Don’t go breaking my heart – the law and infidelity
One of the things we enjoy most about being lawyers is the language of the law. The common law is particularly rich with Latin phrases, rhetorical flourishes and poetic language. Take for example, the...
View ArticleIs it legal to trap attic squirrels and other questions
We have written five columns since starting this project last October. Topics have ranged from the regulation of Halloween costumes to lawsuits against cheating spouses. For our sixth column we decided...
View ArticleSearch and seizure in suburbia
About a month ago, state and local police targeted the Exit 30 area of Davidson for a crackdown on criminal activity related to alcohol and drug use by motorists. The operation lasted four hours, and...
View ArticleThe legal ins-and-outs of sending your kids to work
“I’m so bored!” As predictably as the singing of cicadas, summer brings the familiar cry of ennui from children big and small. Fortunately, once your son or daughter reaches age 14 you can respond as...
View ArticleIs this you? What NC law says about texting & driving
Our Common Laws columnists Lyn & David Batty offer a primer on distracted driving rules. Click to read.
View ArticleSpeeding will cost you more than a fine
Second of two columns on traffic laws - Speeding is the most common traffic violation. During North Carolina’s “No Need 2 Speed” campaign in March, more than 14,500 speeding citations were issued in...
View ArticleFor drivers and cyclists, N.C. laws say share the road
The Third in Three articles on N.C. Traffic Laws Crafting laws and ordinances to allow pedestrians, bicycles and drivers to co-exist safely is often a difficult balancing act. Davidson has always been...
View ArticleWhat our traffic laws say about skateboards, horses, golf carts
Recently, the widespread popularity of skateboarding has prompted the Town of Davidson to explore an ordinance regulating the use of skateboards. All of the interest in the rules of the road made us...
View ArticleA closer look at the laws of parades
Holiday parades and festivals are the essence of small-town America. Long before Black Friday became an event, cities and towns used holiday festivals to draw customers to Main Street shopping...
View ArticleI want a red door, but my HOA says paint it black
There are many scary stories about Homeowners Associations. There are tales of people losing their homes to foreclosure because they painted their front doors the wrong color, or didn’t seek approval...
View ArticleEven during March Madness, Pat’s promise is no contract
A friend posted on Facebook that if he won the $1 billion NCAA bracket challenge, he'd share with us. It's moot now, but if he had won, would that promise be enforceable and could we collect the...
View ArticleSign, sign, everywhere a sign
Like spring daffodils, campaign signs seem to have sprouted up overnight. They're crowded around major intersections and filling the public right-of-way along major thoroughfares. Campaign signs are...
View ArticleWhatever happened to the Do Not Call Registry?
Anyone remember the Do Not Call list? The 2003 federal law signed by President Bush may have been the last piece of truly bi-partisan federal legislation. So why do we still get unwanted telemarketing...
View ArticleFor Valentine’s Day, a look at the laws of chocolate
Chocolate is one of the most popular foods in the world, and has become an integral part of the romance of Valentine’s Day. At the risk of killing the romance, we wanted to explore some of the laws and...
View ArticleShould I shovel? Slippery sidewalks and the law
While we were getting our coffee at Summit the other morning, one of our readers asked: “Who is responsible for keeping sidewalks free and clear of ice and snow?” That question is best answered by...
View ArticleWhat are the laws about gambling for charity?
Non-profit organizations have developed ingenious ways to raise money. Many groups, like the Sierra Club, sell memberships. The “Run for Green” is the signature fundraiser of the Davidson Lands...
View Article
