Altering Vehicle Tags

[sysdaemon]

Hey there, my name is Kenny, first time here and looking for advice,
The following takes place in VA (in the front gates of Naval Station Norfolk)


i didnt have the money to register my car and my tags died in september ( SEP 09 ) so a buddy put his 2010 sticker over my 09, all in all i got busted trying to get on base, i was honest with the officer but they still arrested me and impounded my car, they didnt take me to jail but to my command on base and turned me over to them. the thing is that i got charged with alterning my tags, which is a class 1 misdemenor. i have no prior history with the law, never been to court or anything. infact the next day i borrowed some money and got everything taken care of (registered my car, got it out of impound etc..) but im kinda nervous on what can happen in court, jail time and whatnot?! any advice?

[IsabellaSoriano]

Originally Posted by sysdaemon

Hey there, my name is Kenny, first time here and looking for advice,
The following takes place in VA (in the front gates of Naval Station Norfolk)


i didnt have the money to register my car and my tags died in september ( SEP 09 ) so a buddy put his 2010 sticker over my 09, all in all i got busted trying to get on base, i was honest with the officer but they still arrested me and impounded my car, they didnt take me to jail but to my command on base and turned me over to them. the thing is that i got charged with alterning my tags, which is a class 1 misdemenor. i have no prior history with the law, never been to court or anything. infact the next day i borrowed some money and got everything taken care of (registered my car, got it out of impound etc..) but im kinda nervous on what can happen in court, jail time and whatnot?! any advice?

i know this is a little late advice, but getting cited for expired tags, would have been much cheaper. not a wise thing to do, turning one violation into two.

but i doubt jail time will be thrown in.

[xylene]

Originally Posted by sysdaemon

Hey there, my name is Kenny, first time here and looking for advice,
The following takes place in VA (in the front gates of Naval Station Norfolk)


i didnt have the money to register my car and my tags died in september ( SEP 09 ) so a buddy put his 2010 sticker over my 09, all in all i got busted trying to get on base, i was honest with the officer but they still arrested me and impounded my car, they didnt take me to jail but to my command on base and turned me over to them. the thing is that i got charged with alterning my tags, which is a class 1 misdemenor. i have no prior history with the law, never been to court or anything. infact the next day i borrowed some money and got everything taken care of (registered my car, got it out of impound etc..) but im kinda nervous on what can happen in court, jail time and whatnot?! any advice?

You need to get a lawyer.

These are serious charges. From the description of the facts you committed the offense. Only a lawyer will have the experience to mitigate these charges.

[sysdaemon]

well the thing is that this happened on base, so i only got a DD1408 base ticket, which all have been cleared, but the one on alterning tags resulted in an investagation, which just got done today, they even took my tags are evidence...

[HighwayMan]

Let's try this - what were you charged with? What statute? Military or civilian?

You said you got arrested, then you said you only got a base ticket. So which is it?

[sysdaemon]

Well it happened insides the front gate of base, so it wasnt civilian, and i didnt get a normal looking ticket, it was a base ticket, those little pink armed forces tickets, and the one that is generating the investigation is the "altering previous plates" which the DoD police officer said was a class 1 misdemenor. I was arrested, but didnt go to jail or anything, they turned me over to my command on base. Nothing has happened so far because they was still doing there investigation, but i believe that is over, and my command is waiting for the police report, this is all very confusing to me too. im kinda just left in the blue as to what may happen.

[FlyingRon]

A misdemeanor means that jail time is a possibility. Are you in the military? Just because it happened on a military station doesn't mean that it's not a civilian matter. It will however end up in Federal court most likely.

[acmb05]

Originally Posted by sysdaemon

Well it happened insides the front gate of base, so it wasnt civilian, and i didnt get a normal looking ticket, it was a base ticket, those little pink armed forces tickets, and the one that is generating the investigation is the "altering previous plates" which the DoD police officer said was a class 1 misdemenor. I was arrested, but didnt go to jail or anything, they turned me over to my command on base. Nothing has happened so far because they was still doing there investigation, but i believe that is over, and my command is waiting for the police report, this is all very confusing to me too. im kinda just left in the blue as to what may happen.

Sounds to me like they are going to handle it through command. You will probably end up with a fine to pay and possible an article 32 hearing by your commander.

[sysdaemon]

Originally Posted by FlyingRon

A misdemeanor means that jail time is a possibility. Are you in the military? Just because it happened on a military station doesn't mean that it's not a civilian matter. It will however end up in Federal court most likely.

yes i do remember the DoD cop saying this will end up in federal court, that doesnt sound good and that is whats freaking me out...the worst part is just playing the waiting game here, and as for article 32, im not sure what that is but it doesnt sound good