Court tomm I need some advice quick!... Many responses please!?
I was driving without a licence and hit a mailbox. I was so scared i took off to my house. It turns out someone spotted me and now i have court tomm. Im so nervous because i know i messed up but im wondering if anyone knows what i should expect from the judge. Ive heard its a felony to hit a mailbox so im really scared i do not want to go to jail so even if its bad news someone just answer
Answers:
Well I reckon you'd be unlikely to go to jail. Unless your licence was already suspended three times.
Play it sincerely, openly like you've just told us. You messed up. You know that. You were scared and that was stupid. Be sincere and the judge will probably appreciate that. You'll probably have to make reparations and you may even get a good behaviour bond and fine. Unless there's something big you haven't said, relax and answer the questions honestly.
If tomorrow is your first Court date it is merely the initial pleading where you enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Plead "Not Guilty".
If you plead not guilty, the Judge will ask you about being able to hire a lawyer...if you make minimum wage or under, you can try indicating you cannot afford one; however, the standard in most states to qualify for a public defender you have to live below the poverty level...you will be sent to the Public Defender's office, fill out a ton of paperwork. If you don't qualify, they will tell you, then you are on your own to hire an attorney.
Best thing to do is hire an attorney and see if they can work out a plea agreement to plead the case down to a misdemeanor if you pay for the damage to the mailbox.
I'm not sure, but I'd guess driving without a license is going to be your bigger problem, not hitting the mailbox. You don't say whether you just weren't carrying your license, whether it was suspended for some reason, or whether you just don't have one. If it was suspended for some previous crime, and you drove anyway, the judge may not look too kindly on you. If you hit the mailbox because you were drunk, things might be even worse.
I agree with the first poster. The thing you've got to do is approach this whole thing with humility and remorse. Tell the judge exactly what happened and that you know you were wrong. Offer to pay for the mailbox. Explain that you will never drive without a license again. Then be ready to take whatever punishment he/she metes out.
I don't think it will be that bad, though, unless you have several driving offenses already. I doubt you'll have to go to jail. Just be honest.
If I were you I'd give some thought to the whole situation BEFORE you get to court. Figure out in your own mind WHY you broke the law? Are you an irresponsible person? Do you have a drinking problem? Do you respect the law and want to follow it? If you truly want to do what's right, and you make up your mind to do it, this will come through when you talk to the judge. If all you want to do is get away with something, this will come through too. So straighten up in your own mind, talk to the judge honestly, and things should be OK.
The answers post by the user, for information only, FreeLawAnswer.com does not guarantee the right.
Answer question:
More Law Questions and Answers: