Definitions
San Andreas: The State of San Andreas includes one main contiguous land mass containing several municipalities, as well as several islands, such as Roxwood, along with many uninhabited small land masses which can only be reached by air or sea. The borders of San Andreas extend to 3 Kilometers beyond the land-based claims of San Andreas. Each square grid on the nation's map is 1 Kilometer by 1 Kilometer (therefore 2 Kilometers diagonal). The Oil Rig to the Southwest of San Andreas is within the oceanic territories of San Andreas. The self-governing nation of Cayo Perico is not within the territorial claims of San Andreas, despite its proximity, and is considered a sovereign nation. The vertical area San Andreas' sovereign claim extends from 25-miles underground to the upper end of controlled airspace at 60,000ft.
Government of San Andreas: The governing body of the state of San Andreas.
Port of Entry: Any airport, seaport / dock, or other transit connection that is along a waterway which is connected to international waters in a way which is navigable by a passenger-carrying vessel.
Legal Definitions
A – CAcquittal – A legal judgment that officially clears a defendant of criminal charges.
Affidavit – A written statement made under oath and used as evidence in court.
Alibi – A defense claim that the accused was somewhere else when a crime occurred.
Appeal – A legal request to a higher court to review a lower court’s decision.
Arraignment – The initial court hearing where the defendant hears charges and enters a plea.
Bail – A sum of money paid to the court to temporarily release a defendant until trial.
Burden of Proof – The responsibility of a party to prove their case in court.
Capital Offense – A crime punishable by the death penalty.
Complaint – A formal legal document that initiates a lawsuit.
Conviction – A court judgment that declares a defendant guilty of a crime.
D – JDamages – Monetary compensation awarded in a lawsuit.
Defendant – The person accused of a crime or sued in a civil case.
Deposition – A sworn, out-of-court testimony used as evidence.
Due Process – Legal procedures that protect an individual's rights in court.
Embezzlement – The theft of money or property entrusted to someone’s care.
Felony – A serious crime punishable by more than 750 Seconds in prison.
Gross negligence - A legal concept that refers to a severe lack of care that goes beyond ordinary negligence. It involves an extreme disregard for the safety or rights of others and represents a failure to exercise even the slightest degree of care.
Habeas Corpus – A legal order requiring a person to be brought before a court to determine if their detention is lawful.
Indictment – A formal charge issued by a grand jury for serious crimes.
Jurisdiction – A court’s legal authority to hear a case.
L – RLawsuit – A legal dispute brought before a court.
Liability – Legal responsibility for one’s actions or debts.
Misdemeanor – A less serious crime, usually punishable by fines or jail time under 750 Seconds.
Negligence – Failure to exercise reasonable care, leading to harm or damage.
Parole – Early supervised release from prison.
Plea Bargain – A negotiated deal where a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a lesser charge.
Plaintiff – The person who files a lawsuit in a civil case.
Probation – A court-ordered alternative to jail, with conditions to follow.
Prosecution – The legal team bringing criminal charges against a defendant.
S – ZStatute – A written law passed by a legislative body.
Subpoena – A legal order requiring a person to testify or provide evidence.
Testimony – A witness’s sworn statement given in court.
Tort – A civil wrongdoing that causes harm and leads to legal liability.
Verdict – The final decision in a trial, usually given by a judge or jury.
Warrant – A legal document allowing law enforcement to make an arrest or search property.
Wanton – A reckless or careless action that shows a complete disregard for the safety or rights of others. It implies an extreme lack of care or concern, even if there was no direct intent to cause harm.
Willful – A deliberate or intentional act done with knowledge that it could cause harm. It implies a conscious decision to engage in certain behavior despite the possible consequences.
Child: A person aged 17 years or younger.
Adult: A person aged 18 years or older.
Property
Government Property: Property containing buildings or structures which perform government-controlled functions such as a power substation, airport, city hall, police station, jail, etc..
Public Property: Property purposed for movement or recreation such as roads, walkways, beaches, parks, etc..
Private Property: Property owned by citizens, companies, corporations, etc.. Examples include homes, residences, businesses, stores, etc. (See Trespassing code for specific criminal implications of different types of property).
Implied Public Area: An implicitly public area is an area that is private property but functions as a public area (ex. shopping area of a store, fueling-up area of a gas station, lobby of a police station).
Restricted Area: Restricted areas are implicitly or explicitly defined. They include areas which have posted keep-out or no-trespassing signage as well as secured areas which are fenced, walled off, or behind doorways.
