PNA Law - Northern Virginia Criminal Lawyers
The Supreme Court is weighing a case that will decide how widely police can use DNA technology to solve crimes without violating an arrested, but not convicted person’s privacy. Arguments were heard Tuesday concerning the policy of police taking DNA samples from people they arrest. On one hand, proponents argue that taking DNA samples is…
DetailsThe House and Senate both voted last week to make driving while texting a primary offense with increased fines. The House bill, HB 1907 passed 94-4 Tuesday while the Senate Bill 1222 passed the Senate 24-15 also on Tuesday. Currently, drivers may not be pulled over only for texting while driving. They could be penalized…
DetailsA Virginia city has become the first in the country to formally pass an anti-drone resolution this week and the state has become the first to pass a bill putting a two-year moratorium on the use of drones by state and local law enforcement. The Virginia House Bill 2012 passed Monday by a vote of…
DetailsA judge’s ruling in a Pennsylvania DUI case has officials reevaluating cases not only in that county, but across the state and may have implications on even a larger scale. Judge Lawrence F. Clark Jr. ruled that breathlyzer machines used by law enforcement to measure the intoxication level of drivers cannot be accurate beyond a…
DetailsA measure that would have restored voting rights to Virginia’s nonviolent felons was squashed in a General Assembly subcommittee last week. The bill would have restored voting rights to many of the more than 350,000 felons who have served their time, but are unable to vote. Governor Bob McDonnell has already restored the rights for…
DetailsThe United States Supreme Court seemed unlikely to allow law enforcement to typically force suspected drunk drivers to give a blood sample if officers hadn’t at least attempted to obtain a warrant from a judge after hearing arguments this week in a Missouri case. The state of Missouri, along with support from the Obama administration, argued in…
DetailsTwo hundred and forty five suspects have been arrested in an international operation to round up child predators headed by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, authorities announced Thursday. The operation dubbed “Operation Sunflower” took place between November 1 through December 7 and all but 23 suspects were apprehended in the United States. Officials…
DetailsLawmakers are expected to consider legislation that would speed up the exoneration process in Virginia for those who have been wrongly convicted and seek it. Johnathan Montgomery, 26, was cleared of rape after serving four years of a 7 ½ year sentence at the end of November when the accuser admitted she lied in the…
DetailsThe Virginia State Crime Commission endorsed tougher penalties this week for texting while driving after new legislation was submitted for the upcoming legislation session. The proposed legislation is slated to be considered in the 2013 legislative session. The commission put forth the suggestion for tougher penalties after a judge did not convict a driver, who…
DetailsWhen Virginia lawmakers meet for the 2013 legislative session, they will consider measures to increase penalties for illegal cigarette trafficking. During the 2012 legislative session, the General Assembly asked the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the practice and make recommendations before the start of the 2013 session. The panel voted to keep the offense…
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