Discrepancies on police report

[tinac]

What is the name of your state? CO My 17 year old was in a car accident. There are several descrepancies on the police report ie Diagram of accident,(I was at the scene 20 minutes after the accident I know where the car where) states airbags deployed in both cars (neither deployed), the other car was towed due to excessive damage (car was not that bad, she moved her car immediately after the accident, the car was moved because she decided to go to the hospital to get checked out). Both parties claim their light was green. Witness states that he was behind the other car and he is not sure what color the light was when she went through the intersection, but he when he looked up after the accident the light was yellow. My daughter got the ticket, she is young and was very scared the witness keep telling her that he didn't think her light was green. The police immediately started searching her car and purse. (told this by another witness) She's a good kid and all this scared her to death, when I arrived she was shaking. I do think she was thought quilty before she opened her mouth, but bottom line should I bring any of this up when we go to court or just chalk it up to a lesson learned and let the insurance company decide?

[seniorjudge]

She should go to court and tell her story. If she thinks these things are relevant, she should point them out. (I've never run into a cop yet that would change his report; but maybe this is the first time.)





Standard answer

Here are some hints on appearing in court:

Dress professionally in clean clothes.

Do not wear message shirts.

Don't chew gum, smoke, or eat. (Smokers...pot or tobacco...literally stink. Remember that before you head for court.)

Bathe and wash your hair.

Do not bring small children or your friends.

Go to court beforehand some day before you actually have to go to watch how things go.

Speak politely and deferentially. If you argue or dispute something, do it professionally and without emotion.

Ask the court clerk who you talk to about a diversion (meaning you want to plead to a different, lesser charge), if applicable in your situation. Ask about traffic school and that the ticket not go on your record, if applicable. Ask also about getting a hardship driving permit, if applicable.

From marbol:

“Judge...

You forgot the one thing that I've seen that seems to frizz up most judges these days:

If you have a cell phone, make DAMN SURE that it doesn't make ANY noise in the courtroom. This means when you are talking to the judge AND when you are simply sitting in the court room.

If you have a ‘vibrate’ position on your cell phone, MAKE sure the judge DOESN'T EVEN HEAR it VIBRATE!

Turn it off or put it in silent mode where it flashes a LED if it rings. AND DON'T even DREAM about answering it if it rings.”

(Better yet, don’t carry your cell phone into the courtroom.)


Here are five stories that criminal court judges hear the most (and I suggest you do not use them or variations of them):

1. I’ve been saved! (This is not religion specific; folks from all kinds of religious backgrounds use this one.)

2. My girlfriend/mother/sister/daughter is pregnant/sick/dying/dead/crippled and needs my help.

3. I’ve got a job in [name a state five hundred miles away].

4. This is the first time I ever did this.

5. You’ve got the wrong guy. (A variation of this one is the phantom defendant story: “It wasn’t me driving, it was a hitchhiker I picked up. He wrecked the car, drug me behind the wheel then took off.” Or, another variation: “I was forced into it by a bad guy!”)

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Public defender’s advice

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Other people may give you other advice; stand by.