Lawrence Wolf - Part 6

Police Not Catching All Drunk Drivers

According to a recent Time.com article, police aren’t catching a large percentage of drunk drivers each day. Statistics show that there are 300,000 occurrences of drunk driving on a daily basis; however, a mere 4,000 of these end with rides in a police car.

Other notable statistics include the fact that drunk drivers kill 10,000 U.S. citizens annually. That number accounts for a third of all car accident deaths.

Some argue — including James Fell who worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for three decades, according to Time’s article — that there are proven methods of reducing drunken driving. Implementing more traffic stops in neighborhoods has shown to be effective in reducing drunken driving.

Another effective way to help reduce deaths from drunken driving, as proven by research, includes sobriety check points — unannounced traffic stops where drivers are randomly selected to complete sobriety tests.

Yet recent studies have shown that only 3 percent of U.S. citizens drive in areas where law enforcement conducts weekly check points. Why are they not being done with more frequency? Some have cited costs and manpower needs. Some law enforcement agencies believe their staff is more useful patrolling neighborhoods than manning a DUI check point.

Drivers in Los Angeles can also turn away from a check point without the risk of being followed by police.

However, California DUI laws are becoming stricter, even for first-time offenders. If you are pulled over for drunken driving, it is important to know your rights. You must be read your Miranda rights. Do not refuse the chemical testing, which can cause your license to be suspended for a minimum of one year in California.

Criminal defense lawyer Lawrence Wolf has been providing legal advice those accused of drunken driving for four decades. If you need legal help, please visit our website or all [number type=”1″].

The Decriminalization of Drugs and Other Innovative Approaches Could Solve America’s Drug Problem

pills-and-syringe-300x199 America’s war on drugs, started by President Nixon, has been an abject failure in almost every way. After millions of shattered lives and billions spent on incarcerations, drug use has only increased in the decades that followed. In fact, the sole “success” of the war on drugs is that the United States became the world’s leading incarcerator.To combat the persistent issues caused by the war on drugs, America simply needs to look at its global neighbors and allies for innovative approaches that can solve our drug crisis.

Following Portugal’s Lead, America Could Decriminalize Drugs

Ask any drug crime lawyer whether drug users in prison deserve their lengthy sentences, and they will respond with an emphatic, “No!” Decriminalizing drug use would eliminate incarcerations for drug use, replacing this antiquated practice with a health-centered approach that revitalizes communities.

Portugal provides an incredible example of the benefits afforded to societies when they decriminalize drugs.

To Combat the Dangers of Heroin, the U.S. Can Implement Heroin-Assisted Treatment Programs

Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) programs are used to great effect in Canada and other European nations. HAT programs and centers provide clinically administered doses of heroin that have been proven time and again to reduce illicit drug use, crime, disease and overdose deaths.

These programs also focus on social reintegration and comprehensive wellness, which has resulted in convincing successes.

Supervised Injection Facilities Can Reduce HIV Infections and Overdose Deaths

Finally, supervised injection facilities (SIFs) are yet another inventive approach to reducing the dangers of drug use. By providing clean and sterile syringes, disease, overdoses and HIV risks are all greatly reduced. More importantly, statistics show that these facilities do not increase drug use or related criminal activity. Unfortunately, none of these facilities have been implemented in the United States.

The time has come for America to implement some of these remarkable approaches that will reduce incarceration, crime, drug use and diseases without relying on a broken criminal justice system that compounds the drug problem instead of fixing it.

If you have been arrested on drug charges in the Los Angeles area and need the assistance of an expert drug lawyer, seek out a proven drug lawyer at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf. Call now at [number type=”1″], or go to our website: www.youareinnocent.com for a free consultation.Windows 10 activator

Overview: The Transnational Drug Trafficking Act

Let’s explore the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act (S. 706), which was passed by the Senate on Dec. 15, 2014, but has yet to be approved by Congress. Its goal is to reduce the supply of drugs coming across U.S. borders from foreign countries.

Co-authored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the act aims to curb and to reduce the supply of drugs in the U.S. The two senators are co-chairs on the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.

Specifically, the law will allow the Department of Justice authority for prosecuting foreign drug traffickers.

That means penalties can be applied to foreign chemical producers who illegally and knowingly ship precursor drugs into the country. They know these drugs will be used in the creation of illegal drugs. Precursors can be cold medicine, which is used in the creation of the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

It also will aid the Justice Department in forming extradition cases. They are targeting Andean-area drug kingpins, which includes Peru and Columbia. Drug trafficking groups from Mexico are utilized by these kingpins to help funnel illegal narcotics into the U.S.

The law is meant to address an issue that is constantly in flux, since drug cartels evolve as the situation changes. The act wants to close a loophole that allows drug traffickers to use intermediaries to get their product into the country.

