No Trespassing sign won’t keep police off your yard. Will a Moat?

Can police ignore a “No Trespassing” sign planted in your front yard? What about twenty of them? Would ignoring the sign violate the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against an unreasonable searches and seizure? The Tenth Circuit was recently called upon to answer this question in United States v. Carloss. In that case, police received a tip that… read more…

The lying meter maid, its not a federal case

Is lying to police about a driver’s conduct fairly attributable to employment duties as a parking enforcement officer? The Tenth Circuit was recently called upon to answer this question. In Schaffer v. Salt Lake City Corp., Diana Schaffer parallel parked in a no parking zone and ticketed by two parking enforcement officers. When Schaffer returned, the officers… read more…

10 Commandments of Police/Citizen Encounters

An encounter with police, a jailer, or any other law enforcement, can be a stressful experience, even for innocent people. Here are 10 rules to remember if you are ever approached by a police officer:  Remain respectful Always maintain the high road. Anything you do that could be perceived as disrespectful (even if lawful), will… read more…