Careless Driving

[derdly]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? TN

I was recently citied for Careless Driving in a company vehicle (9500 GVWR). I have had no other offenses in the past 2 1/2 years, and I was wondering if this is an offense I can have ommitted from my record with traffic school. Also I would like to know what constitutes careless driving. I was ticketed because I was changing lanes and another driver attempted to enter the same lane, causing a minor collision, only a small crease to my company vehicle and knocking his passenger mirror off, but not making any other contact with his vehicle. The accident occured in Nashville (Metro Davidson County Police).

[seniorjudge]

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.

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 the ticket not go on your record, if applicable.


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.”)

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=854687#post854687[/url]

Public defender’s advice

[url]http://newyork.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/70300494.html[/url]


Other people may give you other advice; stand by.

[derdly]

Thanks for the advice on court, I will put it to good use. Does anyone have any specific info on the carless driving charge. I've tried to do some searching on my own, but all I've come up with is that it is a lesser charge than reckless driving, aparently only applied to commercial vehicles. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.