Texting and Driving? Watch Out for the Textalyzer

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Over the last seven years, most states have banned texting by drivers, and public service campaigns have tried an array of tactics — “It can wait,” among them — to persuade people to put down their phones when they are behind the wheel. Yet the problem, by…

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Minor Vehicle Equipment Problems Can Lead to Criminal Convictions

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Between the use of license plate readers and police officers attempting to pull motor vehicle operators over for any possible reason you have to get every equipment problem in your car fixed immediately. This is especially true if you were driving while suspended due to other traffic…

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N.J. law requiring police-car cameras ruled unconstitutional

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. TRENTON – A 2014 law requiring all New Jersey municipalities to outfit new police patrol cars with dashboard cameras is unconstitutional because it does not provide an adequate funding source, a state board ruled Wednesday. The ruling by the Council on Local Mandates on a challenge brought…

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What should I do if I am identified as a defendant in a criminal investigation?

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Defendant argues that the identification procedure the police used was impermissibly suggestive because it involved multiple viewings of defendant’s photo, and the Critical Reach bulletin Vasquez saw in the police station contained a description of a crime that was similar to what Vasquez experienced. Defendant also argues that…

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State vs. Rosario: Is this an arrest or a field inquiry?

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark State vs. Rosario In this case the issue is whether the police’s contact and communications with the defendant was a ‘field inquiry’, a Terry stop, or a custodial interrogation?  If difference depends on whether the subject of the inquiry, the defendant here, feels their freedom to leave have been…

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Legal Standard of Review of a Trial Court’s Motion to Suppress | State vs. Wilson

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark 14-2-9404 State v. Winslow, App. Div. (per curiam) (13 pp.) When reviewing a motion to suppress, we “must uphold the factual findings underlying the trial court’s decision so long as those findings are supported by sufficient credible evidence in the record.” Handy, supra, 206 N.J. at 44 (citation…

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Right to Privacy in the Hotel Registration Sign In / Log book

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. 14-2-9404 State v. Winslow, App. Div. (per curiam) (13 pp.) A long standing standard ‘slow night’ policing tactic includes an officer conducted a “registry check” at the neighborhood low end ‘motels’ or hotels in town looking for anyone with an outstanding warrant for arrest for any reason.  In this…

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Criminal Resources related to State vs. Feliciano

Published by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark 2A:156A-8. Authorization for application for order to intercept communications The Attorney General, county prosecutor or a person designated to act for such an official and to perform his duties in and during his actual absence or disability, may authorize, in writing, an ex parte application to a…

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State vs. Wright: Identification of the defendant by the victim at the scene

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Attorney, Jeffrey Hark State vs. Wright Appellate Division February 29, 2016 (Approved for Publication) The next issue in this case is the identification of the defendant by the victim at the scene.  In 2011 the NJ Supreme Court handed down it surfing in State vs. Henderson.  That decision outlined a…

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