WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called under arrest

Complete when the person submits to an officer who has indicated an intention to arrest, or when the officer takes the person into custody by physical force; the officer then says it is an arrest and why, unless the cause is evident.

Also called self help repossession limit

The one condition on a secured party that takes collateral back without judicial process, such as a car bought on credit. It may do that only if it proceeds without breach of the peace.

Also called mandated reporter, child abuse report

What starts the duty of any person or institution to report a juvenile who is abused, neglected or dependent, or has died as a result of maltreatment, to the director of the department of social services in the county where the juvenile lives or is found.

Also called car seat, booster seat

A weight appropriate restraint meeting the federal standards in force when it was made, required for a child less than eight years of age and less than 80 pounds.

Also called assault on a female, aggravated misdemeanor

The highest misdemeanor class. An assault becomes one when it inflicts serious injury, uses a deadly weapon, is by a male at least 18 on a female, or is against a child under 12, among the other cases listed.

Also called small estate affidavit, small estate

Collecting the personal property of a person who died without a will, worth not more than twenty thousand dollars less liens and encumbrances, without a personal representative being appointed. An heir, a creditor or the public administrator may do it at any time after 30 days from the date of death.

Also called CHP, carry permit

The permit, valid statewide for five years, the sheriff issues to an applicant 21 or older who has lived in the state 30 days and completed an approved safety and training course, among the other criteria.

Also called shoplifting

Willfully concealing a store's unpurchased goods while still on the premises, a misdemeanor; goods found concealed on the person are evidence of willful concealment.

Also called first offender program, 90-96

Probation without a judgment of guilt for a person with no earlier felony or drug conviction found guilty of misdemeanor possession, paraphernalia possession, or felony possession; completing it means discharge and dismissal.

Also called can i search your car, consent

A search without a warrant on consent, which is a statement to the officer, made voluntarily, giving permission to search.

Also called medical records fee, charge for records

The reasonable fee a health care provider may charge to cover searching, handling, copying and mailing medical records, up to the maximum the section sets for each request, with a minimum fee of up to ten dollars.

Also called stalking

Two or more acts of following, monitoring, observing, surveilling, threatening or communicating to or about a person, or interfering with their property, which stalking is built on.

Also called IVC, involuntary commitment, mental health hold

An order a clerk of superior court or a magistrate issues, on an affidavit and reasonable grounds, directing a law enforcement officer or other designated person to take a person into custody for examination by a commitment examiner. The person is taken into custody within 24 hours after the order is signed.

Also called potentially dangerous dog

A dog that without provocation killed or severely injured a person, one found potentially dangerous by the local animal control authority's designee, or one kept for dog fighting; its owner is strictly liable for injuries it inflicts.

Also called alimony

The spouse alimony is paid to, on the court's finding that one spouse is dependent, the other supporting, and an award is equitable.

Also called disturbing the peace

A public disturbance intentionally caused by fighting or violence, or by words, gestures or abusive language intended and plainly likely to provoke violent retaliation, a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Also called 50B, protective order

Causing or attempting bodily injury, placing someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury or continued harassment, or a sexual offense, against a person by someone with whom they have or had a personal relationship.

Also called dividing marital property

The court's division of marital and divisible property, equal by net value unless an equal division is not equitable.

Also called Good Samaritan, helping at an accident

Help a person gives voluntarily and without expectation of compensation to someone unconscious, ill or injured when delay would seriously worsen their condition or endanger their life. The person is not liable for resulting injury or death unless it was caused by gross negligence, wanton conduct or intentional wrongdoing.

Also called habitability, repairs

The condition the landlord makes all repairs needed to put and keep the premises in, complying with building and housing codes and keeping the systems and supplied appliances in good working order.

Also called running from police, police chase

Driving while fleeing or trying to elude an officer in the lawful performance of duty, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and a Class H felony with two or more aggravating factors present.

Also called closed session minutes

The record a public body keeps of a closed session, alongside full and accurate minutes, so that a person not in attendance would have a reasonable understanding of what transpired.

Also called quitting for good cause

The reason a person who left work has to show to avoid disqualification. A one sided, permanent cut of more than 50 percent in hours, or more than 15 percent in pay, is presumed to be one.

Also called initiation, pledging

Subjecting a student to physical or serious psychological injury as part of an initiation into, or a prerequisite to membership in, an organized school group, including a society, athletic team, fraternity or sorority.

Also called exempt property

The part of a debtor's interest in the home they or a dependent live in kept from creditors, up to $35,000, or $60,000 for an unmarried debtor 65 or older whose co owner has died.

Also called DWI, drunk driving

Driving while under the influence of an impairing substance, after consuming enough alcohol to have a concentration of 0.08 or more, or with any amount of a Schedule I controlled substance in the blood or urine.

Also called chemical analysis, breath test

The rule that anyone who drives on a highway or public vehicular area has consented to a chemical analysis if charged with an implied consent offense. A refusal revokes the license for one year.

