The scanners, also known as ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition) systems, can flag vehicles by instantly photographing all license plates within visual range, scanning the characters on the tag, and matching it with a real-time on-board database in the police vehicle. If the system flags a plate number that is identified in the database as being wanted for some reason, the officer in the vehicle is instantly notified as to the nearby location of the car, and is prompted to take action.

These systems can flag cars that may be wanted as stolen vehicles, or tagged as amber alerts. They can also match driver/owner data from the Tennessee Department of Safety, or other TN court or law enforcement data to find anyone who may be driving on a suspended license, or have an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in criminal court.

In the article at MyFoxMemphis, they cite a few other tricks that the system can do. They quote a man who was driving a vehicle that wasn’t even registered to him, but was his son’s car. It came up with a hit his outstanding warrant since the vehicle was registered the same name and address as the person sought.

Another interesting technological innovation for this new law enforcement platform is a body heat sensor, to identify how many people are in the vehicle from a distance, if someone is hiding, or if someone escapes down a dark street, their infrared sensors can identity a person fleeing the scene.

People who are concerned with privacy and government intrusion will note that with these systems, the government is tracking thousands of vehicles an hour, who are not sought or suspected of any crime. And anyone with computer knowledge can tell you that data never really goes away.  All that information about what cars where it what place (ID-ed by GPS) at what time are stored in a massive database. That data can be searched and back-checked across multiple agencies to form a profile of anyone’s past locations, driving habits, and travel routes.

This technology is only going to get cheaper and more widespread. In the very near future, it will be standard equipment on all police vehicles, like a police radio.

Citizens concerned about government surveillance of their activities should be very concerned about who will have access to all this information, and for what purpose.

While Tennessee has always been a “good” spot for manufacturing due to location, new cooking methods have made making the drug less dangerous and quicker than ever before.

New methods only require “one pot” and a fraction of the several hours it once took. In addition, methods like “smurfing” are becoming more popular as cookers find others willing to purchase the ingredients for them.

Because methamphetamine labs were once far more dangerous and required more ingredients and longer cook times, it was harder for people to become involved in making the drug. Now, however, with manufacturing getting easier and the possibility of explosions decreasing, more and more people are making their own meth for use or for sale.

Along with a rise in production, as the Tennessean reports, law enforcement is cracking down, resulting in increased arrests and prosecutions. Being caught for manufacturing this devastating drug can land you some serious time behind bars.

Despite the easier methods and the appearance that making meth is less risky than it once was, police caution that severe injuries and even death are possible when dealing with the chemicals involved in this drug.

Whether you are accused of making or selling meth or even if you were just caught with a few grams of personal stash, you can bet the local authorities will seek to punish you to the fullest extent.

Sometimes, in cases of drug use, we can negotiate a plea agreement that will keep you out of jail. If you are addicted and want help, that could be arranged as well.

Knowing all of your options and the potential sentence you face is crucial when involved in the legal system. Having represented clients accused of drug charges in Tennessee many times before, we can help. Contact our lawyers today to discuss the details of your case.

This is exactly the problem that local Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus are saying has caused a drop in tourism to the state. New gun laws passed last year allowed those citizens who own a concealed weapons permit to carry those weapons into public establishments like restaurants or bars and this has potential travelers worried.

According to this article from The Tennessean, other cities across the country have also used the new laws to paint our cities in a negative light when competing for conference and event venues. Conventions are big money makers and it seems that some people may be playing dirty, capitalizing on these laws and making our cities look bad.

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, however, is just one person who believes the media should be blamed and not the law itself. The law does not allow just anyone to carry a concealed weapon. It only applies to those who already have a permit and in case you’re wondering, getting a concealed weapon permit is no walk in the park.

Cities can decide to make their own ordinances banning the weapons, as this blog post details, but some of the larger Tennessee cities like Nashville and Memphis have let the law stand as written.

Being able to possess a firearm is a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. The potential dangers of firearms, however, have led to countless federal, state, and local laws governing the possession and use of these weapons. Being caught in violation of these laws isn’t that difficult as there are simply so many to navigate.

The most commonly charged firearm offense in our state is Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon. This crime is a Class C misdemeanor in most instances. While this is the most commonly seen charge, it is far from the only.

Being caught in violation of a gun law can have disastrous effects on your future. If you are up against the state of Tennessee in the criminal court system, you need the assistance of a local defense attorney.

Contact me today to discuss the circumstances of your case and to see how I can help.

Ashley Sykes is accused of setting fire to a home at 843 Semmes early in the morning. Sykes had been evicted from the same home on December 1^st for not paying rent. Once evicted, the suspect was apparently not happy.

According to the Commercial Appeal, there are witnesses who state Sykes threatened the arson in order to keep anyone else from living in the home. The investigation after the blaze showed it had been intentionally set. The report also states that firefighters found the front door blocked when they arrived to fight the fire.

More than likely, the charge Sykes will face is a Class C felony. This could result in her serving 3 to 15 years in prison. However, if anyone was present in the home when it occurred or if a firefighter was injured in the blaze, she could be charged with aggravated arson, a Class A felony.

Arson charges are very serious. Some people fail to realize that crimes against property can be sentenced just as severely as crimes against people. It all depends on the circumstances of the situation.

A less serious charge but one we see more frequently than arson is vandalism. You can be charged with vandalism for causing damage to someone else’s property. Interestingly, this charge is considered a theft crime and is penalized according to the value of the damage.

For instance, if you deliberately smash someone’s windshield and it costs less than $500 to repair or replace, you could face Class A misdemeanor charges. However, if you take a bat to their car and repeatedly dent and smash it, causing over $1,000 in damage, your charge can be elevated to a Class D felony.

Property crimes that don’t involve theft are often motivated by anger or retribution. It is important when facing charges like these that we look at your motivations as I am confident that the prosecutor will.

Call me to discuss the details of your case. If you are facing jail time for a property crime, you need the assistance of an aggressive defense attorney.

According to Collierville Police Department Captain David Tillner states “I think it was off people’s radar because it wasn’t in the media and law enforcement wasn’t coming in contact with it much.” He goes on to explain that in the last 12-18 months, police have been seeing more of the drug.

A nine month undercover operation has most recently led to the arrests and felony charges of seven people in the area, all facing trafficking charges.

Heroin experienced its first surge of popularity in the 1970s and 80s. Now we are seeing it once again as people seek out a cheap but potent high. It is a highly dangerous drug and has been leading to an increased number of overdoses in the area as well.

Like other highly addictive and dangerous drugs, heroin is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Being caught with this type of drug can land you with the most extreme of drug charges. A simple possession charge can get you up to one year in jail.

More serious charges of selling or manufacturing a drug like this, however, can result in felony charges and a sentence up to 30 years in prison.

Just because heroin is on the rise doesn’t mean the courts aren’t watching for other drugs as well. Methamphetamines and marijuana are still commonly seen by law enforcement in the area.

As defense attorneys, it is our job to defend those people accused of these drug crimes. When you are charged with a criminal offense, it is easy to become discouraged and feel like no one is looking out for you. That simply isn’t the case with an aggressive defense lawyer on your side.

Call our criminal law offices today so we can talk about your case and the circumstances surrounding your arrest. We will examine everything from the moment the cops began talking with you until the present to ensure that your rights have been protected at every stage of the game.

This ruling comes days after US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts commented that a Virginia court decision that came to the opposite conclusion should be ruled upon by that court. However, the full court declined to hear the case, letting the Virginia case disallowing anonymous tips stand.

According to the ruling,  the Tennessee court decided that the anonymous tip was indicative of a significant threat to public safety that immediate intervention by law enforcement is legitimate. Alerting the police to reckless driving that could be indicative of DUI is a a compelling state interest.

Almost all states allow anonymous tips as a legitimate reason for police intervention on the roads, with the exception of Virginia, noted above, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Wyoming.

What is left unstated is why it is such a burden to either require a caller to identify themselves, or actually have the police witness some traffic infraction or illegal driving behavior before stopping someone. If the threat that immediate that the police don’t have time to observe the car on the road? If the follow the car and don’t see any dangerous behavior for 5 or 10 minutes, what exactly is the danger?

Anonymous tips can be a dangerous crutch for police intervention in any situation they feel like it. That seems like a potentially dangerous risk to our civil liberties.

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Via Nashville Post Politics

Last week a man wanting to merge lanes pointed a gun at another driver rather than simply using his signal The Tennessean reports. This act now has 26 year told Eric S. Edwards facing charges of aggravated assault.

Edwards was driving West on Highway 96 near Mack Hatcher Parkway where the lanes merge down from 3 to 2. He wanted to get over and pointed a gun at fellow Westbound driver 24 year old Christian Jandreski during rush hour.

Jandreski called the police who were able to stop Edwards using an unmarked police car in downtown Franklin. In his vehicle, police found a pistol, shortgun, and ammunition. His actions led the local prosecutor to charge Edwards with aggravated assault.