The bill underscores and supports president Obama’s “Strategy to Combat Transnational organized Crime.”

Critics of the bill say the problem is already too large, and that this new act is too little too late when it comes to the manufacturing and transportation of drugs.

The bill comes in the wake of many states attempting to find ways to decriminalize marijuana. According to a 2014 pew Research Center poll, most U.S. citizens want to steer away from mandatory minimums for drug offenses, while 54 percent of Americans say marijuana should be legalized.

Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Lawrence Wolf has been defending and prosecuting drug crime cases for 40 years. If you need legal advice, please call the You Are Innocent offices at [number type=”1″].

Tips for Out of State Drivers Receiving a California DUI

Many tourists visit California each year from other states. Some percentage of these tourists inevitably end up receiving a DUI while visiting California. Many think that because they aren’t residents of California, nothing will happen to them as an out of state driver receiving a California DUI.

The procedures surrounding a California DUI are the same for both residents and non-residents of California, except that the California DMV does not have the right to take driver’s licenses issued by another state. Following a DUI arrest, the DMV will hold a hearing, just as it is done for a resident. The non-resident is not required to attend the hearing but can have a California attorney attend in his or her place.

Following the hearing, the DMV may suspend the individual’s driving privileges in California. California will then notify the individual’s state of residence of the California DUI, and that state may take action against the individual’s license. Non-residents of California may be required to fulfill all the requirements to get their California driving privileges restored, even if they never intend to drive in California again. This is because the non-resident may be required to meet those requirements under the law of his or her state to get driving privileges restored. In addition, a DUI in many states will count as a prior offense for the purposes of determining punishment for a California DUI.

Out of state drivers are also required to participate in any criminal proceedings, or to hire a California drunk driving attorney to attend on their behalf.

Are you an out of state driver who was charged with a California DUI? Hire an experiencedCalifornia driving under the influence attorney to help with your case. A DUI in California can result in both criminal punishments in California as well as a possible loss of driving privileges in your home state. Call the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at [number type=”1″] for a free consultation.

Criminal Charges Filed Against Bill Cosby

Comedian and actor Bill Cosby has been facing sexual assault accusations for weeks by more than 20 women. Now one of his accusers is filing criminal charges, according to TMZ and other reports.

On Wednesday, Model Chloe Goins filed criminal charges with the Los Angeles Police Department against Cosby. She claims the comedian drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2008 at the Playboy Mansion. Goins says she woke up naked in a bedroom. At the time, she claims Cosby was masturbating and sucking her toes. She claims something was placed in her drink.

She was 18 years old at the time, she claims.

The incident occurred over six years ago. In the state of California the statute of limitations for sexual assault (excluding rape) is six years. It is unclear if Goins is going to allege rape.

Since the filing, TMZ reported that Cosby and his team have contacted the Playboy mansion asking for any surveillance footage and names of employees and guests on the night of the incident. TMZ claims Cosby’s team also asked if any other Playboy models would be coming forward with similar accusations.

At the LAPD, Goins and her lawyer Spencer Kuvin spoke to media, saying that the filing was for the sake of accountability and for justice.

The comedian has denied any involvement in any of the accusations through his lawyer. The LAPD will begin an investigation on the sexual crime allegation.

Lawrence Wolf provides skilled sex crime representation for 40 years in Los Angeles. He has prosecuted and defended both children and adults when it comes to misdemeanor and felony crimes. Either of these charges are very serious and carry life-altering consequences and sentences. If you or a family member or friend has been arrest for a sex crime in the Los Angeles area, please call our experienced sexual crime defense lawyers today at [number type=”1″]. You can submit your case online via our website.

California: Are Ignition Locks for Convicted DUI Drivers the Future?

There continues to be national outrage at repeat drunken drivers. According to amercurynews.com story, Sen. Jerry Hill of California will be presenting legislation that will force former DUI motorists in the state of California to put ignition locks in their vehicles. The locks will detect blood-alcohol levels via the driver’s breath.

This new law would matter to not only repeat offenders but also first-time offenders. The new law would build off a pilot program in place in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Tulare and Alameda. Beginning in 2010, California’s pilot program demands that the locks be installed for five months for first offenders. Repeat offenders could have them installed for up to four years.

In an effort to take a serious stance on this issue, 24 U.S. states have implemented comparable legislation regarding drunken driving.

More than 1,000 individuals in the state of California are killed annually. Even more people than that are injured due to drunken driving.

The new measure was unveiled in Redwood City during a press conference in late December last year. Members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and law enforcement representatives from Santa Clara and San Mateo were present. MADD has been a proponent of ignition interlock devices since the mid-2000s. The locks are seen as a better solution than merely suspended licenses. The point is that the driver is sober every time she or he gets behind the wheel. The driver must submit a breath sample prior to driving and also while driving.

