Yes– if the conversation is being taped surreptitiously- that is, secretly. Illegal recording of a conversation is prohibited under the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Law. A recent Superior Court holding in Commonwealth v. Smith determined that an iPhone is a device which falls under the Pennsylvania’s wiretap act. The Superior Court ruled that Read More
Dear Parents: Is your son or daughter a Penn State Student and have they been contacted by an investigator or perhaps a law enforcement officer in the State College area? Chances are if you’re searching for lawyers you have ended up on this page for a reason. The attorneys at The Mazza Law Group Read More
Many people have the mistaken belief that their juvenile record is expunged when they reach the age of 18. While juvenile records are not available to the general public, your record is not automatically wiped clean at the age of 18, and records of charges, adjudications and dispositions can be maintained and viewed by Read More
YES. (With one exception- keep reading!) The Borough of State College, Pennsylvania prohibits open containers under borough ordinance, Chapter V Conduct, Part C, Liquor Control, Section 302, which states: It shall be unlawful for any person to possess an open container of alcoholic beverage on any public street, public sidewalk, public alley or public Read More
In an en banc opinion, The Pennsylvania Superior Court recently decided that, because DNA testing could potentially establish the defendant’s “actual innocence” he is entitled to post-conviction relief, and DNA testing may be conducted on evidence collected from a crime scene in 1981. IN RE: JOHN MARSHALL PAYNE, III On December 17, 1981, the Read More
UPDATE: On February 16, Governor Wolf signed a law granting limited access to misdemeanors, which will take effect in 270 days. Those who are eligible, and obtain who obtain relief under this law will be able to avoid the impediments to employment and housing. This new law will allow eligible individuals to petition the Read More
There were two major developments in juvenile justice yesterday. The United States Supreme Court, decided that its earlier opinion which outlawed juvenile life sentences of imprisonment without the opportunity of parole would be applied retroactively.[1] Offenders who were minors at the time of their crimes, even if they occurred decades ago, may now seek Read More
Have you been stopped for DUI? Motorists arrested for drunken driving don’t have the right to pick what type of blood-alcohol test they will submit to under the state’s implied-consent law, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on December 29, 2015. (Nardone v. Pa. Dep’t of Transp., 2015 BL 429928, Pa., No. 141 MAP 2014, Read More
Window tint can make vehicles look sharp, provide some privacy for the driver and passengers while on the road, and keeps the inside of the vehicle cool on hot summer days. Tint comes in many forms, blocking from as little as 10% to much as 95% of light from entering the vehicle. The more Read More
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Is intoxication a defense to criminal charges in Pennsylvania? Bad decisions can lead to criminal charges, and are often the result of impaired judgment. Impaired judgement is the frequent side effect (and sometimes the goal) of ingesting alcohol or controlled substances. The battle cry of Read More