drug related loitering

[McCalla18]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania
I walked my friend out of the house to his car. he was carring a open beer bottle. the police stopped us for his open beer and searched him and found drugs. they searched me and found nothing. they handcuff us and tood us to the policestation. they charged me with "drug related loitering" stating that i remained in a high drug area, while in company of someone with illigal drugs. can i fight this do to the fact that i am being charged with loitering when i wasn't???

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by McCalla18
What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania
I walked my friend out of the house to his car. he was carring a open beer bottle. the police stopped us for his open beer and searched him and found drugs. they searched me and found nothing. they handcuff us and tood us to the policestation. they charged me with "drug related loitering" stating that i remained in a high drug area, while in company of someone with illigal drugs. can i fight this do to the fact that i am being charged with loitering when i wasn't???

**A: sorry, what the hell is illigal drugs.

[Bravo8]

There is no state law prohibiting "drug-related loitering", so I can only surmise you are being charged under a local ordinance.

Sure you could fight it.....you can fight anything. Were you issued a non-traffic citation, or arraigned on the charge?

[JETX]

"can i fight this do to the fact that i am being charged with loitering when i wasn't???"
*** Of course you can fight it. Get an attorney and go to court.

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by McCalla18
What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania
I walked my friend out of the house to his car. he was carring a open beer bottle. the police stopped us for his open beer and searched him and found drugs. they searched me and found nothing. they handcuff us and tood us to the policestation. they charged me with "drug related loitering" stating that i remained in a high drug area, while in company of someone with illigal drugs. can i fight this do to the fact that i am being charged with loitering when i wasn't???

**A: and what were you doing in that high drug area? There is more to this story. What's the real story? Did you get busted before?

[McCalla18]

yeah it is a non-traffic citation,would you know what I would recieve, a fine?? i walked a friend to a car, how is that hanging out in a high drug area. i wasnt hanging out on a street corner selling drugs. the police here are just out to get people when there didnt do anything, i havent had any charges since i was a juvenile and i dont want to start now. im not taking some dumb citation when i didnt do anything. im getting a job now that is very serious, they do background checks and i want my name cleared. i just want to know if i have a good chance to get this cleared in my situation. thank you for your advice

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by McCalla18
yeah it is a non-traffic citation,would you know what I would recieve, a fine?? i walked a friend to a car, how is that hanging out in a high drug area. i wasnt hanging out on a street corner selling drugs. the police here are just out to get people when there didnt do anything, i havent had any charges since i was a juvenile and i dont want to start now. im not taking some dumb citation when i didnt do anything. im getting a job now that is very serious, they do background checks and i want my name cleared. i just want to know if i have a good chance to get this cleared in my situation. thank you for your advice

**A: ok, fight it.

[stephenk]

who's house were you walking out of at the time the police drove up?

[Bravo8]

If it's a NT citation, then you were charged with a Summary Offense. Summaries are the lowest level of offense in PA. The maximum penalty allowable by law is $300 plus court costs (107.50) plus a trial fee of $6 if you fight it. You could also be sentenced to a maximum of 90 days in jail, but it is extremely unlikely (unless you have been in front of the court for similar offenses numerous times).

As for the background investigation, Summary Offenses do not reflect on your criminal histroy maintained by the State or the FBI. Court records and police records are public record per the Freedom of Information Act, and therefor your prospective employer could research it and discover the citation, even if you are found not guilty. Unless you are applying for a government position, or with a company that requires a high level of security, then I would doubt they will do such an extensive investigation.

[McCalla18]

i was walking out of a freinds house

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by McCalla18
i was walking out of a freinds house

**A: huh?