Criminal traffic tickets are different from civil traffic tickets (like speeding) and hold more intense consequences. Unlike civil traffic tickets in Arizona, you usually can’t take a class to have your ticket dismissed. What qualifies as a criminal traffic ticket in Arizona? The two categories of criminal...
We’ve taken a look at filing an appeal in Arizona and now we’re going to dive in a little deeper. When you have good representation from the get-go, an appeal is often not needed. However, there are times when an appeal is necessary. We will...
In Arizona, the law states that the police need to have a reason to search your vehicle. They can’t pull you over and arbitrarily search your car. Probable cause is required. Probable cause means that the officer has a reasonable suspicion of a crime being...
What is the model penal code? Established in 1962, the model penal code (MPC) is a set of guidelines for states to follow when deciding how to correct criminal behavior. It helps by creating a baseline in criminal law. The model penal code covers penalties for...
One of the most pervasive crimes is human trafficking. It is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world. Basically, it is a modern form of slavery. Arizona is a hot spot for human trafficking. There are two types of human trafficking. Sex and labor trafficking both...
Subjects like these are never fun to discuss, but understanding how the law approaches and defines acts like homicide is essential when interacting with our court systems. Todd Coolidge, a Certified Criminal Law Specialist, has handled scores of challenging cases throughout Maricopa County and the...
Crimes are committed every day for a multitude of reasons. Some are premeditated, some are crimes of passion committed in the moment, and others are crimes of bias. Todd Coolidge is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist. He’s defended cases involving every form of motivation, including...
Suppose you thought it would be entertaining to draw a picture on another person's personal property. It may have been done lightheartedly, but it could be considered legally reckless. And depending on the damage done, you could be facing felony charges. Coolidge Law Firm, serving...
In our last blog post, we covered the history of the Miranda Warning and how it became mandatory for all suspected criminals to be read their rights before arrest. In this post, Coolidge Law Firm (certified criminal law specialist in Phoenix, Arizona) would like to...
In our last blog post, we discussed a well-known clause in our U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment that pertains to your right against self-incrimination. In today’s blog post we’ll highlight another part of our constitution, the phrase due process. These two little words actually appear in...