Scared and confused in florida

What is the name of your state? Florida

About a year ago I was arrested for wreckless driving, a concerned citizen told the police I was driving all crazy.

at the police station he was talking to other police officers, stating that I slammed my brakes when I came to a stop when I was pulled over, after which he found a small dime of cannibus,

one of the police officers suggested to write me up for agrevated assult and then other police officer got more creative and suggested he write me up on agrevated assult on a police officer with a deadly weapon, the rear of my car being the deadly weapon, after he wrote it up, another police officer, (seemed more knowledgable) said that it won't hold up ,because if he would have rear ended me, I would have had the right to sue them, so then the police officer added , that I confessed that I intentially slammed my brakes so he would hit me.. (b.s) I did stop abruptly, just to show the cop I was trying to stop, since he was being such a dick while I was trying to get to the right shoulder ( seems he wanted me to pull over to the left shoulder, I thought you were supposed to pull over to the right)
I was going 2 miles an hour, and was saying fine you want me to stop, here I stopped, but he was a great distance for me.

On the way to the police station, we talked and I apologozed and he even said he wished he had not arrested me since I seemed like a nice guy ( but it was too late) I learned that police officers take any action someone does very seriously, and I learned my lesson. and did 2 days in jail with 500 bail

I hired a lawyer that was well reffered to me, and was nice enough to drop the rate from $5,000 to $1,700

I got 4 years probation, 50 hours of communtiy service, 20 hours of anger managment, 20 hours of substance abuse, 8 hours of driving school, and 4 hours of reality check,

I do admit I have a habit of speeding, so after 4 months I got another ticket, my probation officer said I should not worry as long as my license is not suspeded, and I went to court and the cop did not show up..

A continued to drive, and of course, over the speed limit ( if you have ever been to west palm beach you will know the speed limit is way too low, 55 on a 4 lane highway, again I got pulled over, this time she charged me with wreckless driving, and she even arrested me, but let me go,

After that I decided not to drive anymore,I sold my car, If I drive slow, I will fall asleep, and plus I'm enjoying taking the public transportation, but unfortuantly a little to late, The lawyer I was talking to told me I have a warrent, So I'm turning myself in after my moms birthday, dec 30th.

I do not want to spend $5,000 on a lawyer, I am broke since I lost $8,000 on my arrest,

and yes I know I should have learned my lesson, but I did the second 2 times I got pulled over I did it nice and slow and came to a slow stop and was very very nice to the police officers.

plus I understand speeding is not an easy habit to break,especially in a city where the speed limits are way too low.

I've gotten many tickets in the past, always fought them and won many, and the ones I didn't I paid the fines, but never arrested.

I do not want to go to jail for a long time, I will put my trust in a public defender, I have 3 jobs that I would hate to loose, especially after the fact that I am trying not to get in trouble any more, by selling my car and using the public transport (which is not a big deal)(actually its great, met alot of hotties, get to relax, and save alot on gas and insurance ($3,000 a year) and get to do my work on my laptop. been using the public transport for 2 months now, and just found out about my warrant friday.

I just want my life to go back to normal, and focus on my career, which is doing very well, I teach graphic design and visual effects.

please help, I want my life to go to normal, I want no more problems,, I'm a nice guy, could not hurt a fly, and would hate to waste my life in jail or prison.

thank you

[HomeGuru]

Thank you for your post and good luck.

No prob,hope I get some good advice///

thanks

[JETX]

Advice for what???
You didn't ask for any... nor did you ask any questions.

Glad you like the bus.... maybe you could make a commercial for the bus company as part of your community service!!

but more on what I should tell the judge, and what you all think my possible outcome may be.. Im not very knowledgble on the judicial system..and I just don't want to be locked up for 5 years

and is getting a public defender an ok choice..I'm broke,,, but I also don't want to be in prison for 5 years...

thanks

[JETX]

"but more on what I should tell the judge"
** Start with, "Good Morning, your Honor"

"and what you all think my possible outcome may be.. "
** Could be anything from "Your Free!!" to "Hang 'em high".

"and is getting a public defender an ok choice..I'm broke,,,"
** I can guarantee that a PD would be better then defending yourself.

"but I also don't want to be in prison for 5 years..."
** Should have thought of that BEFORE you did the crime.

I was not aware that speeding was a violation of probation, I was told driving on a suspended license would be. Also I proved that I learned my lesson when I got pulled over, I stopped nice and slow, as far right as possible, had my ID ready, and was very very polite.

till recently I found out that jay walking can be a violation of probation.

We are not all perfect, and I'm trying to avoid any future traffic offenses by just not driving anymore


thanks

Just be this honest and respectful with the judge.

Freely admit "i can't drive 55" on florida highways, and you that you went cold turkey by selling your car and are now riding the bus,(bring your buss passes)

This will probably be a first time the judge has heard this explanation, and i bet he busts out laughing, and you will do just fine.

You seem like a nice guy (unlike some who have responded on here), just be honest and as Maxim said you should do ok.

[calatty]

You will be fine with an attorney from the public defender's office. There is not much you can do at this point, as your traffic citations speak for themselves. It will be up to the attorney to get you the best disposition possible.

[calatty]

An attorney from the public defender's office will be more than adequate to assist you. There is not much you can do at this point, as your traffic citations speak for themselves. It will be up to the attorney to get you the best disposition possible.

I just spoke to a lawyer refered to me by a freind, he is charging me 2,500

So what should do?

turn myself in and get counsil from a public defender

Or hire a lawyer at 2,500?


I just don't want to be wasting money, but I also don't want to go to prison for 5 years...





I have to come up with an answer between now and tuesday ( my probation meeting day) (most likely the day the probation officer tells me there is a warrant and arrests me )

what to do?

peace

[stephenk]

if you can afford 2,500 for an attorney you probably will not qualify for free legal defense.

I would have to borrow money from family and freinds,

which I hate to do,,, but no one( including me ) wants to see me in jail


Also I called this one lawyer I met one time, she was pretty bad ass in court, she said she could be a gaurdian,and make sure that the public defender is doing a good job, she is looking over my files , she said its odd that I violated my probation with a speeding ticket, especially since it got thrown out of court..

oh well... see what happens..

peace