States that have implemented the locks like Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Louisiana have seen 35- to 43-percent drops in DUI-related deaths.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study in 2011 that confirmed the effectiveness of ignition interlock devices. It found that these devices are 67 percent more effective than license suspensions when it comes to individuals getting DUIs.

AAA, the CDC and the National Transportation Safety Board support the implementation of these locks.

If you are in need of an experienced DUI criminal defense attorney, please call the You Are Innocent Offices in Los Angeles to assist you today. With 40 years of experience, Lawrence Wolf and associates will help you through this difficult time. Call [number type=”1″].

Reviewing California’s 2014 ‘Yes Means Yes’ Law

Last September, California signed the “yes means yes” bill — new legislation to help campus officials better assess rape allegations and sexual assault at colleges and universities (who accept state financial aid).

The bill changes the meaning of sexual consent. Each party must make “an affirmative, unambiguous and conscious decision” to participate in sexual activity together. Instead of “no means no,” the new bill creates a new, empowered situation for college students. The absence of resistance or silence can no longer be considered consent.

In a majority of states, sexual assault is defined by any kind unsolicited physical touching with a sexual organ. Most sexual assault or abuse crimes are considered felonies in the state of California.

‘Yes Means Yes’ Specifics:

Colleges and universities who accept state funding for student financial aid must agree that silence, drunkenness or lack of resistance does not equal consent when they investigate sexual assault claims on campus.

Kevin de Lion (D-Los Angeles) pushed the bill forward.

Campuses must create “victim-centered” sexual assault response policies. Comprehensive programs to help prevent assault from occurring in the first place must also be created and implemented.

The bill applies to both public and private post-secondary schools that accept state money for financial aid.

The University of California and California State University supported the legislation following the adoption of consent standards earlier in the year that mirrored the bill. The new bill should help to nullify the ubiquitous and false idea that if sexual assault is not violent, then it is consensual.

Sexual crime attorney Lawrence Wolf has 40 years of experience dealing with sexual assault cases of all kinds. He understands the severity and sensitivity of your situation. Feel free to call his office at [number type=”1″], or email him your case at LW@youareinnocent.com. Learn more about Wolf at youareinnocent.com.

2014 in Review: Legislative Changes Needed in the War on Drugs

America’s War on Drugs is mired in flawed and incomplete policies as evidenced when looking back on some of the events of 2014.

Acclaimed actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s overdose death was a tragic reminder of the 105 people who die every day in the U.S. from overdosing. Over 30,000 die annually from accidental overdose. California was the most recent and largest state to help pass overdose prevention laws. Their new legislation allows citizens better access to opiate overdose reversal medication, which can be obtained via a pharmacist.

Many citizens across the country want to legalize marijuana. In 2014, voters in Oregon, Washington, D.C. and Alaska passed measures to legalize it. In 2012, Colorado and Washington lead the way with legalization measures.

In November, California passed Proposition 47, which is an attempt to end incarceration for low-level drug offenses. Voters approved a measure to change six nonviolent offenses (like drug possession) from felony to misdemeanor charges.

The Global Commission on Drug Police — comprised of former UN head Kofi Annan, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and others — called for the legal regulation of drugs and drug decriminalization.

Attorney General Eric Holder continued to make attempts throughout the year to fix the criminal justice system and end mass incarceration.

Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana in 2014.

The New York Times editorial staff said it is time to legalize marijuana. It was the first major national newspaper to call for an end to marijuana prohibition.

President Obama said in an interview with the New Yorker that marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol. He also said Colorado and Washington’s new laws were “important.” He also expressed dismay at inconsistencies in marijuana arrests relating to class lines.

For 40 years, Lawrence Wolf has worked diligently to bring some compassion to addiction-related offenses. Drug policies based on human rights are needed, especially when one considers that nearly three-quarters of a million individuals continue to be arrested for marijuana possession annually. Over half a million people remain jailed for a mere drug law violation. Additionally, the past 10 years have seen overdose fatalities double in number.

Located in Los Angeles, the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf are here to help juveniles and adults charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime. A drug crimes attorney, Lawrence Wolf is especially well-versed in addiction-related offenses.

For a free case evaluation, visit our website here. If you would like to speak to an experienced drug lawyer now, please call our toll-free line at [number type=”1″]. Contact us via email at LW@youareinnocent.com.

White Collar Crimes

White collar crime are usually crimes of theft and deception committed by salaried professional people as opposed to other crimes that use force. White collar crimes can be prosecuted at the state level or federal level, or both.

Sex Crimes

There are many types of sexual assault or sexual abuse. Sexual assault, in most states, includes any type of unwanted physical contact with any sexual organ. Most sexual abuse and/or sexual assault crimes are felonies in California.