marcus_xavier
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
Hey guys, first off I want to thank anybody who's willing to take the time to answer the questions I have.
So here's my story: I was driving in Los Angeles and got pulled over a police officer who noticed that the tags on my license plate were expired.
(I know this is stupid, but I moved to Los Angeles from Virginia a year and a half ago and purchased my car shortly after. Unlike in Virginia where the registration is listed on the front windshield, here it is a small sticker on the license plate. being the absent-minded person I am, I just sort of forgot to do it as many things were coming up).
When the cop pulled me over he discovered that I did not have a California Driver's License and I couldn't find my proof of insurance (which I have by the way). I presented him instead with a valid Virginia Driver's License.
Long story short, after padding me down against the back of my car and seating me in the back of his car, he told me he wasn't going to send me to jail and that I was being charged with a misdemeanor trail.
I understand it's my fault for not getting my license and my registration taken care of. The only excuse I have is that there were two or three periods of time where I was planning to leave CA and return to VA. I got charged with 12500, 16028, and 4000.
I have been trying to call the court to get my questions answered since last Thursday when the citation happened, but they keep knocking me off their automated system saying their lines are too busy.
My questions are as follows:
1) My ticket states that none of the three are "correctable violations." I was thinking about going to the DMV on Monday and taking care of everything. If that's possible, is it legal for me to drive again? I need to drive for work and my court date is not for another two months.
2) I've heard that at times judges will reduce a misdemeanor down to an infraction. In my case I went over a year with out a CA license, but with a VALID VA license. What are the chances I will be shown any mercy and the misdemeanor charges dropped?
3) What do you think is the estimate for all the fines I will have to pay?
4) Would I recommend I drive down to the court (after I get my license) and ask them these questions?
Once again, sorry if the questions are somethings I can easily find online elsewhere. I have been looking and tried to call the court repeatedly to no avail. Thanks for any help.
Hey guys, first off I want to thank anybody who's willing to take the time to answer the questions I have.
So here's my story: I was driving in Los Angeles and got pulled over a police officer who noticed that the tags on my license plate were expired.
(I know this is stupid, but I moved to Los Angeles from Virginia a year and a half ago and purchased my car shortly after. Unlike in Virginia where the registration is listed on the front windshield, here it is a small sticker on the license plate. being the absent-minded person I am, I just sort of forgot to do it as many things were coming up).
When the cop pulled me over he discovered that I did not have a California Driver's License and I couldn't find my proof of insurance (which I have by the way). I presented him instead with a valid Virginia Driver's License.
Long story short, after padding me down against the back of my car and seating me in the back of his car, he told me he wasn't going to send me to jail and that I was being charged with a misdemeanor trail.
I understand it's my fault for not getting my license and my registration taken care of. The only excuse I have is that there were two or three periods of time where I was planning to leave CA and return to VA. I got charged with 12500, 16028, and 4000.
I have been trying to call the court to get my questions answered since last Thursday when the citation happened, but they keep knocking me off their automated system saying their lines are too busy.
My questions are as follows:
1) My ticket states that none of the three are "correctable violations." I was thinking about going to the DMV on Monday and taking care of everything. If that's possible, is it legal for me to drive again? I need to drive for work and my court date is not for another two months.
2) I've heard that at times judges will reduce a misdemeanor down to an infraction. In my case I went over a year with out a CA license, but with a VALID VA license. What are the chances I will be shown any mercy and the misdemeanor charges dropped?
3) What do you think is the estimate for all the fines I will have to pay?
4) Would I recommend I drive down to the court (after I get my license) and ask them these questions?
Once again, sorry if the questions are somethings I can easily find online elsewhere. I have been looking and tried to call the court repeatedly to no avail. Thanks for any help.