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DWL In Florida. Please help.

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ZJanet1975

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? FL

This is my story.

I was pulled over for not stopping at the stop sign. The police officer found out that my license expired a year ago. And I recieved a notice of arraignment for DRIVING W/O License. I got my license renew the next day but still have to deal with the court appearance and everything.

I don't have excuse for this kind of procrastination but I just wish to cut the financial loss to the minimum.

My question is how? And what would I expect if i plea guilty?

I can't afford an attorney really. Shall I find a public defender?

Thanks a lot for your help.
 


seniorjudge

Senior Member
ZJanet1975 said:
What is the name of your state? FL

This is my story.

I was pulled over for not stopping at the stop sign. The police officer found out that my license expired a year ago. And I recieved a notice of arraignment for DRIVING W/O License. I got my license renew the next day but still have to deal with the court appearance and everything.

I don't have excuse for this kind of procrastination but I just wish to cut the financial loss to the minimum.

My question is how? And what would I expect if i plea guilty?

I can't afford an attorney really. Shall I find a public defender?

Thanks a lot for your help.


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. (Smokers...pot or tobacco...literally stink. Remember that before you head for court.)

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 that the ticket not go on your record, if applicable. Ask also about getting a hardship driving permit, if applicable.

From marbol:

“Judge...

You forgot the one thing that I've seen that seems to frizz up most judges these days:

If you have a cell phone, make DAMN SURE that it doesn't make ANY noise in the courtroom. This means when you are talking to the judge AND when you are simply sitting in the court room.

If you have a ‘vibrate’ position on your cell phone, MAKE sure the judge DOESN'T EVEN HEAR it VIBRATE!

Turn it off or put it in silent mode where it flashes a LED if it rings. AND DON'T even DREAM about answering it if it rings.”

(Better yet, don’t carry your cell phone into the courtroom.)


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.” Or, another variation: “I was forced into it by a bad guy!”)

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=854687#post854687

Public defender’s advice

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


Other people may give you other advice; stand by.
 

sukharev

Member
Show your new license to the judge, tell him you are sorry you did not take care of it in time, see what happens. Appear in court at least 1/2 hour early, to be the first in line. You may also get a chance to plea bargain with DA, in which case you may get a break and pay fines but have DWL dismissed. It's far from a given. If you don't contest the stop sign, maybe that would be the only ticket to pay for...
 

ZJanet1975

Junior Member
seniorjudge said:
Standard answer

Here are some hints on appearing in court:

....
I will pay attention to all of those in the courtroom. Thanks a lot for the hints.

sukharev said:
Show your new license to the judge, tell him you are sorry you did not take care of it in time, see what happens. Appear in court at least 1/2 hour early, to be the first in line. You may also get a chance to plea bargain with DA, in which case you may get a break and pay fines but have DWL dismissed. It's far from a given. If you don't contest the stop sign, maybe that would be the only ticket to pay for...
....
Hey Sukharev, yes that's exactly what I want to know. Thank you very much for the advices.

Can the D.A. be reached before the scheduled date of court appearance? I really just want to get over with it asap and move on. :eek:
 

seniorjudge

Senior Member
ZJanet1975 said:
...Can the D.A. be reached before the scheduled date of court appearance? I really just want to get over with it asap and move on. :eek:
Probably not; but it never hurts to try. All his office will say is no...it's not like they beat you up or anything.
 

ZJanet1975

Junior Member
seniorjudge said:
Probably not; but it never hurts to try. All his office will say is no...it's not like they beat you up or anything.
You are right. I am going to make a call tomorrow and see if there is anything else I need to do before the arraignment.
Thanks again for the advices. :)
 

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