What is the name of your state? Missouri (City of Salem in Dent County)
On my way to playing at a music festival I was pulled over for speeding. I was offered a warning in exchange for a search. I had my dugout with me, so I said I was in a hurry to play and didn't want my music gear messed with. The cop had me step out of the car and patted me down. Again he asked for consent, saying it was going to be a long wait otherwise, and I refused for the same reasons. He told me to get back in the car and stay there. I had to wait over 1/2 hour. I asked several times from my driver's window if the ticket was done and could I please go, but he was talking to his partner and pretended not to hear me (this was on the side of a state highway). Eventually the dog arrived. The officer handling it put its nose into my driver's window. The dog had to be re-focused several times. It showed no visible or audible interest in the interior of the car. The officer said it alerted anyway, and they tore the car apart and found the dugout which was in a ziploc bag in my shaving kit. I was arrested and released on summons for possession <35g marijuana under city ordinance.
I think I have a bogus enough case where I can make a deal with the city prosecutor without having to involve an attorney. My question is what is the best way to approach this. My approach was basically going to tell him that I am aware that both the detention and the dog sniff were questionable and could we settle this without me having to retain an attorney and fight it which will just cost us both time and money. I have no prior drug convictions and I am a final semester university student currently job hunting, so I really need to not have a drug charge attached to me.
What are the chances that he will make a deal with me to reduce the charge to a non-drug violation if I make a face to face appointment and use the above strategy? Or do I really need a lawyer to do this instead? The cheapest quote I got was $500, which needless to say I don't have. And if he won't make a deal with me, can I still hire a lawyer and get the lawyer to make the deal, or is there only 1 chance to do it for some reason?
On my way to playing at a music festival I was pulled over for speeding. I was offered a warning in exchange for a search. I had my dugout with me, so I said I was in a hurry to play and didn't want my music gear messed with. The cop had me step out of the car and patted me down. Again he asked for consent, saying it was going to be a long wait otherwise, and I refused for the same reasons. He told me to get back in the car and stay there. I had to wait over 1/2 hour. I asked several times from my driver's window if the ticket was done and could I please go, but he was talking to his partner and pretended not to hear me (this was on the side of a state highway). Eventually the dog arrived. The officer handling it put its nose into my driver's window. The dog had to be re-focused several times. It showed no visible or audible interest in the interior of the car. The officer said it alerted anyway, and they tore the car apart and found the dugout which was in a ziploc bag in my shaving kit. I was arrested and released on summons for possession <35g marijuana under city ordinance.
I think I have a bogus enough case where I can make a deal with the city prosecutor without having to involve an attorney. My question is what is the best way to approach this. My approach was basically going to tell him that I am aware that both the detention and the dog sniff were questionable and could we settle this without me having to retain an attorney and fight it which will just cost us both time and money. I have no prior drug convictions and I am a final semester university student currently job hunting, so I really need to not have a drug charge attached to me.
What are the chances that he will make a deal with me to reduce the charge to a non-drug violation if I make a face to face appointment and use the above strategy? Or do I really need a lawyer to do this instead? The cheapest quote I got was $500, which needless to say I don't have. And if he won't make a deal with me, can I still hire a lawyer and get the lawyer to make the deal, or is there only 1 chance to do it for some reason?
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