What happens when you leave the scene of an accident?

Leaving the scene of an accident without providing your contact and insurance information can have serious consequences, including fines and jail time. If you have been charged with leaving the scene of an accident, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer or other attorney who is well-versed in the traffic laws.

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Consequences of Driving Without a License

What are the consequences of driving without a license? Depending on the circumstances, they can be severe. A simple traffic ticket if you just forgot your license up to misdemeanor or even felony charges. Learn the differences and the penalties here.

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What are the differences between petty offenses, misdemeanors, infractions, and felonies?

Criminal law is a very broad area of law which can cover everything from a traffic ticket to a murder charge. General principles of criminal law such as’the right to remain silent,’ are guided by rights and general procedures outlined in the Constitution. Most states will have a classification system which divides criminal offenses into different levels including petty offenses, infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies.

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I’m told I can’t use a recorded conversation as evidence in court. Why?

The federal courts and every state have rules of evidence regarding what types of evidence are admissible and the authentication required for admitting that evidence. The requirements for a recorded conversation are no different. As a general rule, evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court, and surreptitious tape recordings by telephone are illegal in most states under their respective penal (or criminal) codes. You must have permission from the party being recorded or, at the very least, give the other person notice that the call is being recorded.

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What is a crime?

A crime is any act or omission that violates a law which results in a punishment. Punishments can range from the payment of a fine to incarceration in jail. The level of the offense or crime will usually be set in proportion to the severity of the crime. For example, parking in a two hour parking zone for three hours is a crime, although this is typically considered an ‘infraction.’ The punishment usually involves the issuance of a ticket and an individual paying a fine. On the other end, robbing someone at gun point is a much more severe crime that can result in a lengthy prison sentence. If a statute merely encourages a conduct, but does not provide a punishment, then a violation is not generally considered a crime, even though you may be exposed to some type of civil liability.

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