tractorman
Junior Member
Last late September 2005 my workers and I were picking up paper rolled
raisins and putting them in bins. Its common practice amonst the
farmers to burn the trays around the perimeter of the vineyard and
avenues. We started work at 6:00 a.m. and I showed the workers best
places to burn the paper. We made seveal rounds and picked up 2000 or
more bundles of raisins. At 12:00p.m.lunch another driver releived me
and I quickly went for a burger 2 miles away. I came back down the
country road by our vineyard and my neighbors open weedy field and
there were no fires and the trays that we were burning extinguished.
That was about 1:00 p.m.and my workers were 1/4 mile away on the other
side on the vineyard quitting. They left tired and I started stacking
bins with a forklift. At 3:00 p.m. off in the distance I could see my
neighbors field on fire and california department of fire there at the
burning field. They let it all burn and monitored it. The fire captain
said it was prima facie and had to issue me a citation. prc 4435
negligently operating a device which kindles a fire. I had permits to
burn and authorization to burn that day. I have a complaint from the
D.A. to appear in court feb 8th coming up. The field had pulled out
vines from 2001 and weeds grew up to 4 feet in the next few years. The
captain said I should have turn the neighbor in for a fire hazzard. Its
the first fire I've had since I started in 1988 and my dad never had
one in the forty years before that. I checked superior court bail
schedule and the local city state bail is $500. Should I just go in
front the judge and pleed guilty and pay it? Can I speak to a provided
defense attourney? Or ask the judge to reduce the bail? I'm wondering I
might have a bill too from CDF. Captain said something on the lines of
$600 or so. I understand a lawyer can do a dispo. Drop the citation if
i don't do it again for 6 months. Can I do one on my own? Any
information or advice I would appreciate very much. Thanks D.M.
raisins and putting them in bins. Its common practice amonst the
farmers to burn the trays around the perimeter of the vineyard and
avenues. We started work at 6:00 a.m. and I showed the workers best
places to burn the paper. We made seveal rounds and picked up 2000 or
more bundles of raisins. At 12:00p.m.lunch another driver releived me
and I quickly went for a burger 2 miles away. I came back down the
country road by our vineyard and my neighbors open weedy field and
there were no fires and the trays that we were burning extinguished.
That was about 1:00 p.m.and my workers were 1/4 mile away on the other
side on the vineyard quitting. They left tired and I started stacking
bins with a forklift. At 3:00 p.m. off in the distance I could see my
neighbors field on fire and california department of fire there at the
burning field. They let it all burn and monitored it. The fire captain
said it was prima facie and had to issue me a citation. prc 4435
negligently operating a device which kindles a fire. I had permits to
burn and authorization to burn that day. I have a complaint from the
D.A. to appear in court feb 8th coming up. The field had pulled out
vines from 2001 and weeds grew up to 4 feet in the next few years. The
captain said I should have turn the neighbor in for a fire hazzard. Its
the first fire I've had since I started in 1988 and my dad never had
one in the forty years before that. I checked superior court bail
schedule and the local city state bail is $500. Should I just go in
front the judge and pleed guilty and pay it? Can I speak to a provided
defense attourney? Or ask the judge to reduce the bail? I'm wondering I
might have a bill too from CDF. Captain said something on the lines of
$600 or so. I understand a lawyer can do a dispo. Drop the citation if
i don't do it again for 6 months. Can I do one on my own? Any
information or advice I would appreciate very much. Thanks D.M.