A man in Oklahoma was recently arrested and charged with reckless driving and attempting to elude law enforcement. The man allegedly turned off his headlights after an Oklahoma State Trooper attempted to stop him. Law enforcement further alleges the man reached speeds of 208 miles per hour in his 2011 Ford Mustang before the law… Read more »
BB guns are not firearms – MN Court of Appeals follows Supremes
Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed a felony conviction holding that air-powered BB guns not firearms for purposes of the possession of firearms statute. Today, the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Lue Yang followed the Supreme Court, extending the reasonable and rational definition of a firearm to the ‘Ineligible Persons’ firearm statute, prohibiting the… Read more »
No license revocation after refusing DUI urine test: MN Court of Appeals
The MN Court of Appeals issued an opinion today upholding the reinstatement of a driver’s license when the arresting officer misled a driver by stating that refusing a urine test is a crime. In the case decided today, the Commissioner of Public Safety revoked the driver’s license after he refused urine and blood tests. The… Read more »
Small amount of marijuana does not include dabs, wax, or edibles
I often get calls from people who are confused as to why they are being charged criminally with a felony or gross misdemeanor because they had a small amount of resinous marijuana (wax, hash, THC edibles, dabs, butter, etc.). The confusion stems from Minnesota decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana (less than 42.5… Read more »
BB Guns are not firearms – MN Supreme Court Reverses Felony Conviction
The Minnesota Supreme Court issued an opinion today that an air-powered BB gun is not a firearm for purposes of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and other illegal firearm possession crimes. The court reversed the felony-level prohibited person in possession of a firearm conviction. Prior to today’s decision in the Haywood case, MN courts… Read more »
Minneapolis Passes Police Body Camera Program
On Monday, September 15, 2014, the Minneapolis City Council approved a pilot study for Minneapolis Police Department Officers to wear body cameras. The City Council voted in favor of two, year-long contracts with two law enforcement body camera companies. The contracts for the officer-worn body camera evaluation provide for the camera equipment, service, and video… Read more »
First Amendment Right to Flash Headlights Warning of Speed Trap
A Missouri federal district court judge has ruled that drivers a have a First Amendment right to warn others of police presence by flashing vehicle headlights. The civil rights suit by Michael Elli was initiated after he was arrested for flashing his headlights at other drivers warning of a radar speed trap by police in… Read more »