Calif. Court Rules Against Car Seizures
Headline News
[##_1L|1232999694.jpg|width="130" height="90" alt=""|_##]A sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled that California cities can no longer seize vehicles whose drivers are arrested for allegedly buying drugs or soliciting prostitutes. The ruling Thursday overturns the laws of more than two dozen cities from Oakland to Los Angeles that allowed police to seize a vehicle immediately after its driver's arrest.
Even drivers suspected of buying a small amount of marijuana, a low-level crime punishable by a $100 fine, faced seizures in many of the cities with the ordinances.
The 4-3 ruling said only state law can mete out punishment for drug and prostitution offenses and without authorization from the Legislature, cities can't pass seizure ordinances that are harsher than state and federal laws.
Many urban city councils said they enacted the seizure laws as a way to combat drug sales and prostitution and clean up some of their most blighted neighborhoods.
The ruling didn't address newer city laws that allow police to seize cars allegedly participating in illegal street races and "sideshows."
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Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.