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Getting a DUI or DWI charge is a lot more serious than just a few points on your license. A conviction for driving under the influence is a public record that is accessible to anyone – and it can also seriously affect your future. When applying for a job, having a DUI on your criminal record means that you’ll have to “check the box” – and that you might miss out on a great job opportunity as a result. Fortunately, there is a way to clear your criminal record. Through the process of expungement, you can seal your criminal record… Read More
A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, commonly referred to as DUI or DWI, carries serious penalties in Oklahoma. The main statutes that spell out exactly what constitutes a DUI offense and how it will be punished appear in Oklahoma Statutes §47-11-902. The law defines any person as driving under the influence of alcohol if that person has a blood or breath alcohol concentration level of .08% according to a test performed within two hours of being arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Or someone who is deemed to be driving under the influence without a test… Read More
The police are free to speak with you at any time. An officer may stop you on the street as you’re walking to pick up your lunch and start asking you questions out of the blue. He or she might seem friendly and polite and promise to have you on your way in just a few moments. Let’s say, for example, that an officer approaches you and says that a minor crime has just occurred in the area and he’s trying to gather some information. “Were you within the surrounding three blocks of where we are now within the last… Read More
Discovering that an arrest warrant has been issued for you can be a surprising and scary experience. For many people, it brings to mind images such as TV bounty hunters knocking down their front door, putting them in handcuffs, and dragging them off to jail. Fortunately, that’s not quite how it works. If you act responsibly and handle things quickly, you can take care of the warrant without going through any sort of embarrassing arrest and minimize the consequences. Speaking first with a defense attorney experienced in dealing with Oklahoma arrest warrants will give you the best opportunity for a… Read More
Sexting, in case you’re unfamiliar with the term, is the act of sending nude or sexually explicit pictures or explicit text between two or more people through text messages or similar messaging systems. The act of “sexting” itself is not illegal in Oklahoma but there are, however, certain circumstances that can make it a criminal act punishable under several of Oklahoma’s sex crime laws. You just see the Oklahoma Sexting Laws blog. In the vast majority of cases, when two consenting adults engage in sexting, there is nothing criminal about doing so. It’s when sexting involves images of persons under… Read More
On November 1, 2019, Oklahoma’s permitless carry law took effect. The basics of the law making it legal for anyone 21 or over (or active or honorably discharged members of the military 18 or over) who isn’t otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm to carry a gun in public without a permit. The law makes no distinction between carrying a weapon concealed or in the open. It is completely up to the gun owner if he or she wishes to make it known that they are carrying a firearm or not. It is very important, however, that anyone who chooses… Read More
The concept of “stop and frisk” is a hotly debated topic all across the United States. Law enforcement maintains that it is a necessary tool for preventing crime and protecting citizens. Many people, though, think the opposite, saying that it is an abuse of power and an invasion of privacy as well as an attack on personal freedom. No matter which side of the debate you find yourself on, the real question is whether or not it is legal for police to conduct a stop and frisk. It seems that with the unfortunately constant presence of violence throughout society, stop… Read More
Many people are easily confused about whether or not it is legal for a police officer to search their car when they are involved in a traffic stop. Being in a car on the side of the road presents special circumstances on both sides of the equation. There are certain rules that you must follow and certain rules that police offers must follow as well. In general, law enforcement can only search the inside of your vehicle under specific conditions. If an officer conducts a search of your car without first meeting the right conditions, that search would be ruled… Read More
Going through the proceedings in a criminal court case can be scary and intimidating. Aside from the obvious possibility of legal consequences at the end, the steps involved between an initial arrest and a final verdict are confusing for most people. It’s difficult to know where you stand and what might be coming next. A lot of the stress generated by these circumstances has to do with all the “legalese” that gets thrown around. There are plenty of legal terms most people hear quite often, but don’t really understand what they mean. There are words like hearing, arraignment, deposition, affidavit,… Read More
We are all granted freedom from “unreasonable searches and seizures” by the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution. The state of Oklahoma also guarantees its citizens the same rights through Section II-30 of its own constitution. These rights limit the power of police and other government law-enforcement officials when it comes to arresting someone, searching their person or property, and seizing any type of contraband or evidence. They help to ensure that the privacy of the residents of Oklahoma is respected. They protect us all from unlawful search and seizure. Can Law Enforcement Override Your Right to Privacy? There… Read More
