Washington Governor Jay Inslee says drivers using a cell phone are more dangerous than drunk drivers with blood alcohol content level at 0.08%. In the last three or so years, motor vehicle crashes have proven this fact and in July, Washington passed its Electronic Driving While Impaired Law. For ...
When we hear the word embezzlement, we think of movies, big corporations, and the mob. The truth is, it can happen anywhere: the nonprofit, the school parent teacher group, or in a small business. Whenever handling cash or receipts is part of an organization, embezzlement can happen. The Meaning...
Being charged with a harassment offense will change your life. Everything about you is likely to be challenged—your relationships; your career; your residence; your reputation; and more. If you are convicted, there are many hoops you will be forced to jump through for the rest of your life that w...
Baby boomers have effected change in many areas of life as they have grown from children to young adults, and from middle aged workers to now, retired senior citizens. In Washington, those who are older than age 62 can register their relationship as a Domestic Partnership. When Social Security an...
Fear is a motivating factor in many crimes. When the shock of striking another vehicle or another person is high, the poor decision to escape causes many to flee the scene. When the investigation leads to a charge, the person involved will sadly learn his fearful escape will lead to expensive and...
Law enforcement officers often approach individuals or vehicles and begin making demands. They may demand you show your ID. They may begin drilling you with questions about what you are doing? Where you are going? Were you drinking? With all of these questions, when does “probable cause” come int...
2017 has experienced rising numbers in deportations to the tune of an increase of 32 percent. As a non-citizen, determining your options in a foreign land is confusing and complex. There are options for “relief” through the various courts in the United States legal system. Knowing which to reques...
When one thinks of stealing, it is easy to think of teenagers making away with clothing, make-up or jewelry. But theres more to stealing, like identify theft. Identity theft is considered a white-collar crime. Identity theft is when someone impersonates another person for personal gain. You may...
Washington is a pioneer in the US legal marijuana journey. When the bill to legalize marijuana was approved, new questions surfaced that are still being answered. One of the big rocks in the path has been and continues to be this question: if pot is legal, can employers still require passing drug...
In the years to come, the year 2017 will be remembered as a milestone in the Sexual Harassment conversation. Harvey Weinstein is not the only celebrity to be brought to his knees by accusers first, the media second, and the rest of the world, third. Consequently, story after story of others accus...
Most of us are thankful as adults that the people in our lives will never know some of the things we did as children or young adults. When the folly of youth comes with an arrest or worse, a conviction, the consequences are far worse than being embarrassed. For adults with criminal records, landi...
Many people charged with shoplifting are seeking something more than the trinkets or clothing items they stole. Studies show that often a person suffering from depression, stress, or another personal issue steals for reasons other than illegal personal gain. Research results have shown that some ...
The list of limiting and often painful consequences for a DUI charge can seem never-ending. If you are forced to Install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in your car, you might be wondering what could go wrong with it? This post will share some potential problems and what to do about them. Wha...
The clutches of opioid addiction have wormed into every walk of life, demographic, and community. Understanding the seriousness of crimes of violating controlled substance laws to secure pain medications such as Oxycodone or Vicodin is critical in grappling with your case. A consultation with a W...
With one bar for every 7,851 people in Washington, thousands of people leave bars and drive home daily. No one expects to be stopped by police. What you say and do during a traffic stop can impact your case. This post outlines how to respond to law enforcement in a Washington DUI traffic stop.
Of the eight states that allow recreational marijuana use, Washington is the only state that forbids marijuana home-growing. State lawmakers instructed the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to study the issue and make a recommendation on marijuana home-growing by December 1. The L...
The Washington State Supreme Court recently ruled that an accidental recording of a domestic violence incident is admissible in court. According to the Courts decision, during domestic violence incident, John Garret Smith used his land line to call his cell phone. The cell phones voicemail pic...
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently released its 2016 hate crime statistics. The report includes reported crimes that were motivated by biases based on race, gender, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. The FBIs statistics show that Washingt...
The Washington State Supreme Court recently announced a new rule that will make evidence of immigration status generally inadmissible in criminal and civil proceedings. Proponents of the rule say that it increases the likelihood that people will receive a fair trial, regardless of immigration ...
Most incarcerated King County minors are currently held in the Youth Services Center, a facility for offenders under the age of 18. However, some teens who have been charged as adults are currently held in adult facilities, such as the Maleng Regional Justice Center (RJC). King County Executive ...
A fortuneteller was arrested by the Mount Vernon police this week for allegedly tricking an Island County woman into handing over more than $50,000. As reported in the Seattle Times, the fortuneteller allegedly told the woman that the money was cursed and required a spiritual cleansing. The fo...
Police officers pull people over for a variety of reasons from traffic violations to outstanding warrants. Unfortunately, sometimes a driver chooses not to stop when signaled to do so by law enforcement. Drivers may choose to take off for any number of reasons, but whatever the rationale, a pursu...
Being arrested and taken to jail can be a stressful and frightening experience. Many people choose to make bail and await trial out of custody, if the judge permits bail in their case. However, in order to make bail, a bail must be set. And in order for this to happen, a person must first go befo...
Since its invention, the cellular telephone has become increasingly popular. According to a 2013 Pew Research Center survey, over 90% of adults own a cell phone in the United States. Nowadays people dont use their phones just to make calls. Phones are used for texting, listening to music, checki...
When a criminal case ends in a conviction, a defendant may choose to appeal his or her case for a variety of different reasons. However, it is important to note that appeals can take time. It may be years for an appellate court to hear and decide a case. There are a wide range of things that can ...
