California Penal Code § 470a PC makes it a crime to alter, falsify, forge or duplicate a driver’s license or a government-issued identification card. Doing so is a felony punishable by up to three years in jail or prison. The language of the code section reads: 470a. Every person who alters, falsifies, forges, duplicates or …
Penal Code § 472 PC makes it a crime to forge, counterfeit, or possess a fraudulent public seal or emblem (to create a fake document that appears official or endorsed by a government agency). Prosecutors may charge this offense as either a misdemeanor or a felony. As a felony, the crime carries a maximum sentence …
Under the Fourth Amendment, police officers must have a certain level of justification before they can lawfully make a traffic stop or arrest you. In the context of drunk driving, the law requires that officers demonstrate reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop and probable cause for an arrest. These standards apply in all types of DUI …
What is "Title 17" in California DUI Law?Watch this video on YouTube Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations sets forth a number of rules about how the government must conduct: DUI blood tests, DUI breath tests, and DUI urine tests.1 These chemical tests are usually used by the prosecutor to support charges of Vehicle Code …
Wire fraud in California – which is using telecommunications or the internet to commit fraud – is prosecuted as a federal crime rather than a state one.1 Penalties include up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.2 If the victim was a bank, the punishment is up to 30 years in prison and …
DUI arrest in Rancho Cucamonga? Advice from a former copWatch this video on YouTube Our Rancho Cucamonga & Ontario DUI lawyers fight tirelessly to keep you out of jail, reinstate your driver’s license, and get your drunk driving charges reduced to reckless driving or dismissed. Nearly always we win favorable resolutions without the time and expense …
Our Burbank DUI lawyers have a long track record of getting drunk driving charges reduced to reckless driving or dismissed while saving our client’s driver’s licenses. And we can usually achieve this without a trial and without our clients even having to show up to court. Keep reading for more information about California DUI laws …
When can I reduce a "wobbler" felony to a misdemeanor?Watch this video on YouTube A “wobbler” is a crime that can be punished as either a felony or a misdemeanor in California.1 In most cases, it is the prosecutor who decides whether to charge a wobbler as a felony or a misdemeanor. But judges can also decide to punish …
The Los Angeles International “LAX” Airport Courthouse presides over the majority of driving under the influence cases that originate in L.A.’s “Westside.” This includes such areas as Santa Monica, Venice, El Segundo, Century City and Culver City.The Airport Courthouse is located, not surprisingly, right near LAX at 11701 South La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA …
AB 109 – “Realignment” of Prisons & Jails in CaliforniaWatch this video on YouTube Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109), known as realignment, is a measure passed by California voters in 2011 that diverts defendants convicted of less serious felonies to serve their time in local county jail rather than in state prison. However, realignment does not …
In California, jury misconduct is defined as any conduct that conflicts with the judge’s instructions as to how jurors should perform their duties. This type of conduct, therefore includes (but is not limited to): speaking to people about the case who are not on the same jury, speaking to a fellow juror about the case …
Nuestros abogados de defensa de DUI del sur de California (incluso previos fiscales de DUI) defienden a clientes acusados por conducir borrachos y ofensas relacionadas con DUI en todas partes de los Condados de Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside y Orange. Tomamos muchos casos de DUI en el Valle de San Fernando, Pasadena, Rancho Cucamonga, …
California Vehicle Code § 13004 VC prohibits the unlawful use of an identification card (such as having a fake ID or lending out your ID for someone else to use). The offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and fines of up to $1000.00. The full text of the code section …
Under both California and federal law, gang members convicted of serious felonies often receive harsher sentences than non-gang members who commit the same crimes. Laws punishing gang membership fall into two general categories: Felony sentencing enhancements; and Laws making it a crime to commit serious offenses on behalf of a gang, or in order to …
Supervising or Aiding a Prostitute – Penal Code 653.23Watch this video on YouTube California Penal Code § 653.23 PC makes it a crime to direct, supervise, recruit or aid a prostitute. Doing so is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail. We will quote the full language of the code section …
A straw buyer is someone who buys something on behalf of another person. This act is considered an illegal scam if the deal is made to commit fraud, or if a person buys something for another person who cannot legally make the purchase on his/her own. Consider, for example, a person with good credit that …
An increasing number of California residents live in houses or condominiums that are governed by a homeowner association (an “HOA“) or a condominium association (a “COA”). One organization estimates that over nine million Californians live in these so-called “common interest developments.”1 There are also an overwhelming number of HOAs and COAs in existence in California …
The Metropolitan Courthouse – often referred to as “Metro” – is where the majority of Los Angeles misdemeanor driving under the influence cases are prosecuted. Absent unusual circumstances, felony DUI cases are not prosecuted in this Court. The Metropolitan Courthouse is located downtown at 1945 South Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90007 Parking lots are …
The idea of predatory lending has garnered a lot of national attention in recent years. Most people think of it as involving large institutions such as banks and subprime lenders who exploit the vulnerabilities of struggling home buyers and homeowners in distressed neighborhoods. But in California, federal state and local prosecutors have targeted small lenders, …
There’s a lot of confusion these days about the legality of property “flipping.” Property flipping is, generally speaking, a perfectly permissible practice. The classic scenario is when a buyer purchases a property below market value, usually because the home needs quite a bit of work or because it was sold pursuant to a short sale …
The first Los Angeles County drug court opened downtown as a pilot project in 1994. Judge Stephen Marcus — a “true believer” in the concept — presided over the court. Today, Los Angeles County drug courts have an astounding success rate. Only about 10% of those who graduate from the program go on to commit …
In this article, our California marijuana defense attorneys1 discuss issues relating to Opening a Medical Marijuana Dispensary. Many of these issues also apply to selling recreational marijuana. Additional information on the licensing process can be found in our article on How to Open a Retail (Recreational) Marijuana Business in California. 1. A Brief Overview of California’s …
California’s rent skimming law–is one of the most common types of California real estate fraud Charged with rent skimming? Let our California real estate fraud lawyers help! Regardless of whether or not you are professionally affiliated with the real estate industry, we know the most effective legal techniques to help you clear your charges. In …
Playlist: What is a misdemeanor?Watch this playlist on YouTube Unfortunately, there are times when our California criminal justice system simply doesn’t achieve justice. Judges make mistakes. Juries get it wrong. Attorneys act unethically or don’t exercise competence. Fortunately, when these types of injustices occur, California law allows you to appeal. And that’s where we come …
Ha Sido Usted Investigado o Detenido por un Delito Sexual? Comience a Construir Su Defensa Inmediatamente! Pongase en contacto con nosotros para un anelisis de su caso en una de nuestras oficinas locales en los Condados de Los Angeles o de San Bernardino. Haz click Aqui. A menudo la gente se encuentra acusada de delitos …