Some law enforcement officers are not known for their overly friendly demeanor. Yet, regardless of their personality or baseless suspicions, they cannot conduct a traffic stop just because they feel like it. Reasonable suspicion is what the law refers to as a valid reason a police officer may pul...
FBI statistics report an increase in hate crimes nationally over the last two years. Targets for these offenses revolve around many issues—religion, race, ethnicity, sexual preference. As these acts grow, how do authorities categorize actions as hate crimes? And what activities might be included?...
It has been an unusually bad flu season and this year you caught it and could not work for a week. Then, the rent came due and your bank account had a huge hole in it; you simply did not have the money in your account to cover the rent. But you were expecting your income tax refund at any time to...
Adapting to a life on probation can sometimes be met with denial or obstinate behavior. Yet, when obstinance or denial leads to behavior that violates your court order of probation, you could find yourself in hot water with the courts. Probation can last anywhere from one to three years, or longe...
If someone accuses you of embezzlement, you may not even comprehend the meaning of the word. The first thing to know is you will need two things. First, you will need legal representation. Embezzlement is a serious crime and if you are convicted, the penalties are serious. The second thing you sh...
Many of us condemn the foolish acts of our own youth. Luckily, most people mature, leave behind the crazy, restless and often, reckless acts of being a teen or young adult. Those whose zany actions caused them to be arrested and charged with a crime may have more to worry about than side glances ...
It doesnt have to be Mardi Gras or New Years Eve to read headlines of people running naked through crowds or winding up in public places naked. Usually, alcohol or drugs are involved in these shenanigans. When these individuals are corralled by law enforcement, they are usually arrested and cha...
When Washington enacted its E-DUI law last year, only warnings were issued for the first six months. During those six months, insurance companies were unable to collect data. Now that citations are being issued, insurance companies plan to collect data in a possible effort to adjust premiums. As ...
Maybe you got a new job. Maybe its a new partner? Or maybe its for extended family reasons. Whatever the case, if you are planning to move out of state and are doing so as a custodial parent with the intention to bring your child with you: you need to be careful and do it in accordance with the...
Repeat DUI offenders in Kent, WA could gain treatment time instead of time in jail because of its new DUI court. The court will offer individual treatment and supervision of DUI offenders and to compel offenders to check in through an accountability structure. Joining other County DUI Courts in W...
What is Petty Theft? Whether you or a loved one was charged with theft of a bicycle, an item in a store (shoplifting), or stealing a small item from someones home while visiting, you are likely to be charged with petty theft. Getting help from an experienced attorney can help you weigh your opt...
Im on the way home, need anything? Your habit of texting someone during your commute home likely should change now that your simple message could cost you $136 or more. Washington Traffic Safety Commission reminds motorists that the grace period has ended for Washingtons new E-DUI law. Up un...
The more that is learned about domestic violence, the more there is to learn. Couples lives slide into a cycle of arguing and physical abuse for any number of reasons. Financial problems, infidelity, a loss of trust, and the need for control are among some of the main reasons that instigate an o...
When someone is charged with DUI in Washington, a judge can order you to restrict your use of drugs and alcohol while your charges are sorted out. How the judge can check up on your use is still being argued after a 2017 decision ruling. The Washington State Supreme Court rules that random urinal...
Embezzlement is in the news often with headlines usually including large corporations or politicians. It is not only a crime of high finance or one that belongs only to corporate circles—it can happen anywhere. Perhaps you have been a secretary or treasurer of a club or organization? You likely h...
Bullying has become high tech. Today, with smartphones, tablets, and video games, young people can be tempted to act like bullies online, and often, they do not understand what they are doing and what the consequences of their actions are. Text messaging and social media have laid the platform fo...
If you or a loved one are being charged with a criminal offense for the first time, it is likely you are afraid, concerned about your future, and unsure of what steps to take first. Hiring a trusted, experienced attorney to help with your defense is going to be among the first items on your check...
Few people would consider a vehicle a weapon but when a person steps into the driver seat, his vehicle becomes a potentially deadly instrument. And anyone in its path becomes a potential victim. Vehicular Assault is when someone injures another person while driving under the influence or operatin...
Jealousy, rejection, and curiosity, are all emotions that can trigger the worst in a person. There is no crime in feeling any of these things, but when they spark behaviors that make others feel uncomfortable, the boundary begins to be a bit murky. We all have a right to our privacy and when othe...
Anger is at the heart of many crimes. When some people are enraged, they can “act out” and get physical in their fury. When property gets in the way of someone who cannot control his or her emotions, and he or she breaks it or damages it, malicious mischief is the criminal offense. Classified as ...
More and more frequently, police departments around the country have designated time frames around popular holidays as a crackdown on impaired drivers. Deadly holiday accidents claim many lives each year. The primary reasons are twofold: (1) some people are less accustomed to drinking throughout ...
The idea of sexual assault by a spouse or a partner can bring dubious reactions at one end of the spectrum and rage at the other. Yet, these rape charges are very real and prosecutors take allegations very seriously; they punish convicted offenders as harshly as any other attacker. If you are fac...
Thanks to electronic check clearing, bounced checks happen more frequently these days. It is not unusual for folks to have an occasional forgotten draft that causes a check to bounce. Yet, a bounced check can set you back hundreds of dollars if the bounced check fees cause other checks to bounce,...
Kids will be kids. Except when their crimes are adult crimes. When preteens or teenagers behave like adults and dabble in criminal activities, parents fear the financial burden. Naturally, parents also wring their hands over the black mark on their childs record. But when juvenile drug charges ...
Violence takes many forms and conducted by the use of many different weapons, some of which you may have never considered: your car. When a driver injures another person with a motor vehicle and was driving while intoxicated or driving recklessly, vehicular assault is the resulting crime. Unlike...
