Texas residents who get stopped by police might initially feel confused or scared. It’s important to know when police officers cannot search your vehicle if you are ever pulled over. No probable cause Police officers are required to have probable cause to search a...
What to know about talking to the police
There is a chance that Texas police may one day want to talk to you as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. This may be true even if authorities have no reason to believe that you actually committed a crime. In some cases, it may be in your best interest to...
When can the police use a dog during a traffic stop?
If you are stopped by the police, one thing you should be aware of is that there may be a police dog on site, too. In some cases, the police will bring out the dog to sniff around a vehicle during a routine traffic stop. Some people may feel that this is invasive, but...
Do drug courts help offenders more than jail time?
When someone is convicted of a drug offense, the result can be fines, community service, probation and even jail time. Over time, professionals noticed that many offenders were serving their jail time, leaving and returning very quickly. Rather than continue a path...
Situations where police are permitted to search vehicles
The courts in Texas and around the country take the public's right to privacy seriously, and evidence gathered during searches that are deemed to have violated the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in court. Police officers are usually required to obtain a warrant or...
What have you agreed to once police stop your car?
For years, law enforcement seems to have gotten a great amount of leeway when it comes to pulling over motorists on roads and highways. Now, it is your turn to be targeted when the flashing lights signal for you to pull over to the side of the road and away from...
Over 500 pounds of liquid meth seized during traffic stop
A 41-year-old and a 38-year-old man were indicted in Texas for allegedly possessing over 500 pounds of liquid methamphetamine. Both men were charged with possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute it as well as a conspiracy to possess a controlled...
What is aggravated assault in Texas?
Aggravated assault is a step above a simple assault. Note that Texas does not look at “assault and battery” the same way that other states do, where bodily harm is battery and a mere threat of such harm is assault. In Texas, both get looked at together as assault, and...
The trouble that comes with a bar fight in Texas
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a night out at the bar once in a while. Unfortunately, alcohol tends to encourage people to act a little rowdy -- and it doesn’t take much for a bar fight to start. Maybe you were the person who got out of control, or maybe you were...
Texas man exonerated after 9 years in prison for murder
In 2010, a Texas man was convicted of the murder of another man and given life in prison for the crime. He claimed he didn’t do it. Nine years later, the courts have finally been forced to agree after a nationwide search of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) databases,...