If water comes into contact with pipes containing lead, the water can be contaminated, especially if the pipes are corroded. Lead-contaminated water can have several harmful effects. In children, even low lead exposure has been associated with nervous system damage, altered height, hearing loss, learning disabilities and blood cell disorders. Bob Egelko has been a journalist since June 1970. He spent 30 years at The Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasional sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco beginning in 1984. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000 and joined The Chronicle in November 2000. On February 24, federal agents raided more than 100 homes and businesses across the country selling bongs and pipes prized by marijuana smokers. Fifty people, including six in Northern California, have been charged with trafficking illicit drug paraphernalia. Even if the state is able to fill out all three elements to prove possession of drug paraphernalia, you still have a valid defense if any of the evidence against you was obtained illegally. The Constitution grants you certain rights, and the courts have ruled that if your rights are violated during a search, the police cannot use the evidence they find against you. Known as the “fruit of the poisonous tree,” this evidence can include any item seized during a search of your car or home. It can also prevent law enforcement from using confessions made during or after the illegal search. But federal law that trumps state laws continues to classify marijuana as the most dangerous narcotic, in the same category as heroin.
State prosecutors have stepped up raids on medical marijuana suppliers in California and secured convictions even though the state legalized medical marijuana in 1996. The Lead-Free Plumbing Act applies to anyone who installs or repairs new pipes in a public water system or in a water system intended for human consumption. Of course, this includes homeowners, as we all drink water that comes from the pipes in our home. As you may already know, we now know that it`s best to avoid lead pipes – years of use can make many people sick. The law, like most laws, can be a bit confusing for those of you who aren`t lawyers or plumbers. But don`t worry! I`m here today to provide you with a quick FAQ for homeowners about California`s lead-free plumbing law. It goes without saying that if the device in question was not drug paraphernalia, you have a valid defence. However, common household items can be drug paraphernalia, depending on the purpose. In addition, even items commonly used for smoking or injecting drugs may have other purposes. An officer may assume that a glass pipe was intended for the use of illegal drugs, but you have not broken any laws when you use it to smoke tobacco.
Lead was generally a very common additive in sanitary materials. However, since the 1980s and the amendment of the Safe Drinking Water Act, lead has been considered a drinking water concern. This is because pipes can corrode over time and leach lead into water. My first tip would be to update the plumbing on your old home. While it may certainly seem like a tall order, replacing your pipes has many other benefits than simply reducing the lead content of your water. New pipes can increase water pressure, repair leaks, and improve the color, odor, taste, and quality of your water. California has passed several laws to reduce lead contamination in drinking water. In particular, legislation was passed in 2010 to ensure that pipes, installers, fasteners, solder agents or streams containing lead cannot be used to install or repair a public water system or a water supply system intended for human consumption. In addition, retailers cannot sell lead-containing pipes, fittings or accessories. All sanitary ware must be lead-free. Every criminal complaint has valid defenses that can be used by an experienced criminal defense attorney. In a paraphernalia case, it is important for your defence lawyer to demonstrate that the facts surrounding your case do not meet all the elements the prosecutor needs to reach a conviction.
The evidence used against you must also have been legally acquired; If the evidence was discovered during an illegal search or seizure, your lawyer may be able to dismiss the evidence against you. If replacing your pipes seems too daunting at this time, you can reduce your exposure to lead by installing a water filtration system. Not only does it remove heavy metals like lead from your water, but a water filtration system also removes harmful chemicals like chlorine that the city puts in the water. 95 dbA is the legal limit for vehicle exhaust noise in California. Police can “exercise judgment” to determine if your exhaust noise is above the legal limit. Most factory-installed exhaust systems do not exceed 75 decibels, even in powerful sports cars. What do lead pipes look like? Their color is usually a dull gray with a slightly blue tint.