Protection Orders
Protected Party: As a subject of a restraining order the protected party is the subject whom the restrained party is to be prohibited from approaching, contacting, etc.
Restrained/Restricted Party: As a subject of a restraining order the restrained party is the subject who is prohibited from approaching, contacting, etc. the protecting party.
Vehicles
Vehicle / Motor Vehicle: A vehicle, or motor vehicle, is defined as a self-propelled (with engine and/or motor) transportation device which is used to transport people and/or things.
Commercial Vehicle: Any vehicle (including attached/towed trailers or cargo) which has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds (5 tons) or more OR has three or more axles. Examples: Bus, Truck, Semi-Truck.
All-Terrain Vehicle / Off Road Vehicle (ATV/ORV): An ATV, Dirt-bike, UTV, Golf Cart, Go-Kart, or Construction-vehicle (ex. Bulldozer).
Public Road: A public road or roadway is defined as any highway, freeway, sidewalk, walkway, path, road, or street open to public travel and use which is not on private or restricted property. When referring to a public roadway in the context of laws related to vehicles, the term "public road" is being used to refer to streets designated for vehicular traffic. Certain public roads are exclusively for non-motorized traffic such as cyclists on bike paths whereas other public roads are exclusively for motorized traffic such as highways. When necessary, the code will specify the type of public road.
Traffic Collision: Also known as a motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, or car accident, a traffic collision is when a motor vehicle or off-road/all-terrain vehicle strikes or collides with another vehicle, object, pedestrian, animal, barrier, building, etc.
Parking: The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not — and other than temporarily — for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers.
Stopping/Standing: Any cessation of movement of a vehicle, whether occupied or not — except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or when in compliance with the direction of a police officer or official traffic control device or signal.
Vehicle Registration and Plates:
Normal operating plates for civilian or commercial vehicles, including a variety of vanity designs, are intended for vehicles owned, operated, leased, rented, or used in a private or commercial non-government capacity.
Vanity Plates are standard normal operating plates which have customized phrases or numbers on them. Motorists pay an additional fee to customize their plate. The DMV reserves the right to deny or revoke inappropriate plates at their discretion. "Yankton" plates are considered legal vanity plates.
Exempt Plates: Exempt plates are issued by the government and are to be displayed on government owned vehicles or private vehicles owned by a government official, which they use to perform both private activities as well as work related functions (requires approval from employer). The "exemption" means that the government agency does not have to pay vehicle registration fees to the DMV for that vehicle. Exempt plates may be unregistered if they are in a formatted as "police agency and officer identification badge number" format as prescribed by official law enforcement agencies.
Protected Plates: Plates which appear as either normal or exempt and display a registration flag of "Protected" or "Restricted" when searched, along with the name of the agency which has protected/restricted that information. These are reserved for high-ranking government officials. These plates are to be treated as Exempt plates.
Cold-Plates: In rare instances, protected plates may be used as completely unregistered for obscurity and security. If a cold-plated vehicle is being driven, the vehicle will appear unregistered, and therefore, the operator of the vehicle should be prepared to verify their employment and explain the vehicle's protected status when questioned about registration. These are reserved for high ranking government officials. These plates are to be treated as exempt plates.
Undercover Vehicles: In rare instances, the DMV may authorize certain officials to utilize vehicles registered to nonexistent entities or persons in order to perform sensitive undercover investigations.
Tools of Harm
Weapon: Refers to any object, tool, or item, whether or not regulated or manufactured, that a person utilizes to inflict harm, threatens harm with, or utilizes in lieu of a regulated or manufactured item that, when used as intended, can inflict harm.
Firearm: The term “firearm” means (A) any weapon which will, or is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive reaction; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer.
Explosive: The term “destructive device” or "explosive" means (A) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas (i) bomb, (ii) grenade, (iii) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, (iv) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, (v) land mine, or (vi) device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses.
Open Carry: The term "open carry" or "to openly carry [a firearm]" refers to publicly displaying a weapon's presence on your person. A handgun is openly carried when the holster it is stored in is visible and not concealed. A firearm that is not a handgun is openly carried when a person is clearly displaying their possession of that weapon by having it strapped to their body with industry standard security devices. For the purpose of current codes, there is a differentiation in legality between openly carrying a firearm or carrying it concealed; concealed carry is legalized by the Concealed Carry of a Firearm Act.
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