Ding dong ditching, or as many people in San Diego call it, “doorbell ditching,” involves ringing people’s doorbells and running away before they answer. The game is nothing new, dating back at least to the 1800s, when it was called “ring and run,” “knock, knock, ginger,” “knock door run,” “Knicky nine doors,” and “knocky door […]
Public Urination Laws and Sex Offender Registration in California
While most people support sex offender registration laws, many still fear the repercussions of getting labeled as a sex offender for a non-sexual act. One of the most common concerns is that simply urinating in public could be considered a sex crime, possibly ruining someone’s life for what should be a minor infraction. Because these […]
Peeping Tom Laws In California: California Penal Code Sections 647 (i) and (j) (PC)
California law has two penal code subsections to protect the public from violations of their privacy by those commonly called “peeping Toms.” The first covers peeking at someone while loitering, while the second involves using a device of some kind to violate someone’s privacy. If you have been accused of either of these crimes, a […]
Disturbing the Peace in Vista: California Penal Code Section 415 (PC)
When people talk about disorderly conduct, if they’re in California, the behavior they are describing is actually considered disturbing the peace. There are three types of behaviors covered by California Penal Code 415 (PC), these include playing excessively loud music, getting in a fight in public, or even using certain words. While these crimes may […]
Is Mutual Combat a Defense Against Assault Charges in California?
On any given day in any given city in the US, chances are that two people will engage in a verbal disagreement that ends up in a fistfight. But can you fight someone if you both agree? It depends where you are, but in California, fist fights are technically against the law, whether or not […]
Vista, California Rioting Laws: Penal Code 404 (PC)
Vista and the rest of San Diego County are pretty laid-back, which means riots are, fortunately, a rarity here. But on occasion, they do happen. If a riot breaks out around you, avoiding the fray is not just a good idea from a safety standpoint but also from a legal perspective because participating in a […]
In Vista and California, Upskirt Photography Is Considered Disorderly Conduct
You may have recently heard about the new ruling in Massachusetts dealing with “upskirt” photos. According to the judge, under the state’s current laws as the victims are in public and not nude, so taking photos of them, with or without their permission, is technically legal. While this is shocking news for the legal community […]
