Blogs
Under the Fourth Amendment and the Oklahoma Constitution, warrantless searches are per se unreasonable, absent a recognized exception. There are several recognized exceptions, as explored in earlier blog posts on this subject. In this post, we will examine the exception of consent. A warrantless police intrusion into a protected area is reasonable, and thus constitutionally permissible, if preceded by free and…Read More
The Tulsa Police Department has released a statement on its website regarding a DUI checkpoint in Tulsa on Saturday, July 25, 2015 from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. The location was not specified in the statement. To view the statement, you can visit the Tulsa Police Department’s website here. DUI checkpoints function as a general purpose investigatory tactic whereby police can…Read More
New Tulsa County Docket for Probation Violations The Tulsa World recently published a very comprehensive article on the new docket created to help divert nonviolent offenders from prison for probation violations.[1] Judge Drummond will be in charge of the new docket exclusively hearing probation rule violations, which will free up other dockets to focus on public safety issues. When a person…Read More
Is Leaving The Scene Of An Accident Considered A Felony In Oklahoma? One of the most pressing concerns we've addressed at the Law Office of Carlos L. Williams revolves around post-accident actions. Many individuals, often in a state of panic or confusion, wonder: "Is leaving the scene of an accident considered a felony in Oklahoma?" The answer varies depending on…Read More
Stalking; Protective Orders in Oklahoma Protective Orders are orders issued by the court on behalf of a victim of domestic violence. It may order the abuser to move out of a shared home and/or to stop hurting, threatening, stalking and/or harassing the victim. The authority of courts to enter orders of this nature stems from the Oklahoma Protection from Domestic…Read More
What Is A CDL In Oklahoma A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a special license issued by the State of Oklahoma that allows an individual to drive certain types of vehicles. Drivers are required to have a CDL in order to drive vehicles over a certain weight, buses, and vehicles containing hazardous materials. In addition to passing certain medical requirements,…Read More
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma has launched its new e-Payments system. The system provides a convenient way to make secure payments on cases and payment plans with outstanding balances in certain district courts of Oklahoma. Tulsa County Courts rolled out its e-Payment system on April 10th, 2015. This is the third successful release of the popular online payment system customized for…Read More
DUI checkpoints function as a general purpose investigatory tactic whereby police can get a close look at passing drivers by detaining them briefly. A roadblock DUI checkpoint is quick, but it gives police a chance to check tags and licenses, while also giving officers a quick whiff of the driver’s breath and a chance to view inside the vehicle for…Read More
Last week, Governor Mary Fallin signed a measure which will make texting while driving a car in Oklahoma illegal. The law will become effective November 1, 2015. The measure will make it unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway within this state while using a hand-held electronic communication device to manually compose, send or read an electronic text…Read More
The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. Under the Fourth Amendment, a traffic stop is considered a seizure. The scope and duration of such a seizure must be related to the stop and must last no longer than necessary to effectuate the stop’s purpose. In a 6-3 decision issued yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Nebraska police violated…Read More