Bail Bonds in Anaheim Tag

strange-laws-from-california When people think about laws, they often think about sensible rules that make sense. However, it is important to remember that laws are made by people, and this means that some real nonsense can be made into actual laws that govern the people. This is true of every country, state, and city. California is no exception. The Golden State is home to its own bits of weirdness thanks to some odd laws. Many of these laws were created long ago, and as such, show their age. Others are a little more recent, and while it may be possible to see what the lawmaker was going for, the wording of the law isn't quite right.

Why Are These Even Laws?

California became a state on September 9, 1850. Over the last 170 year period, a lot of laws have been enacted and removed across the state’s 160,000 square miles. Some of the laws have made sense, such as don’t steal from people and don’t kill each other. Others are a bit stranger. Some of the weirder laws that are still technically active in California include:
  • A person can only wear cowboy boots in Blythe if they own two or more cows
  • A person cannot wash someone else’s car without the owner’s permission in Los Angeles
  • Cursing on a golf course in Long Beach is illegal
  • Detonating a nuclear device in Chico will result in a $500 fine
  • Flying a kite higher than 10 feet is illegal in the city of Walnut
  • Garages in San Francisco are meant for storing personal vehicles and nothing else
  • In California, it is illegal for women to drive cars while wearing housecoats
  • In San Francisco, ugly people are not allowed to walk down the street
  • It is illegal to drive in reverse in Glendale
  • It is illegal to pour salt on Hermosa Beach streets
  • Men and boys are not allowed to dress as women in Walnut unless it is for a play, or they receive a permit from the sheriff
  • Peacocks always have the right of way in Arcadia
  • San Diego homeowners can be fined $250 for having their Christmas lights up after February 2nd
  • Vehicles without drivers cannot drive over 60 mph
  • Visitors of Fresno city parks are prohibited from bothering lizards
  • Women may not wear high heels in Carmel city limits
what-is-solicitation

What Is Solicitation?

There are things out there that some people might want to do, but can't because it is illegal. For most people, that is enough for them to let the idea go altogether. However, some people still want to do whatever illegal thing it was that they were thinking of, and they might just have a way around the law. To stay out of trouble and still get the illegal task done, some people resort to hiring someone else to do the deed for them. They think this leaves them free and clear, but it does not. Hiring someone to commit a crime is just as illegal as committing the crime itself.

The Definition of Solicitation

The act of hiring or convincing someone else to commit a crime is referred to as solicitation. This crime is covered under 2 different laws, Penal Code (PC) 647 and PC 653(f). PC 647 is solely concerned with someone soliciting another person for lewd acts and/or prostitution. If a person tries to convince another person to commit a lewd or sexual act in public, then they are guilty of disorderly conduct. The same is true if a person tries to solicit another individual with prostitution. Meanwhile, PC 653(f) covers solicitation of pretty much every other criminal act. Some examples of crimes that are covered under this law include:
  • Arson,
  • Assault,
  • Burglary,
  • Extortion,
  • Murder,
  • Rape,
  • Robbery,
  • And theft.

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Difference-Between-These-3-Crimes

Is There a Difference Between These 3 Crimes?

When it comes to the criminal legal system, there is a lot that the general public may be misinformed on, and it’s understandable. California has thousands of complex laws and ordinances filled with cryptic language known as legalese that contribute to misconceptions. A common misconception is that theft, burglary, and robbery are all the same crime. However, they are not. The law views each one differently. Each crime has specific circumstances tied to it that helps distinguish it from the others.

What Is Theft in California?

Theft is defined under California Penal Code (PC) 484 as the wrongful taking of someone else's property. This can be done in a number of ways, such as taking an item, or money, when no one is looking or lying to get someone to hand over an item or money. This crime is broken up into two categories, petty and grand. Which category a person falls into depends on the monetary value of what was stolen. If the monetary value of the stolen goods is under $950, then the thief will be charged with petty theft. If the monetary value is over $950, then the person will face grand theft charges. The consequences for theft are dependent on which version a person has been accused of. For petty theft, a person faces misdemeanor charges that come with:
  • Up to 6 months in county jail
  • A max fine of $1,000
US-Counterfeiting-Laws Money is a very precious resource that everyone spends a lot of time trying to get. After all, this is why everyone goes to work five days a week. It is safe to assume that if people weren’t getting paid, then they wouldn’t go to work. That being said, money isn’t easy to get, but everyone needs it to pay bills, purchase food, and hopefully have some leftover for something fun. Since money can be so difficult to earn, some people try to take shortcuts in order to get more for themselves. One particular way that they do this is by making their own money. This seems like such a simple thing, a person printing their own money, but as many correctly assumed, it is very illegal.

