714-997-4400How to Avoid Jail Time for Driving on a Suspended License
If your driver’s license has been suspended due to reckless driving or a DUI, and you decide to drive anyway, you should be aware of the consequences you might face. California Vehicle Code 14601 makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly drive with a suspended or revoked license, punishable by up to six months of jail […]
What Is PC 148?
California Penal Code 148 makes it illegal to resist an arrest performed by a law enforcement official or first responder in the line of duty. The punishments for violating PC 148 are a fine up to $1,000, one year of imprisonment in a county jail or both. Learn why resisting arrest is against the law, […]
Average Sentence for Drug Possession in California
According to California Health and Safety Code 11350(a), you can face legal consequences if the authorities catch you in possession of any usable amount of illicit drugs like cocaine or meth, or medications obtained without a valid prescription. What does a drug possession charge entail, and what should you know if you are facing these […]
Public Intoxication in California
Under California law, being publicly intoxicated is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. As part of the state’s disorderly conduct law, California Penal Code 647(f) broadly defines public intoxication as a state of being under the influence of drugs, alcohol or a combination of […]
Is Perjury a Misdemeanor in California?
Many fans of dramas depicting courtroom proceedings are familiar with the question, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” If you have sworn any version of a legally binding oath, then intentionally lied, you could be found guilty of perjury. What Is Perjury? Perjury, or providing false […]
How to Beat Possession of Stolen Property Charges
While many laws make it illegal to take someone else’s possessions without their express permission, California Penal Code Section 496(a) also makes it a crime to buy, receive, sell, hide or withhold property that you know is stolen. Under California law, possession of stolen property is a “wobbler” offense, which means it can either be […]
Hate Crime Statistics in California
In a year characterized by social and political unrest and widespread public protests demanding racial justice, 2020 also saw a 31% surge in hate crimes in California, according to a report from the state attorney general’s office. California residents organized some of the country’s largest Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the May […]
Probation vs. Parole
Probation and parole are two similar terms you might mistakenly use interchangeably, but they are not identical. The primary distinction is procedural. While probation allows someone to remain in their community after committing a crime, parole is a temporary or permanent release from jail after the inmate has already served part of their sentence. Probation […]
Joyriding in Southern California
Penal Code 487(d)(1) is the California statute defining vehicle theft, also known as grand theft auto. According to this section, it is a crime to take someone else’s vehicle, worth $950 or more, without the owner’s permission and with the intent to deprive them of their car. Prosecutors can charge this offense as a misdemeanor […]