XPost: alt.politics.liberalism, alt.politics.obama, misc.immigration.usa   
   XPost: or.politics   
   From: metoo@cnn.com   
      
   Section 148 of the California Penal Code makes it a crime to   
   willfully "resist, delay or obstruct" a police officer or   
   emergency medical technician in the performance of on-the-job   
   duties. This also includes knowingly and maliciously   
   interrupting or impeding with the transmission of communication   
   through a public safety radio frequency. In both cases, you   
   could be fined up to $1,000 and sent to county jail for up to   
   one year if you are convicted. You will also have to live with a   
   criminal record.   
      
   The state legal system is set up to give police officers the   
   ability to carry out their functions with minimal interference,   
   and you will face arrest and prosecution if you are perceived to   
   be interfering with the operation of law. In fact, you could be   
   charged with the crime of obstructing justice for doing   
   virtually anything that constitutes an attempt to prevent a   
   police officer from performing their duties. Do not discuss your   
   case with investigators before you meet with a Los Angeles   
   criminal defense lawyer.   
      
   In California, you could be prosecuted for obstructing justice   
   if you:   
      
   Lie to a police officer during an investigation   
   Provide a police officer with misleading information   
   *****************************************************   
   Try to prevent an arrest (your own or someone else's)   
   *****************************************************   
   Attempt to bar the free passage of a police officer   
   Offer or prepare false evidence in court proceedings   
   Destroy or attempt to conceal material evidence   
   Dissuade a witness or prevent them from testifying.   
      
   OFFERING OR PREPARING FALSE EVIDENCE   
   Under California Penal Code Sections 132 and 134, it is a crime   
   to knowingly present false written evidence during any kind of   
   legal proceeding and/or prepare false evidence with the intent   
   to use it in a legal proceeding. Both of these offenses are   
   considered to be an obstruction of justice and could lead to   
   serious legal penalties if you are convicted. Offering or   
   preparing false evidence is a felony offense in the state, which   
   means that you could be sentenced to as much as three years in   
   state prison.   
      
   DESTROYING OR CONCEALING EVIDENCE   
   Under California Penal Code Section 135, it is also a crime to   
   knowingly destroy or conceal material evidence that is relevant   
   to a court case or legal investigation. Most people assume that   
   this is only relevant in criminal cases, but this is not   
   necessarily true. You could still be charged with obstruction of   
   justice if you knowingly destroy or conceal evidence that is   
   relevant to non-criminal court proceedings—which could include,   
   for example, destroying evidence in a divorce case or civil   
   litigation case.   
      
   PREVENTING A WITNESS FROM TESTIFYING   
   Under California Penal Code Section 136.1, it is a crime to   
   knowingly prevent a witness or the victim of a crime from   
   testifying in court or even reporting the crime to the   
   authorities. This could include making direct threats against   
   the witness and/or members of their family, offering money in   
   exchange for their silence or even leaving covert messages   
   indicating that the witness could be harmed if they attempt to   
   testify or report the crime. This offense could either be   
   charged as a misdemeanor or felony.   
        
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)