A criminal conviction can result in far-reaching impacts that extend well beyond any immediate legal penalties imposed by the courts. These additional effects, known as collateral consequences, can be life-changing and affect various aspects of an individual's...
Safety is a major concern on this nation's highways and byways, and Wisconsin takes reckless driving very seriously. But, what exactly is reckless driving in the first place? Is it as simple as speeding or slowly rolling through a stop sign – or is it something more...
If a police officer shows up at your house, knocks on the door, and asks to come inside, your first question may simply be whether or not they have a warrant. You want to know if they already went to a judge and got a warrant that gives them legal permission to come...
You can’t watch any kind of crime drama or detective story without being somewhat aware of your Miranda rights, and this important protection against police coercion is often taught in school government classes. Just the same, many people don’t fully understand how...
Without a warrant, the police typically cannot go into your house, even if they would like to carry out an investigation. They need to have enough reason to go before a judge and get a warrant, or they need your consent to enter the home. This is considered to be your...
If a neighbor sees you hand over a bottle that looks like beer to a minor, they could call the police and report it just to find out that it was root beer. They might see you have friends over every day or two and report that you’re running drugs. They may have a...
You know that texting and driving is not a good idea, but you still picked up your phone when you heard that faint “ping” from your text. It was just something you did automatically, without even thinking. You only looked away from the road for a second -- but you got...
If you get a speeding ticket, you may assume there is very little that you can do -- other than paying the fine, of course. The officer claims you were speeding, no one else was around at the time to say otherwise, and you assume that the court is going to believe the...
When you saw a police officer pull up outside your house, you were surprised. They told you that you were under arrest for hitting someone and leaving the scene. You had no idea what they were talking about. You have no recollection of hitting anyone, and you were at...
There are often times when a person is arrested for a crime he or she did not commit or for a crime that was out of his or her control. No matter the reason for arrest in Wauwatosa, WI, any person held in custody has the right to exercise his or her civil rights at...
