The Street Law Handbook: Surviving Sex, Drugs, and Petty Crime [Hardcover]

Neeraja Viswanathan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2004

Who knew the law could be so much fun?

Can you be arrested for wearing a thong if you're ugly? Unknowingly renting a house to drug dealers? Becoming too familiar with your Halloween pumpkin?

The Street Law Handbook answers these questions and more, as lawyer Neeraja Viswanathan cracks the tough nut of small-time law enforcement and lays the rules bare. Exactly how much pot do you need to have in your possession to warrant a felony conviction? What merits a strip search, and exactly how much is an officer allowed to inspect? Can you really have sex in a cab? If you've ever felt the desire to act impulsively but weren't sure of the consequences, this is the book to consult. Combining straightforward legal information, hilarious true tales of small-time crimes, and handy legal definitions that will, if nothing else, make you a smarter Law & Order viewer, The Street Law Handbook is a fun and informative layman's guide that puts the ease in legalese.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lawyers are always being asked for casual advice on the law. Attorney Viswanathan took that professional hazard and turned it into a brief guide on everyday legal issues for the layperson: how much pot can warrant a felony conviction, how many drinks can get you arrested, and when can you claim entrapment, for instance She covers federal, state, and local laws, noting how their enforcement varies from place to place, but focuses on issues involving sex, drugs, and petty crimes--not lawsuits. Drawing on her own experiences as well as interviews with other lawyers, Viswanathan offers street-law concepts on general legal concepts, including controlled substances, contraband, entrapment, probable cause, reasonable suspicion, and a variety of other topics. She follows with vignettes of real-life cases and solid advice on legal rights. Her caveat: the book is no substitute for real legal advice or common sense and is not intended to encourage law breaking. This is a quick and easy reference work and a meaningful approach to dealing with legal encounters. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Neeraja Viswanathan graduated from Fordham University School of Law and has practiced corporate litigation and criminal defense on Wall Street. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Advocate, Ladies' Home Journal, and on Nerve.com. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (October 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582344914
• ISBN-13: 978-1582344911
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,733,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastically fun and informative read, November 10, 2004

By 

r.patrick (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Street Law Handbook: Surviving Sex, Drugs, and Petty Crime (Hardcover)

I picked this book up as a gift, but found it to be so much fun and really informative. So I guess I'm buying a second copy! The examples are a blast to read, and actually make you understand the legal issues. This book shouldn't be stuck in a legal reference section - it's too much fun. I highly recommend this book for anyone (not just legal people) - and it makes a great gift!

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and fun, November 10, 2004

By 

A. Mcgee - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Street Law Handbook: Surviving Sex, Drugs, and Petty Crime (Hardcover)

I liked the book a lot. The law bits are easily understandable and the case studies very amusing. The authors style is fun, informal and saucy. Also check out the author's picture, she's a cuty.

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME, October 26, 2004

By 

msmarlowe "msmarlowe" (DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Street Law Handbook: Surviving Sex, Drugs, and Petty Crime (Hardcover)

this book is really hilarious and lots of fun!! i'm learning all about law and i think this is the perfect gift book for your favorite law student!! the cases alone are worth the price--i luv the way the author has chosen clever names for the actual crooks. plus, it has all the information you think about about drugs seex and legal issues that real people think about, but never get up the nerve to ask. the best!