickets) can vary in seriousness from simple “fix-it” tickets for non-moving violations to criminal traffic violations for offenses such as driving under the influence or reckless driving. And,...
Commercial drivers in California are held to higher standards than non-commercial drivers are, both on and off-duty. A commercial driver's entire career can be on the line if he or she does not drive safely at all times. Unfortunately, they face an increased risk of committing traffic offenses du...
Defending Yourself at the DMV If you are facing DUI charges, you will be involved in two separate proceedings: the criminal court process and the DMV administrative process. The DMV is only concerned with your driving privileges. As a DUI defendant, you have a right to request an administrative h...
Your Legal Rights According to both the state and federal constitution, you have a right to due process of the law. That right applies to both criminal and civil court and administrative systems, such as the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV must provide a hearing before taking act...
The Far-Reaching Consequences of a Criminal Conviction Among the many consequences of a criminal conviction in California, difficulty finding rental housing is perhaps one of the most disruptive. Your options for rental housing in California can be limited by your criminal background, and this is...
Is Your Private Business Public? In the interest of public safety and transparency in the court system, many court records, including records of criminal convictions, are part of the public record. To make matter worse, private companies compile public records from courts all over the U.S. and se...
We focus on defending clients accused of Domestic Violence and Driving Under the Influence (DUI), two of the most aggressively prosecuted charges in California. Every case starts with listening. We take the time to understand your situation, your concerns, and your goals so we can build a defense strategy tailored specifically to you. If you are under investigation or have already been charged, do not wait. Early action can make a critical difference in your case. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.
