New York’s No Texting While Driving Law was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in July of this year. This law strengthened New York’s already existing prohibition against texting while driving. The law permits police to pull over motorists if they observe the driver texting. Violators may be fined $150 and have two points added to…
DetailsThe Queens County Criminal Court House, located on Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens, houses the Queens County Criminal Court, Criminal Term of the Supreme Court, offices of the Departments of Probation and Correction, and Offices of the Queens County District Attorney. In recent years a major renovation has added many more courtrooms to the facility,…
DetailsAs a fan of ATVs, I have represented a few clients over the years with quad related issues. My hope in this article is to present a good basic primer on the current state of the law in New York regarding these vehicles. Before buying your first quad, you should be aware of the following:…
DetailsThe Long Beach City Courthouse serves the residents of Nassau County’s largest city, handling all summonses, Building Department matters, moving violations, and misdemeanor criminal matters. The Court facility consists of one courtroom and office space on the second floor of the Long Beach City Hall. Prosecutions are handled by members of the Nassau County District…
DetailsIf you are accused of a crime, the prosecutor must bring your case to trial within a specific amount of time, or your case can be dismissed. New York Criminal Procedure Law Section 30.30 sets out the time periods for New York prosecutions. According to this section, the prosecution must be ready for trial within:…
DetailsLast week the Suffolk County legislature enacted a version of “Caylee’s Law”, which requires parents to notify authorities of a missing child within 24 hours. The law is named for 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, the Florida girl who was found dead in 2008. Her mother, Casey Anthony, was acquitted of her murder. As a result of…
DetailsCan My New York Criminal Record by Sealed or Expunged? I cannot tell you how many times over the past twenty-five years I have been asked this question. Unfortunately, my answer has usually been no. During Law School I was an intern in the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. A large majority of my…
DetailsNew York Drug Law Reform In 2009 New York enacted drug reform laws which modified the draconian provisions of the so-called Rockefeller Drug Laws, which had been around since 1973. What Changed? As a result of the Drug Law Reform, mandatory minimum prison sentences for first and some second-time non-violent felony drug offenses have been…
DetailsYouthful Offender Laws in New York New York, like most states, makes special provisions for young people who commit crimes. New York State Criminal Procedure Law Section 720 is the Youthful Offender Statute. Age Requirements In order to be considered for adjudication as a Youthful Offender, commonly referred to as (Y.O.), the offender must have…
DetailsCertificate of Relief From Civil Disabilities in New York Although New York provides very limited means to seal or expunge criminal convictions, offenders may want to try to obtain a Certificate Of Relief From Civil Disabilities after their cases are completed. This document can limit the damage caused by a criminal conviction on your future…
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