Why Counterfeiting Is Bad

The idea of simply making more money so everyone can have enough sounds like a simple solution to poverty, however, it is not that simple. Basic economics shows that the more of something there is, the less valuable it is. This is why dirt is considered worthless, because it is available everywhere, while diamonds are so valuable. The same holds true for money. The more bills that the US Treasury prints, the less valuable they become. This devaluing is why the US Treasury only prints so much money. This is also why it is illegal for someone other than the US Treasury to print US money.

US Law On Counterfeiting

The crime of money counterfeiting is made illegal under 18 US Code § 471. This law states that anyone who intentionally makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any obligation or security of the United States is guilty of counterfeiting. In this description, security is used to mean money. It, combined with obligation, also has the added benefit of including other valuable pieces of paper, including:
  • Treasury bills,
  • Federal Reserve notes,Bonds,
  • Other financial instruments issued by the federal government.

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happy-easter

Don’t Give Up on Easter

It is a little hard to believe, but Easter has arrived. March somehow managed to simultaneously take its time and disappear in a flash thanks to all of the lock-downs. Weeks ago there had been hope that the lock-downs would be gone come Easter, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Now, most Easter celebrations have been canceled to ensure that everyone stays safe. This is a real bummer for a lot of people, especially kids. Easter celebrations can be a whole lot of fun and missing out on them is disappointing. Luckily, there are still ways for people to celebrate Easter without breaking any lock-down rules.

Tips for Celebrating Easter on Lock-down

The ongoing pandemic and lock-downs can make celebrating Easter a bit harder this year, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t try. This is especially true for people with kids who honestly need some fun at this point. Heck, everyone could use a break from the stress right about now. To help with that, here are some ideas on how to celebrate Easter safely this year while under lock-down.
  • Dress up. Even if you aren’t going anywhere, dressing up can still be fun, so go ahead and do it anyway. Doing so will be a nice change of pace, and there will be no one there to judge you on it anyway.
  • Create a playlist. Putting on music can always make things cheerier. You can put on worship music or whatever you feel like so long as you enjoy it, it helps lighten the mood, and it feels Easter-y to you.
  • Create homemade cards. Have the family sit down and create homemade cards to send to friends and family members to let them know you are thinking of them this holiday.
  • Dye eggs. If you can safely get a hold of some white eggs, nothing is stopping you from keeping with this tradition. If you can't get a hold of eggs, don't worry. You can make paper eggs and decorate those instead. Then they can be placed all over the house and you don't have to worry about them going bad and stinking up the place.
  • Have an egg hunt. Again, this one may be a bit tricky due to the quarantine, but nothing is stopping you from going into your backyard and hiding plastic eggs. If you can't get plastic eggs, you could hide the paper eggs you decorated. It won't be the same as finding candy-filled eggs, but the joy of the search will still be there. If you are stuck in an apartment, then just hide the eggs around the house.
  • Set the table. Just because you aren't going out and no one is coming over doesn't mean that you can't use your nice dinnerware. Set up the table and enjoy being fancy for a meal or two.
  • Meet loved ones online. There are plenty of video calling apps that can allow you to see your friends and family members for the holiday without breaking quarantine. Just be sure to set up the proper privacy settings. If everyone else dressed up, then you could even have a mini-fashion show to show off everyone's outfits.
  • Go to church online. Thanks to the modern age, many churches can host their services online. This means that you do not have to miss out on the holiday service just because you are stuck at home.
  • Create something new. Don't look at it as the virus is keeping you from doing something that you'll miss. Instead, use this as a chance to create a new tradition that you can look forward to for years to come.

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