The 4th District Court of Appeal struck down San Diego’s curfew law, finding too many flaws in the current wording. The court claimed the law was too broad and failed to offer sufficient protections for the town’s youths. A similar law was struck down in 1997.
One of the biggest issues the court had with the law was the lack of provisions for teens to get to and from legal late-night events without being picked up by a parent. Justice Alex McDonald claimed that the law imposed unconstitutional restrictions on the teen’s first amendment rights.
The city is already taking steps to adapt the law to suit the court’s decision. In the meanwhile, police cannot enforce the curfew. At present, the law says a person under 18 cannot be out between 10 P.M. and 6 A.M. unless traveling to or from a job or accompanied by an adult. At the same time, the minors have the right to be at certain events between these times. The city claims the law’s aim is to protect teens from being victimized by crime and from participating in crime.
“It punishes the minor even though they may have parental permission,” said the San Diego criminal lawyer responsible for appealing the issue. “It gives them the right to attend these things, but punishes them for going.”
To read more on the matter, see the article on Sign on San Diego. Image via Erin MC Hammer [Flickr].
The Escondido police have developed a new, highly-effective method of tracking graffiti artists. Now whenever the police receive a call regarding a tagging incident, they take pictures of the vandalism with a camera equipped with GPS. This allows the department to use a graffiti specialist to identify other graffiti pieces done by the same person and help narrow down his or her home area and track the vandalism.
In a courtroom first, an fMRI brain scan was permitted to be used as evidence. The scan was entered into the trial by the defense attorney of Brian Dougan, who was accused of raping and murdering a 10 year old boy. The defense was hoping to use the evidence as proof that Dougan was psychopathic and therefore, ineligible for the death penalty. While he was still sentenced to death for his crimes, the use of fMRI scans in courtroom trials opens up new opportunities for defense attorneys everywhere.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told federal prosecutors to stop pursuing cases against medical marijuana patients. Drug advocates are hoping this is the first sign of the country’s willingness to legalize the drug, but 
October is 
Even as the state considers legalizing marijuana in an effort to increase tax revenues, the San Diego police have sent out a strong message that illegal drug-related activities will not be tolerated in the meantime. Last week, fourteen marijuana dispensaries were raided. A total of thirty one people were arrested, $700,000 in cash was seized, as well as six guns.