What to do if being questioned by police

You have the right to remain silent.  My advice is to exercise this right.  If police are asking you questions about a crime they believe you committed you do not have to answer any of their questions.  Even if you are innocent it is still not advisable to answer any...

Anonymous tips in NC

On 7/3/2012 the NC Court of Appeals reversed the decision of State v. Harwood regarding an anonymous tip amounting to reasonable suspicion for the police to make a seizure.  In the original decision it was held that police were justified in handcuffing a Defendant...

State v. Federal Courts

In the United States there are two major court systems, the federal and the state courts.  But what is the difference between the two? Federal courts are established by the United States government and largely handle disputes regarding the Constitution or federal...

Immediate arrest for traffic violations

As some people may or may not be aware, North Carolina passed a law last year that required law enforcement to immediately arrest teenage drivers for certain traffic infractions.  The reason for this law was to expedite the process to have the driver’s license...