Also called dying without a will, intestate, heirs

Who inherits when a person dies without a will. The surviving spouse's share is set separately for real property and for personal property, and in each case depends on who else survives.

Also called theft, stealing

Theft, a Class 1 misdemeanor where the goods are worth $1,000 or less, and a Class H felony above that or when taken from the person, whatever the value.

Also called late charge

A charge allowed only when rent is five calendar days or more late; for monthly rent it cannot exceed $15 or 5 percent of the rent, whichever is greater.

Also called body camera footage, dashcam

A recording by a body worn camera, dashboard camera or other device during law enforcement duties, which is not a public record. A person whose image or voice is in it may ask in writing to view it.

Also called double wages

An amount equal to the unpaid wages that the court awards on top of them, unless the employer shows good faith and reasonable grounds.

Also called fired for cause

Willful or wanton disregard of the employer's interest, deliberately breaking standards the employer can expect, or carelessness so serious or repeated that it shows intentional disregard; it disqualifies a claimant from benefits.

Also called expungement eligible

Any offense except, among others, a Class A through G felony or a Class A1 misdemeanor, an offense with assault as an element, or one requiring sex offender registration; nonviolent convictions can be expunged after the waiting periods the section sets.

Also called notice to leave, end of tenancy notice

The notice ending a periodic tenancy: seven days for month to month, two days for week to week, and one month or more before the end of the year for year to year.

Also called open meeting, public meeting

A gathering at any time or place, or a simultaneous conference by telephone or other electronic means, of a majority of the members of a public body for the purpose of conducting hearings, deliberating, voting or otherwise transacting public business.

Also called recording a call, wiretap

The consent the interception law asks for: intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication without the consent of at least one party to it is a Class H felony. A person taking part in a conversation is a party to it.

Also called alcohol in the car

An alcoholic beverage in the passenger area in anything other than the unopened original container. For the driver it is a crime only together with drinking or alcohol remaining in the body.

Also called bail, bond, secured bond

Release before trial on at least one of the conditions the statute lists: an unsecured appearance bond, custody of a supervising person, a secured bond, or house arrest with a secured bond.

Also called domestic violence lease termination

A tenant who may end a rental agreement by written notice effective at least 30 days after the landlord receives it, with a copy of a qualifying protective order, criminal order or Address Confidentiality Program card.

Also called public records law

Any document, recording or data, in any form, made or received in connection with public business by a state or local government office; the law calls public records the property of the people.

Also called parking lot

One of the places, besides a highway or street, where impaired driving and the under 21 rules apply.

Also called redemption, get the car back

To get collateral back by tendering fulfillment of all obligations it secures, plus the reasonable expenses and attorney's fees the Code describes. A debtor, a secondary obligor, or another secured party or lienholder may do it.

Also called holding back rent

Keeping back rent over the landlord's failures, which a tenant may not do on their own before a court determines there is a right to do so.

Also called RDO, resisting arrest

Willfully and unlawfully resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer discharging or attempting to discharge an official duty, a Class 2 misdemeanor when the officer is not injured.

Also called retaliation

A defense in summary ejectment that the landlord's action is substantially in response to a protected act, such as a good faith repair request or complaint, within 12 months before the case was filed.

Also called marijuana, weed

The schedule marijuana is on. Possessing one half of an ounce or less is a Class 3 misdemeanor, with any sentence of imprisonment suspended.

Also called trespassing, told to leave

Entering or remaining without authorization after being told not to enter or to leave, or on premises posted against entry in a way reasonably likely to be noticed, a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Also called data breach, breach notice

What a business notifies each affected person of without unreasonable delay. Whenever affected persons are notified, the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's Office is told too, with the nature of the breach and the number affected.

Also called deposit

A deposit capped by how often rent is due: two weeks' rent in a week to week tenancy, one and one half months' rent in a month to month tenancy, and two months' rent for longer terms. It comes back with a written itemization within 30 days after the tenancy ends.

Also called lockout, changed the locks

Removing a residential tenant any way other than through the court procedures of the landlord and tenant chapter, which the state's stated policy forbids.

Also called separation, absolute divorce

The ground for divorce: either spouse may get one once they have lived separate and apart for one year and either has lived in the state for six months.

Also called small claims court, magistrate court

A civil action of up to $10,000, seeking mainly money, the return of property or summary ejectment, assigned to a magistrate.

Also called criminal speeding, over 80

Driving on a highway more than 15 miles per hour over the limit, or over 80 miles per hour, a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Also called eviction, eviction case

The court procedure by which a landlord removes a tenant, available after a demand to surrender the premises, when the tenant holds over, breaks a lease term that ends the tenancy, or deserts the premises behind on rent.

Also called UDTPA, consumer protection

Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts in or affecting commerce, which are unlawful; a person injured gets judgment for treble the damages the verdict fixes.