Hi, I'm a Ph.D. student at FSU, and a few weeks ago, an international student sent an e-mail to our mailing list asking about advice on traffic tickets... I replied with general information.
She comes into my office, telling me that she got a ticket in NC for 96 in a 60, construction zone (late at night, no one around but her and the cop).
I told her, get a lawyer, or they'll take your license away. She said ok and went away.
Yesterday, I was at the gym with a friend, also an international student from China, I asked him if he was going to the CNN protest in Atlanta. He said yes, and he's going with this same girl.
I remembered that her court date is April 28, the protest is April 26 (today is the 24th). I told him about her ticket, he said he knows the situation, but she has decided not to go, because the lawyer is asking for $700. Apparently her uncle told her that the NC ticket won't effect her FL drivers license. I'm guessing he's not a lawyer.
I did a little research, and not surprisingly, her uncle is wrong.
I have my own moral dilemma. On the one hand, I don't think she should be driving, so I have half a mind not to tell her anything else. On the other hand, I am wondering if she might actually get arrested. If so, I guess I have to tell her, at least to drive up there and request a continuance.
So my question is: can she get arrested for failure to appear in an NC court, when she lives in FL?
Also I'm curious what common outcomes might be if she gets a lawyer, does not get a lawyer and goes to court, or does not get a lawyer and does not to court.
Oh, also, could this be something that might impact her F1 Visa
She's only been in the US for less than a year, and I am assuming she has no other tickets.
I was able to find her offense online...
Arraigned Offenses for Case Number: DELETED BY fsu23phd
Arraigned Defendant Name: DELETED BY fsu23phd
County: WAKE
Court Date: 04/28/2008
Session: NC
Court Room: 001A
Offense Code Description Statute
4475 Infraction SPEED IN HWY WORK ZONE 20-141(J2)
5446 Traffic RECKLESS DRIVING TO ENDANGER 20-140(B)
She comes into my office, telling me that she got a ticket in NC for 96 in a 60, construction zone (late at night, no one around but her and the cop).
I told her, get a lawyer, or they'll take your license away. She said ok and went away.
Yesterday, I was at the gym with a friend, also an international student from China, I asked him if he was going to the CNN protest in Atlanta. He said yes, and he's going with this same girl.
I remembered that her court date is April 28, the protest is April 26 (today is the 24th). I told him about her ticket, he said he knows the situation, but she has decided not to go, because the lawyer is asking for $700. Apparently her uncle told her that the NC ticket won't effect her FL drivers license. I'm guessing he's not a lawyer.
I did a little research, and not surprisingly, her uncle is wrong.
I have my own moral dilemma. On the one hand, I don't think she should be driving, so I have half a mind not to tell her anything else. On the other hand, I am wondering if she might actually get arrested. If so, I guess I have to tell her, at least to drive up there and request a continuance.
So my question is: can she get arrested for failure to appear in an NC court, when she lives in FL?
Also I'm curious what common outcomes might be if she gets a lawyer, does not get a lawyer and goes to court, or does not get a lawyer and does not to court.
Oh, also, could this be something that might impact her F1 Visa
She's only been in the US for less than a year, and I am assuming she has no other tickets.
I was able to find her offense online...
Arraigned Offenses for Case Number: DELETED BY fsu23phd
Arraigned Defendant Name: DELETED BY fsu23phd
County: WAKE
Court Date: 04/28/2008
Session: NC
Court Room: 001A
Offense Code Description Statute
4475 Infraction SPEED IN HWY WORK ZONE 20-141(J2)
5446 Traffic RECKLESS DRIVING TO ENDANGER 20-140(B)
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