Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
Crimes by Code
Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
California DUI
DUI arrests don't always lead to convictions in court. Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. Visit our California DUI page to learn more.
Post Conviction
A criminal record can affect job, immigration, licensing and even housing opportunities. In this section, we offer solutions for clearing up your prior record.
Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
And we do not handle any cases outside of California.
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If you aim your laser pointer at a plane, helicopter, or other aircraft, be prepared to spend some time in federal prison.
Cheap pen-sized laser pointers are misused hundreds of times every year by individuals who point them at aircraft. These powerful devices can shine a blinding light into cockpits presenting a serious danger to pilots and passengers.
According to the FBI:
“Since the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began tracking laser strikes in 2005, there has been a more than 1,000 percent increase in the number of incidents with these devices, which can be purchased in stores or online for as little as a few dollars. Last year, 3,960 laser strikes against aircraft were reported—an average of almost 11 incidents per day. And it’s estimated that thousands of attacks go unreported every year.”
As a response to the alarming increase in such incidents, the federal government passed a law – the “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012” – which specifically made it a federal felony to knowingly point the beam of a laser at an aircraft.
Specifically, 18 U.S.C. § 39A states that:
Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
An “aircraft” is defined as “a civil, military, or public contrivance invented, used, or designated to navigate, fly, or travel in the air,” so it does not matter whether the laser is pointed at a police helicopter, private plane, commercial airliner, or military aircraft; pointing at any of them is a federal crime.
If you have been charged with a crime for pointing a laser at an aircraft, or are facing any other federal criminal charges, you need to contact an experienced federal criminal defense attorney at your earliest opportunity. Please call us today to discuss your case.
A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, Court TV, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.
People with past Nevada convictions may be able to get their DNA records expunged. The first step is filling out and submitting a DNA Expungement Application to the Nevada Department of Public Safety. 1. What is a DNA expungement in Nevada? Anyone arrested for a felony in Nevada is required to submit to a cheek ...
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