Forty-six states and the District of Columbia have passed revenge porn laws, but courts are increasingly considering the constitutionality of the statutes on First Amendment grounds. However, there is little cohesion among state revenge porn laws. Two recent cases in Illinois and Texas, People v. Austin and Ex Parte Jordan Bartlett Jones, have challenged revenge porn statutes on First Amendment...
Though no one believes they will ever be arrested nor wants to be stopped by the police, it happens. If and when it does, it is important to know your rights and what to say or what not to say when a police officer approaches you. First, always remain calm and cooperate – don’t try to argue, don’t run away....
On December 30, 2019, in White Settlement, Texas, a gunman walked into a church and opened fire, killing two people. Seconds after the shooting began, the church’s head of security fatally shot the gunman and the incident was over. The shooting raised questions about the intersection of the law between the right to carry, the right for private establishments to...
The holidays. A time of gift giving, celebrating, and spending time with loved ones. Alcohol pours and spirits rise as a new year approaches. However, the holidays can also bring about a significant amount of stress and tension. Experts say the end of the year creates a toxic storm, with alcohol mixing with financial stress and relatives being in close...
With winter temperatures and snow accumulating across the state of Minnesota, snowmobile and ice fishing season is underway. Getting a DWI can affect both your driver’s license and your ability to lawfully operate a recreational vehicle, such as a snowmobile, but also an ATV or boat. While driving under the influence of alcohol (DWI) has been a crime for quite...
There is a lot of information about pornography on the internet and the explosion of pornographic materials. A question often comes up as to what is legal and what is not legal when it comes to pornography. Possession of pornographic materials isn’t necessarily illegal, yet the law does regulate “obscene materials.” Depending on what is depicted in the photo or...
An Order for Protection (OFP) is a form of restraining order that is sought where abuse or threats of abuse are alleged. The requirements for an OFP are actual physical harm; threat of physical harm; interference with a 911 call; forced sexual contact; or any sexual contact if the person needing protection is a minor. An OFP limits the contact...
With hunting season underway, it is important to understand how past convictions could affect your gun rights. In Minnesota, a person convicted of a crime of violence cannot possess firearms. Minnesota Statute § 609.165, Subd. 1a says certain convicted felons are ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition. The statute explains, “that a person who has been convicted of a crime...
Google SensorVault, what is it? SensorVault is the name of an internal google database that contains users’ historical geo-location data. The SensorVault database collects detailed location records from millions of phones across the globe. Google claims the information is collected for advertising purposes, yet law enforcement has found a different purpose for the information. How & Why does law enforcement...
On August 1, 2019, a new hands-free driving law went into effect in Minnesota. In general, this law prohibits the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Minnesota has joined 16 other states and Washington D.C. in banning handhold cellphone use while driving. What Can I Do Under the New Law? The new law allows a driver to use their...
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