There are some weapons that California lawmakers don’t want you to have and some that you’re legally allowed to have and use for self-defense purposes. Firearms First, you can legally own a gun in California for self-defense purposes provided you’ve gone through the proper training and licensing process. Not only do you have to go […]
Author Archives: spiralmode
Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States have discovered the importance of social media marketing. It’s a great way to stay in touch with the communities they trust, to gain some extra funding, and even get some important leads on open cases. Posting mug shots on social media sites is one of the things some […]
When most of us think about theft and money, we think about pickpockets, muggers, credit card scams and bank robbers. Few of us think about employers, mostly because that’s who is supposed to be giving us the money we live on. Yet, studies indicate that wage theft is a massive problem, one that is likely […]
Finally! It’s graduation season. For many students and parents, this is a day they’ve been waiting for their entire lives. They’re finally putting high school behind themselves once and for all and allowing themselves to focus on the future. If you’re a graduating senior or someone who just likes to hang out with a group […]
If you’re confused about the difference between probation and parole, you’re not alone. Most people don’t really know what the difference is between the two until they get into trouble with the law. While you’re on probation, you’re still technically in police custody, but you have a great deal more freedom than you’d enjoy if […]
In the past two decades, the word terrorism has become a working part of our daily vocabulary. The number of days when a leading news source doesn’t mention at least some form of terrorism at least once is few and far between. There’s a reason terrorism is such a major news story, that’s because it’s […]
We take parking lots for granted. We treat them like a casual place to leave our car while we run into a nearby building. We’re usually so focused on either getting to the store/office/school/government building or getting into our vehicle to go home, that we seldom stop and think about how dangerous parking lots really […]
When it comes to our vehicles most of us are aware of our license plate number but few of us give the vehicle identification number a second thought. Unlike a license plate number, a vehicle identification number (VIN) is a number that stays with the vehicle forever. The VIN is always 17 digits long and […]
The police believe that you are involved in a crime and want to bring you to the police station for an interrogation. This is a terrifying experience and many people don’t know how they should handle it. What you shouldn’t do is try to resist the situation. Refusing to go will simply make your situation […]
Social media is extremely important to many of us. We use it to develop careers, stay in touch with friends and family, learn new hobbies and make life altering connections. As much as we love social media, there are times when we find ourselves wondering if the channels we’re using could be potentially dangerous to […]
Did you know that the first time the topic of convicted felons profiting from their crimes was seriously explored was when the serial killer, David Berkowitz, who is better known as the Son of Sam, wrote a book while he was in prison? Berkowitz titled his manuscript “Son of Hope.” Allegedly, it was part prison […]
Vehicular manslaughter in California can be a little confusing. The first thing to note is that vehicular manslaughter is an accident. The driver responsible for the incident didn’t plan on getting into an accident and they certainly didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Vehicular manslaughter is not a malicious act. Vehicular manslaughter charges are usually […]
California’s famous three strikess law was created in 1994 and received voter approval. The murder case of Polly Klaas and Kimber Reynolds was the catalyst for implementing the three strikes law. Kimber Reynold’s life was brutally ended in 1992 during an attempted mugging. One of the muggers pulled a gun, placed it against Kimber’s ear […]
One of the best things about social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter is the ability to quickly post all of your photos so that your friends and family can admire them. Those same pictures can also make you an easy and attractive target to anyone who is looking for a home to […]
Auto theft is a massive and expensive problem. The Insurance Information Institute reports that in 2019, 219.9 cars per 100,000 people were stolen. The average value of the stolen vehicle was $8,886. The good news is that while you might not be able to totally prevent yourself from being a victim of auto theft, there […]
Police commandeering someone’s vehicle is something that happens all the time in action movies and police procedurals, but what about in the real world. Are police really allowed to commandeer your car the way they do in movies? The simple answer is yes. The police are allowed to commandeer your vehicle, but it’s not as […]
If you’re a fan of courtroom dramas, you have seen many examples of people getting nailed for contempt of court for doing things like misbehaving in court. While having a fit in the courtroom could get you charged with criminal contempt of court, it’s not the only way that could happen. The truth is that […]
These days, both large and small businesses rely heavily on intellectual property. Cornell Law School defines intellectual property as, “any product of the human intellect that the law protects from unauthorized use by others.” Investopedia elaborates on that definition and describes intellectual property as “a broad categorical description for the set of intangible assets owned […]
Needing bail isn’t something most people plan for. As a result, few of us have enough money in your savings account to spring ourselves from jail, and even if you are one of the lucky ones that does, will it leave you with enough to stay on top of your bills? Contra Costa Statewide Bail […]
Prescription drug fraud doesn’t get nearly as much publicity as it did several years ago when the country was in the middle of the opioid crisis. Just because there aren’t as many news stories covering prescription drug fraud doesn’t mean that the fraud has completely disappeared. The truth is that California is still full of […]