WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called bond, release before trial

Release pending trial, to which a person in custody is admitted unless there is probable cause to believe they will not appear or would be an unreasonable danger. The terms take the person's ability to pay into account.

Also called pointing a gun

Pointing, holding or brandishing a firearm, or an object that looks like one, so as to reasonably cause another to fear being shot or injured, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Also called misdemeanor

The highest misdemeanor class, punishable by up to twelve months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.

Also called CHP, carry permit, concealed carry

A five year permit to carry a concealed handgun, for which a person 21 or older applies to the circuit court clerk where they live.

Also called VCPA, deceptive practices

The act listing prohibited practices in consumer transactions, ending with any other deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise or misrepresentation. A person who suffers loss may sue for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater.

Also called vicious dog

A dog a court finds directly caused serious injury to a person, such as a laceration, a broken bone or a substantial puncture of the skin by teeth, or killed or seriously injured a dog or cat.

Also called no answer to FOIA

What a public body's failure to respond to a records request within five working days is treated as, and a violation of the law.

Also called disturbing the peace

With intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, conduct in a public place with a direct tendency to cause violence by the people it is aimed at, or disrupting a funeral, a public meeting, a school or a place of worship.

Also called police brutality, unreasonable force

Any force that is objectively unreasonable given the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the crime, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat, and whether the suspect is actively resisting or fleeing.

Also called false name, lying about name

Falsely identifying oneself to a law enforcement officer with intent to deceive about one's real identity, after being lawfully detained and asked to identify oneself, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Also called domestic violence, domestic abuse

An act of violence, force or threat by a family or household member that causes bodily injury or places someone in reasonable apprehension of death, sexual assault or bodily injury.

Also called wage garnishment

Taking part of a debtor's pay for a debt, limited for an ordinary debt to the lesser of 25 percent of a week's disposable earnings or the amount by which they exceed 40 times the minimum hourly wage.

Also called felony theft

Larceny of goods of $1,000 or more, $5 or more from the person, or any firearm, a felony.

Also called phone while driving, hands free law

A phone or similar device it is unlawful to hold while driving a moving motor vehicle on the highway, with a $125 fine for a first offense.

Also called door to door sale, cooling off

A sale the buyer may cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing, by written notice in any form showing the buyer does not intend to be bound.

Also called wildcard exemption

A householder's exemption, from property of their choosing including money, of up to $5,000, or $10,000 at 65 or older, plus up to $50,000 in a principal residence.

Also called refusal, breath test after arrest

The rule under which unreasonably refusing the breath test after an arrest is a civil offense the first time, with a one year suspension of the privilege to drive.

Also called lemon law

The period ending 18 months after a new vehicle's original delivery, within which a defect that significantly impairs use, market value or safety and is not fixed after a reasonable number of attempts leads to a replacement or refund.

Also called double wages, unpaid wages penalty

An amount equal to the unpaid wages that the court awards on top of them in a suit for unpaid wages, with prejudgment interest and attorney fees; the award is triple the wages when the employer knowingly failed to pay.

Also called separation, no fault divorce

The no fault divorce ground: one year without cohabitation or interruption, or six months with a separation agreement and no minor children.

Also called cannabis, weed

For a person 21 or older, not more than two ounces on the person or in public is lawful, and up to four plants may be grown for personal use at the main residence.

Also called dividing property, equitable distribution

Property the court classifies as marital rather than separate, values and divides on either party's request, weighing the contributions, the length of the marriage and the other factors the section lists.

Also called fired for cause

A reason for discharge connected with the work that disqualifies a claimant from unemployment benefits until working again for 30 days or 240 hours, then being separated.

Also called walk through, final inspection

The landlord's inspection at the end of a tenancy, which a tenant who asks in writing may attend; it is made within 72 hours of the tenant giving up possession.

Also called chokehold, carotid restraint

A restraint the chapter defines to include chokeholds, carotid restraints and lateral vascular neck restraints, prohibited unless immediately necessary to protect the officer or another person from death or serious bodily injury.

Also called no knock raid

A warrant to enter without announcing, which no officer may seek or execute. At a home the officer gives audible notice of authority and purpose before executing a warrant.

Also called obstructing an officer, resisting arrest

Knowingly obstructing an officer in the performance of duty without just cause, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Resisting arrest is defined as fleeing to prevent a lawful arrest, after the officer applies physical force or communicates that the person is under arrest.

Also called recording a call, wiretap

The rule that it is not an offense to intercept a communication one is a party to, or one where a party gave prior consent. Intercepting otherwise is a Class 6 felony.

Also called open container

The driver's seat, anywhere within the driver's reach including an unlocked glove box, and the passenger seats, where an open container with some of the drink gone creates a rebuttable presumption that the driver has been drinking.

Also called 14 day notice, eviction notice

The written notice for rent unpaid when due, stating that the agreement ends if the rent is not paid within 14 days.

Also called shoplifting, petty theft

Larceny of goods under $1,000, or under $5 from the person, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Concealing a store's merchandise intending to take it without paying is petit larceny under $1,000.

Also called roadside breath test, PBT

The roadside breath test a person stopped on suspicion of DUI has the right to refuse. The refusal is not evidence in the prosecution, and the result is not admitted at trial.

Also called restraining order

An order against family abuse running for a specified period up to two years, or up to four after an earlier order within 10 years, and expiring at 11:59 p.m. on its last day.

Also called speeding reckless, 20 over

A Class 1 misdemeanor that speed alone can make: driving 20 miles per hour or more over the applicable limit, or over 85 miles per hour regardless of the limit.

Also called retaliatory eviction

A landlord's raising rent, reducing services, or suing or threatening to sue for possession after learning that the tenant complained to a code agency, complained or sued under the landlord and tenant law, joined a tenant organization, or testified against the landlord.

Also called record sealing, clearing a record

Closing the records of an arrest, charge or conviction to the public, except for the purposes the law allows; an agency asked about a sealed record says that no record exists, unless disclosure is permitted.

Also called deposit, damage deposit

A deposit of no more than two months' periodic rent, applied at the end of the tenancy only to unpaid rent and late charges, damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, other charges in the agreement, and actual damages for breaking it.

Also called small claims division

The court that hears civil claims of up to $5,000, not counting interest, where every party represents itself.

Also called following, harassment

Conduct on more than one occasion, in person or by mail, phone or electronic communication, directed at another with intent to place them in reasonable fear of death, sexual assault or bodily injury, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Also called rent escrow, paying rent into court

A filing in the general district court over a condition such as no heat or running water, by a tenant who gave the landlord written notice and pays the rent into court within five days of each due date.

Also called eviction case, eviction

The court summons by which a landlord seeks possession. For a residential tenancy the first hearing is as soon as practicable and not more than 21 days after filing, and the summons is served at least 10 days before the return day.

Also called lockout, utility shutoff

A landlord's willfully, without court authority, removing or excluding the tenant, interrupting an essential service, or making the premises unsafe. The court can put the tenant back in and restore the service.