Utah lawmakers have a proud tradition of writing their drug laws with an 8-inch paint-brush. Utah’s Paraphernalia Act, for instance, is so broad that it would probably be easier to define what isn’t illegal. (read more about it here). Similarly, Utah’s “Drug Free” Zones cover so much territory that they …
The legal definition of an “Alcohol Restricted Driver” in Utah is a long, complex quagmire of a law, with multiple categories and sub-categories of people who have been convicted of various alcohol-related traffic crimes or administrative offenses within a certain number of years (you can read it, if you dare, …
I’ve been contacted by several people lately who were confused about the difference between “dismissed” charges and “expunged” charges. What they don’t understand is that the record of your criminal case–whether you were convicted, found not-guilty, or the case was dismissed–is always part of the public record unless it is …
It’s certainly possible to do your own expungement in Utah. It just takes some patience, filling out several forms, and jumping through a bunch of legal hoops. You’ll also have to write why expunging your record is not contrary to the public interest (see my blog post on the subject …
“Contrary to the Public Interest” sounds like a good name for a punk band. It’s also a key phrase of legal jargon in Utah’s Expungement Petition forms, and it stops many hopeful expungers in their tracks. You’re just cruising along, checking boxes, answering some simple questions, and then, bam: The …
Click below to go to each section: Shoplifting: Good People Do Dumb Things The Possible Consequences of Shoplifting in Utah (Criminal Part) The Possible Consequences of Shoplifting in Utah (Civil Part) Frequently Asked Questions about Shoplifting Charges in Utah Good People Do Dumb Things Sometimes–Shoplifting Is One of Those Things …
The Buddhists sometimes say that “the universe exists in a grain of sand” when explaining the concept of interdependence among all things. It seems the Utah legislature was strikingly Buddhist when drafting the Utah Drug Paraphernalia Act, because the way they defined “paraphernalia” makes paraphernalia exist in all things, too. …
Mug shot web sites have been flourishing here in Utah and everywhere else. Apparently, there is lots of pent-up demand for the valuable public-service they provide. I know I personally wake up every morning wondering who might have been booked into jail in my fair city lately. In fact I …
Ok, you might think that if there’s one thing abundantly clear about the charge of Driving Under the Influence, it’s that, to be guilty, you must be 1) Driving, 2) Under, 3) the Influence. But you would be mistaken. In Utah, you either have to be driving OR you have …
According to Google, “what is the difference between DUI and DWI?” is one of the most popular what-is-the-difference-between questions, just slightly less common than “between greek yogurt and regular” and slightly ahead of“between a wasp and a hornet.” In any case, it’s one of the biggies. Not bad for a rather subtle …
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