Aggravated assault is a serious felony charge punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison when the action is intentional. When a weapon is involved in an assault, it does not need to be physically used, only displayed to get the charges elevated to the aggravated level.

Although road rage is somewhat common, it rarely gets to this level. Stress and frustration run high on the roadways, particularly during times of heavy traffic.

There are several traffic offenses under Tennessee law that are considered crimes rather than just traffic infractions. The most commonly charged traffic crime is called reckless driving.

Reckless driving is when it is believed you drove with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others. Many behaviors can be classified as reckless driving and land you with a criminal record. This offense is considered a Class B misdemeanor and can come with up to 6 months in jail.

Regardless of the offense, if you are dealing with more than just a traffic ticket, an experienced defense attorney can be a true asset when you go before the judge.

Contact me to discuss what happened on the day in question and how I may be able to help you with your case.

According to the Tennessean, Cooper was arrested for domestic assault after a female family member complained Cooper had made threats, stating that person better watch their back and that he hoped their life insurance policy was up to date. Cooper is also accused of stating that the victim “was not going to live.”

In addition to the domestic assault charges, Cooper is accused of harassment after making 8 phone calls to the same victim in a matter of 45 minutes on September 4^th.

Interestingly, Coopers brother, a former high school basketball coach himself, is currently serving a sentence with the Tennessee Department of Corrections for killing his ex wife in July 2007..

Gar Cooper faces serious penalties when he is seen in court. This particular assault charge will likely be entered as a Class A misdemeanor, for which he could face up to one year in jail.

Harassment is also typically charged as a Class A misdemeanor, unless Cooper has faced prior harassment charges against this victim.

Facing any sort of domestic violence charges can change your life forever. Not only are you looking at a potential jail sentence, but these charges can forever affect the relationships in your life. If you are facing charges like these, you know just how stressful they can be.

With many crimes and particularly crimes against women and children, it is easy to feel like you are being judged before you even have your day in court. When facing charges like these, it is essential that you have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side.

Contact me immediately so that we can discuss the details of your case and how I can potentially help.

Although the laws have officially been passed, there is another scramble now as local agencies and businesses try to cope with the potential changes.

Just like this blog post explains, it is up to local municipalities to make their own rules now if they wish to re strict firearms in parks. Similarly, business owners can restrict firearms on their property by simply posting a sign outside.

However, as this report from The Tennessean reveals, not all business owners like that level of responsibility being shifted to them. They feel they are either required to limit their customer base by forbidding firearms or put the other customers in fear if they don’t.

According to this short post from Knoxnews.com, even the Governor is hoping some of the laws get repealed.

Communities like Germantown and Williamston County have already decided they won’t be among those allowing weapons in the park. Many small restaurants are making the same moves.

This change in gun laws will add yet another complex aspect to firearm control in our state. Many gun laws currently exist regulating the use and ownership of weapons. This complex system is designed to keep people safe while allowing citizens to exercise their right to bear arms.

If you are looking at criminal weapons charges, I can help you wade through the confusing system of laws. Call me today for a free consultation and so we can discuss your case in greater detail.

Gun laws are a hot topic in our state and it seems as if every month there’s a new story putting Second Amendment rights in the forefront. In addition to this parks bill, the Governor is also reviewing a bill that would allow people transport rifles and shotguns in their private vehicles while bullets are chambered in the magazine but not loaded in the weapon.

There is a chance that towns may enact their own rules regarding city parks. But unless those laws exist, guns will be allowed on city, state, and National parks in the state of Tennessee. The law applies to parks, campgrounds, forests, greenways, waterways, historic parks, nature trails and similar sites.

The Governor has three options with each of these bills. He can do nothing and the bills will become laws on Friday June 5^th. He can sign them into law, or he can veto them. Even if the Governor vetoes the bills, it would only take a majority vote to override such a veto.

Currently Tennessee has some complicated laws on the books for firearms and the people who own and use them. There are so many regulations that it can be difficult to understand them all even when you are a legally registered firearm owner.

There are laws controlling what kind of firearm you can possess, how you can carry it, how and when you can use it, and how you can transport it. There are laws about what you must do when you own a registered weapon and laws preventing certain people from owning firearms.

All of these laws lead to some violations. Firearm offenses are treated pretty seriously in the Tennessee courts. If you are facing weapons charges and want some assistance in understanding what your options are, call us today to discuss your case.