The Coachella Music Festival is coming here for the next two weekends…and then we have the Stagecoach Music festival the weekend after that. So April is full of music and love in our valley every year.

Unfortunately, it is also a time of arrest and misery for some people who do not read our blogs before coming to our beautiful valley for sun and fun.

We want you to have a good time during your visit here. So please listen (read) carefully. The promoters of these music festivals contract every year with the State of California’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) to work as undercover cops to arrest and prosecute fun-loving people who they suspect are violating state drug and/or alcohol laws. This includes fake ID use because the cops believe that someone who is not 21 years of age yet will obtain and try to use an ID that says they are of age to purchase, possess and drink alcoholic beverages. (See our 9-17-2021 blog)

California’s drug laws have become more lenient in the past few years. But the way they read in the Health and Safety Code, Penal Code and Vehicle Code has become much more complicated. So, we will generally summarize here what we believe to be the basics that you need to know.

The big difference is that here in the Coachella Valley, Riverside County, State of California the bounty for the cops to arrest and prosecute you is higher than it is at almost any other music festival in the country or world.

WHY?

We have our theories. You may have your theories. The fact is, we have represented hundreds of people over the past 15 years who have been arrested at music festivals in Coachella, and many have told us that they were shocked and surprised that they were arrested when they’ve been to festivals in northern California, the Midwest states, or on the east coast and they never saw the type or amount of undercover police presence as they have seen here.

Is there a quota system or bonus for number of arrests for the ABC cops working Coachella Fest instead of doing sneaky undercover buys of beer at your local mom and pop neighborhood store?

Perhaps…we don’t know because we’ve asked and they won’t tell us.

Do these cops just get off on making arrests of nice young college students and professionals just trying to let off a little steam in the beautiful desert?

Perhaps…again, we don’t know.

Just remember, these cops will look like party people at the festival They can ask for drugs and alcohol, they can even ingest the same…but they are still cops who will arrest you whether you are guilty of an offense or not!

So be aware!

If you get caught and wrongly accused, call Jimenez Law Offices and we will do anything and everything possible to get you out of a conviction on your otherwise clean record!

Call us now at 760-345-4777 or text us at 760-898-0205 for your FREE initial consultation. We will assess the value and merits of your case with you so that together, we can decide the best plan of action for you to receive the best outcome with your case.