In a recent case coming out of an Arizona court, the defendant unsuccessfully appealed his guilty conviction for one count of unlawful flight from a police officer. Originally, a police officer attempted to pull the defendant over for failing to stop at a stop sign. When the defendant’s car took off, the officer lost sight…
Continue reading ›In a recent opinion from an Arizona court, the defendant’s appeal of his conviction for fleeing from law enforcement was denied. Originally, the defendant was convicted and sentenced after he allegedly ran on foot from a police officer that was pursuing him. On appeal, he argued that the officer’s process for identifying him as the…
Continue reading ›5 Things You Should Know about Your Rights in a Police Stop and Arrest . In Mesa AZ you cannot be arrested on the basis of a non-criminal traffic violation.
However, that changes if you fail to stop or flee when police signal you to pull over for the matter. Fleeing from police or failure to stop are in violation of criminal unlawful flight laws. The most important thing you can do when you see flashing lights or hear the siren is to pull over safely and promptly. In the least you should slow down and find a way to signal to police that you see them and intend to pull over. Otherwise you could create probable cause for your arrest.
Recently, an Arizona Appeals Court ruled on whether or not a search warrant was required for police to follow a driver into a private driveway for a stop that began on a public road. It held that though a person is not subject to arrest for a civil traffic violation, failure to stop or comply with police does result in creating probable cause for arrest. The following case summary provides the Appeals Court’s majority opinion and basis for their decision to allow the evidence which reaffirmed the conviction. This article also provides a recent Arizona case ruling, and a list of 5 important questions and answers related to your rights at a stop, and defending subsequent criminal charges.
