Vista DUI Lawyer and Criminal Attorney Peter M. Liss

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    • Sex Crime Defense
    • Child Molestation
    • Child Pornography
  • Traffic Offenses
    • Hit and Run Accidents
    • No-License Driving
    • Reckless Driving
  • More Practice Areas
    • Juvenile Offenses
    • Violent Crime
      • The Three Strikes Law
      • Weapons Charges
    • Theft Defense
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      • Fraud Charges
    • Drug Crimes
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How are Plea Bargains Made?

March 29, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

plea bargain lawyers in san diego

Everyone has heard the term “plea bargain,” but far fewer could give you the definition or tell you what different types of plea agreements exist. Interestingly, while the average person knows far more about criminal trials, most cases in America are settled through plea bargains. Nationwide, the Department of Justice reports that between 90 and […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES, SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES Tagged With: alternative sentencing, plea bargains, defenses, better understanding the law, wet reckless

What Happens to Your Stuff When You go to Prison?

March 28, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

felony consequences in california

  When you’re incarcerated, you are stuck behind bars and unable to access your bank accounts or pay bills. So what happens to your house and personal belongings when you go to jail? That’s actually a common question many clients ask their criminal lawyer. Unfortunately, the answer is sadly complex, which is one of the […]

Filed Under: THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: California criminal process, money, prison, jail, penalties

What are the Best Criminal Defenses in CA?

March 28, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

Criminal Defense Strategies

If you are charged with a crime, you will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead not guilty, you and your criminal defense attorney will need to present a defense to show the prosecutor does not have enough evidence to prove your guilt. To do this, you and your criminal lawyer […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: statute of limitations, witness accounts, evidence, probable cause, confessions, insanity defense, intent, defenses, self defense, better understanding the law, duress, false allegations, consent, entrapment

How Does Lawyer/Client Confidentiality Work?

March 8, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

lawyer confidentiality

You have probably heard of attorney/client confidentiality, but you probably don’t know what that entails unless you’re a lawyer. While communications between a lawyer and a client are considered privileged, there are exceptions where the attorney may willingly disclose this information without any repercussions.  If an attorney breaks confidentiality outside of these circumstances, they risk […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: know your rights, california laws, confidentiality, privileged communications, better understanding the law, attorneys

What Rights do Felons Lose in California?

March 2, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

3 strikes law

Felons in California are subject to many penalties, even after they serve their time and pay off their criminal fines. The good news is that California does not restrict the constitutional rights of felons nearly as much as other states. Unfortunately, the state still does have many restrictions on what felons are not able to […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, FAQs, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: know your rights, felonies, firearm possession, gun laws, better understanding the law, penalties

Invoking Your Right to Remain Silent

February 4, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

admission by silence

Anyone familiar with the US Constitution knows that the Fifth Amendment protects citizens against self-incrimination. However, most people don’t know that the Supreme Court has ruled that your silence can be incriminating if you do not directly state that you are using this constitutional right. Failing to invoke your rights while staying quiet is considered […]

Filed Under: THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: know your rights, right to silence, police interrogations, police investigations, supreme court, better understanding the law, us constitution, miranda rights

Civil Asset Forfeiture in California

February 3, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

refusing to talk to the police and obstruction of justice

When someone is accused of a crime, they will typically be arrested and charged in court. Strangely, if any physical property is believed to be tied in with the crime, it too may end up heading to the police station under the asset forfeiture laws of California. This strange process has its roots in English […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: know your rights, california laws, money, civil asset forfeiture, police investigations, better understanding the law, search and seizure, criminal justice reforms

Who Are The Worst Fictional Lawyers of All Time?

February 2, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

The Worst Fictional Lawyers of All Time

Always do your research when looking for the right defense lawyer because you don’t want to end up with someone inexperienced. Still, even the average not-so-great real-life attorney will have nothing on these famous bad lawyers. If they were real rather than just existing in TV shows, these lawyers wouldn’t just be the worst —they […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, Fraud Charges, WHITE COLLAR CRIME, HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: comic books, tv shows, superheroes, how courts work, fictional, court, lying, attorneys, court motions

Why Attorneys are Unlikely to Use an Insanity Plea in California

February 1, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

insanity defense

In movies and TV shows, lawyers are constantly arguing that their clients are not guilty by reason of insanity to allow their obviously guilty clients to spend time in an institution before quickly being shuffled back into the public. In reality, though, the insanity defense is used in less than one percent of criminal trials […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, FAQs, LEGAL PROCEDURES, SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES Tagged With: California criminal process, insanity defense, defenses, better understanding the law, sentencing, legal myths

Criminal Record Expungement Lawyer in San Diego

January 25, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

San Diego expungement lawyer

A criminal conviction will remain on your record unless it is expunged under the law. However, thanks to a law that took effect in 2023, many people are eligible for the automatic expungement of their criminal records. This law even allows for many people who were sent to state prison after being convicted of a […]

Filed Under: THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, DUI / FELONY DUI, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: dui, misdemeanors, juvenile crimes, probation, dmv, better understanding the law, how courts work, felon rights

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Call Today, I Can Help You

criminal justice attorney Peter M. Liss

The Experience You Need

I have been practicing law for over 40 years, and opened my own law firm in 1998, after serving as Assistant Supervising Public Defender for the Vista Public Defender’s Office. I have successfully defended hundreds of cases in my career, fighting charges ranging from drunk driving to capital murder.

Two Easy-to-Find Offices

My Vista offices are located just off the 78 freeway, directly across the street from the local courthouse and jail facility. For those further south, I have another office in Carmel Valley, off the 5 freeway and highway 56. Both offices offer free parking.

Call (760) 643-4050 Now

You can call my offices any time of day, every day to speak with a live person who can help you schedule a free initial consultation. If you have any questions, I return my calls promptly and courteously.

My Guarantee to You

I ensure all clients receive top quality representation at affordable rates and I accept all major credit cards. Hablamos Español.

I’m available, let’s talk

My Practice Areas

I handle all types of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases in San Diego County, including:

  • Driving Under the Influence
    • DMV DUI License Hearings
  • Domestic Violence
    • Sex Crimes
    • Sexual Assault/Rape
  • Child Molestation
    • Child Pornography
  • White Collar Crimes
    • Fraud Cases
    • Identity Theft
    • Computer Crimes
    • Theft Crimes
    • Petty Theft
    • Grand Theft
    • Shoplifting
    • Robbery
  • Drug Charges
    • Drug DUI
    • Trafficking
  • Violent Crimes
    • Weapons Offenses
    • Assault
    • Homicide
    • Hate Crimes
    • Gang Crimes
    • Three Strikes Law
  • Criminal Traffic Offenses
    • Driving on a Suspended License
    • Hit and Run accidents
    • Reckless Driving
    • Vehicular Homicide
  • Juvenile Crime Defense
    • Truancy
    • Vandalism
    • Minor in Possession

Categories

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  • DRUG OFFENSES
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    • Gang Crimes
    • Animal Abuse
    • Assault and Battery
    • Homicide
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    • Sharing Obscene Materials
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vista crimminal law logo
  • Attorney Peter M. Liss
  • (760) 643-4050
  • 380 S Melrose Drive #301 Vista, CA 92081

Copyright 2003, 2024 Peter M. Liss, Esq. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


About the Legal Information on This Website

I rely on my experience as a top defense lawyer in my area to personally review all information on this site; however the information offered here should not substitute as legal advice. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Vista, please contact a qualified criminal defense attorney.

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