The passage of North Carolina's constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman has sparked protests across the state, sometimes resulting in criminal charges. In Winston-Salem earlier this month, a lesbian who applied for a marriage license was arrested along with a friend for refusing to leave a government office.
Stash of 150 pounds of marijuana ruled inadmissible
The importance of police procedure during a drug arrest is not to be overlooked. Just because a person is suspected of drug possession or drug trafficking does not mean he or she is does not have any rights anymore. In the process of pursuing drug charges in North Carolina, ensuring that a person's rights are not violated is very important.
ACLU pushes for search warrants before cellphone tracking
Law enforcers are aiming to take advantage of advanced technology without search warrants to find suspected criminals. But advocates for individual privacy and criminal defense lawyers are worried that police investigators will pry into personal, individual information without a valid reason. Unwarranted searches violate a citizen's Fourth Amendment privacy rights.
Students face school and criminal penalties for online behavior
Before the popularity of social media, school rules were clear and straightforward. You cannot be late for class. You cannot cheat. You cannot be disruptive. Rules were made, and undoubtedly rules were eventually broken by at least one student. Now that students are engaged in sites like Twitter and Facebook, though, schools are finding it difficult to distinguish between what is a violation of school rules and what justifies student criminal charges in North Carolina.
Will regulating drugged driving make North Carolina any safer?
Across the country, states are debating the issue of whether or not there is a safe amount of marijuana-related impairment for drivers and whether it should be regulated. On one hand, setting a limit similar to blood-alcohol levels may make sense to some people. On the other hand, setting a limit may have no effect on the behavior since most drivers who are suspected of drugged driving will face criminal charges, such as drug possession, anyway.
Thinking of ignoring your traffic tickets? You should think again
At the very least, getting pulled over and ticketed for speeding or texting while driving can be quite irritating. At the most, however, it can also increase insurance premiums and may affect a person's driving privileges. In situations when a person who is ticketed is not planning on staying in a North Carolina jurisdiction for long, he or she may wrongly believe that they can ignore the traffic ticket or citation and nothing will happen.
Should some children be labeled as psychopaths?
As any parent knows, all children misbehave at some point. Tantrums, lying, and hitting are tactics just about every child uses to get what they want. But a select few exhibit unsettling behavior at an early age that some psychologists fear could lead to violent crime.
Why first-time drug offenders may face harsher penalties
A person charged of trafficking drugs in North Carolina may face significant penalties for having even the smallest role in transporting marijuana or other drugs. It is not unusual for law enforcement officials to try and work out a deal with the person facing drug charges that would reduce a sentence in exchange for information on other participants in the trafficking. Without these supposed connections, though, what can a person expect at a trial?
Woman fired for shoplifting 40 years ago
Young people often make mistakes. Many times, they may not truly understand the consequences of being convicted of even a relatively minor crime in North Carolina. Whether it involves traffic tickets, underage drinking or shoplifting, having a criminal record can affect a person's life for years. As one woman recently found out, a mistake she made in her teens came back to haunt her 40 years later.
Traffic Accidents: Leading Cause of Death among North Carolina Teens
Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among teens between the ages of 15 and 20 in North Carolina. National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration statistics show this is also true for teens in the U.S. as a whole. NHTSA studies show teens are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident.
Soldier accused of stealing from North Carolina gun store
A Fort Bragg-based soldier was arrested earlier this week and accused of breaking into a gun shop in Spring Lake, North Carolina, just outside of Fayetteville. Although the motive for the overnight theft hasn't been made clear, the Iraq War veteran isn't the first to run into legal trouble after returning home.
Wiz Khalifa faces additional drug possession charges
After one arrest for drug possession, a person can certainly make matters worse by being charged with similar missteps shortly afterwards. Repeat violations may increase penalties and could turn one small error in judgment into some serious consequences. Recently, well-known rapper Wiz Khalifa was performing in North Carolina when he was cited for possession of marijuana for the second time in only one month.
Dozens of tickets dismissed after arresting officer misses court
It may not seem as though it is possible or worth the time to challenge traffic tickets. However, the consequences of repeated violations or serious charges may end up being quite significant. Whether a person is cited for speeding, reckless driving or driving without insurance, these violations can affect driving privileges and, in some cases, a person's career. Sometimes, challenging a ticket can be as easy as showing up for court.
Questions raised but no charges filed in North Carolina shooting
We hear occasionally about accidental shootings that take the life of innocent people. Sometimes the owner of the firearm is charged with a violent crime; other times, the incident is labeled accidental and nothing more comes of it. But that doesn't mean life goes back to normal for either the shooter or the victim's family.
Serious penalties for UNC student charged with drug trafficking
Marijuana is "decriminalized" to a certain extent in North Carolina, but do not let this fool you. Police put hundreds of hours and dollars into efforts to stop and punish those who possess or distribute marijuana illegally. This means that they want to see results from their efforts. When people are arrested for trafficking marijuana and other drug charges, there is a chance their freedom is in jeopardy.
