Fresno Criminal Lawyer Blog

California has new criminal laws which took effect starting from January 2019. Whether these laws are designed to bring fairness to offenders or sanity in the state, it is essential to have a look at them.

As of January 1st, 2019, a new law, Senate Bill 1046, signed by Governor Jerry Brown, took effect throughout the state of California. The pilot program, implemented only in the counties of Los Angeles, Sacramento, Tulare, and Alameda is now in position state-wide. Every person convicted of a DUI must have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in the steering column of their car that prevents it from starting if the driver fails the breathalyzer test attached. What does this mean?

The smartest way to deal with a DUI arrest is to engage a reputable law firm. Much like hiring a reputable accountant to handle your taxes, a knowledgeable DUI Defense Attorney is going to look for the loopholes and exceptions that could lead to a dismissal or reductions in charges, sentence, probation, fees, jail, community service, etc. Representing yourself can be difficult, and it could lead to an unjustified sentence.

The start of 2019 ushered in several new gun laws here in California. One of the bills signed into law, Assembly Bill 3129, prohibits anyone convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence offense from owning a firearm for the rest of their life. The new law covers any domestic violence convictions that occur on or after January 1st, 2019. An existing state law already prohibited anyone with a felony conviction from owning firearms. Violating the new firearms law can result in jail or prison time and a fine.

Being charged with a crime is a serious matter because the outcome can possibly alter your life permanently. That is all the more reason you need an experienced attorney when you are guilty of the charges. There are things you can do to help yourself, and will give your attorney something to work with in court when your case is decided.

One of the little known facts of the driving world is that you can lose your license if you're a bad driver. Shocking right!? Not really, it’s fairly common sense that if you’re a menace on the road, the DMV might punch your ticket. In California this process is known as a negligent operator suspension, or as DMV practitioner’s and DMV hearing officers commonly refer to it, a “Neg Op” suspension. A Neg Op suspension can occur due to excessive points on your record.

Drug crimes come in all types. While most people think about possession and selling drugs, the truth is that there are many different categories, each with their own form of punishment. Here are some different types of drug crimes that you may be arrested for.

Getting caught Drunk Driving is one of the most common crimes committed in our society. As mistakes go, it can come with some steep consequences. Once you see the flashing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror, your mind might start racing as time seems to slow down. You might be thinking, "Why did they pull me over?" and "What am I going to say?" You might also wonder, "How many drinks did I have?" and "Am I going to jail?"

In the State of California, we have a three strikes law. Every time that you are convicted of a serious or violent felony, it is considered a strike. This includes crimes like burglary, arson, mayhem, murder, and much more. Here are some things that you should know about the three strike law.

If you got into a fight with your spouse and the cops were called, you might get arrested for domestic violence. The police may take you away from the home in order to protect your spouse and family. When most people think about domestic violence, they think about battered women getting beat by the men in their life. However, there are many different kinds of domestic violence.