As of January 16, 2019, visitors to New Jersey’s many public parks—including beaches—will no longer be permitted to smoke. The new smoking ban covers cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vape pens and e-cigs, as well as smokeless tobacco products. The ban does not criminalize smoking–violators will be charged with a municipal offense. A conviction means facing aRead More
A recent ruling by the NJ Supreme Court renders anyone who successfully completes drug court in New Jersey potentially eligible for an immediate expungement of their minor criminal offenses. The decision clarifies a 2016 law that offers a clean slate to non-violent former drug addicts who show a desire and effort to improve their lives.Read More
A bill sitting in a New Jersey State Assembly committee would prohibit individuals from legally changing their name if they were convicted of certain crimes. It would also require a background check for anyone who applied to have their name changed. Bill A2486 would require NJ state police to cross reference the name and fingerprintsRead More
New Jersey is poised to join 10 other states and D.C. in legalizing marijuana. Part of the bill that recently cleared both senate and legislature committees includes language on how to get marijuana offenses expunged once the substance has become legal. However, bills often undergo changes—sometimes minor sometimes major—between clearing committee and whenever being signedRead More
A bill to legalize marijuana in New Jersey passed a joint committee in both the state senate and legislature on Monday, November 26. The bill, as well as others related to medical marijuana and expungement of offenses, now move on to the full chambers where they are scheduled for a vote next month. The mainRead More
At 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, NJ State Senate and Assembly committees convened together to debate four bills focused on marijuana rules. Lawmakers will discuss a variety of proposals from taxation of marijuana sales to procedures to expunging existing marijuana convictions. It is expected that one or both committees will vote on the billsRead More
NYPD officers must hand out business cards identifying themselves and providing information on how to file a complaint under a new rule that took effect on Friday, Oct. 19. Police are also required to explain the purpose of the interaction and obtain clear consent for a search where applicable. Called the Right to Know Act,Read More
For many Québécois, New York State is a relatively short drive away, making it a popular tourist destination. Whether enjoying the scenic attractions of Upstate New York or the world-renowned sites of historic New York City, the slightly different driving rules (and units used to measure speed) can sometimes trip up Quebec drivers, resulting inRead More
Being charged with a crime is an intimidating situation to find oneself in. The impact of a criminal conviction goes far beyond the prison or jail sentence, probation, or fines that one might face. Having a criminal record can potentially change how the world perceives and reacts to a person, and can drastically alter one’sRead More
The NJ Supreme Court has ruled that the state open public records law does not cover police dashcam videos. Advocates for public records transparency had been arguing that dashcams could be used to prove definitively whether or not officers follow or break the law. The decision stems from a case involving a Tuckerton police officerRead More
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