How much of my car can the police search when they pull me over and smell weed? Can they rip my car apart??? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The appellate division answer this question on December 12, 2017 in State v. Houston.The issue: did the search of your car once you were…
State v. Houston New Jersey Appellate Division Decision December 12, 2017 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Can my car be searched if I am out of the car, arrested, handcuffed, and placed in the back of a trooper/police cruiser? Why can the police search my car? The questions can be answered…
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark The issue in this case is can the police pull somebody over for not having a license plate light on their vehicle. As a result of the stop the police officer walked up to the car after the defendant, Signode left but turn right. The officer…
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark 14-2-3345 State v. Hunter, N.J. Super. App. Div. (per curiam) (10 pp.) Defendant appealed the denial of his motion to suppress evidence seized during a motor vehicle stop. Police received an anonymous call stating that a man was waiving a handgun in front of bystanders while…
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. New Jersey’s Appellate Division has recently decided a case regarding a warrantless pat-down of the defendant’s person and seizure of heroin. In the case, a police officer heading home from work in an unmarked vehicle witnessed the defendant driving his car on the shoulder of the road…
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. State v Hamlett A-4399-14T2 In this case the defendant plead guilty to three different indictments for three different criminal cases pending against him. On appeal he raised an argument that the police were not allowed to search his rental car and specifically the center console of the…
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark A case was recently decided by New Jersey’s Supreme Court regarding a warrantless search of a defendant’s home. In the case, an officer responded to a noise complaint; essentially a municipal ordinance charge! The defendant was standing on the porch of his home when the officer showed…
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Were the passengers with no criminal history Improperly detained and or arrested? As I stated in the facts above two of the defendants were detained even though their identification checked and they had no outstanding warrants for their arrest. The court observed these two defendants were placed…
When you get pulled over make sure you have your license, insurance, and registration in hand in order to avoid the necessity of further unwarranted intrusion by the police into your passenger compartment of your vehicle. This court recognized an exception to the warrantless search by police of a vehicle to uncover proof of ownership.…
State vs. Webb Appellate Division February 12, 2016 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Issue 1—– In New Jersey, absent probable cause and exigent circumstances the police still need a search warrant to enter a structure which the defendant may have actual or constructive possession thereof. THIS IS AN INVOLVED AND LONG…
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New Jersey Survivors Justice Act: Sentencing Reform for Abuse Victims
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In January 2026, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a pair of bills known as the Survivors Justice Act (S-4870/A-5968 and S-4871/A-5969). This landmark legislation, championed by Senator Angela V. McKnight, Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, and other lawmakers, amends the state’s criminal code to allow courts…