California state law defines pepper spray and mace as forms of tear gas, meaning they are covered by the same penal code, 22810 (PC). Under this law, these aerosols are considered valid forms of self-defense, and, as such, they can be carried in public for personal safety. But that doesn’t mean anyone can use these […]
Is Hiding a Body a Crime in Vista, California?
Everyone knows it’s illegal to hide the body of a murder victim, whether the person hiding the corpse is the murderer or someone aiding and abetting the murderer. But it’s also illegal to conceal a body even if the victim died due to an accident. In Vista, these charges are filed under California Penal Code 152 (PC). Contact […]
Vista, California Rioting Laws: Penal Code 404 (PC)
Vista and the rest of San Diego County are pretty laid-back, which means riots are, fortunately, a rarity here. But on occasion, they do happen. If a riot breaks out around you, avoiding the fray is not just a good idea from a safety standpoint but also from a legal perspective because participating in a […]
What is the Penalty for Hiring a Hitman? California Murder Solicitation Law
A recent article in the New York Times uncovered a strange side of the dark web, where murder-for-hire sites are plentiful, but assassins are non-existent. While the hitmen may be fake, real people do visit these sites looking to hire someone to kill another person. Though it is legal to access these types of sites, […]
Can You Lose Your License for Life in California?
Many crimes can result in a temporary license suspension, including drunk driving, certain juvenile crimes, violating the implied consent law, reckless driving, joyriding, and more. Most people don’t know that some offenses can also result in a lifetime license revocation of your Class A, B, or C licenses, meaning you lose this type of driver’s license forever in California. If you […]
The Crimes Committed in Home Alone: Harry and Marv are Destined for Prison
Home Alone is considered a Christmas classic these days, and it’s no wonder when the plot revolves around a scared little boy fighting off two seriously bad dudes while trying to make the most of the holiday season. As a tribute to this holiday staple, lawyer Peter M. Liss is taking the opportunity to explore […]
Can Someone Charged With Domestic Violence Become a Cop?
We’ve previously discussed how a domestic violence charge can prevent someone from joining the armed forces and likely end any military career. When many people find this out, they assume the same would be true for police officers, but in practice, the effects of a domestic violence conviction are somewhat different for those in law […]
The Very Unrighteous Crimes of the Righteous Gemstones
Danny McBride is known for making over-the-top characters that are incredibly flawed and yet still somehow sympathetic. He’s also well versed at showing how easy it is for one crime to escalate into more and more major criminal acts, particularly in his new show, The Righteous Gemstones. Here are some of the many, many crimes […]
What’s the Point of Multiple Life Sentences?
People can only live once. So what’s the point of judges sentencing people to multiple life sentences? There are actually valid reasons for this strange-sounding criminal penalty, including the real meaning of “life” imprisonment and how the judicial system works. Here’s why courts in California give multiple life sentences and why it makes sense from […]
Can You be Charged with Murder if There is No Body?
Many people have heard that habeas corpus translates to “bring forth the body” or something similar. As a result, they may mistakenly believe that the US Constitution requires a dead body to be discovered for the government to prosecute a murder charge. But habeas corpus, while an important legal doctrine, has nothing to do with dead […]
