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How do you plead for a lesser charge?

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Vanessa7

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Maine

I have a court date for going 95 in a 65.. Is there any way I can plead for a lesser charge? Ive never gotten a speeding ticket before and i have a good record. How do I go about doing something like that? How exactly is this going to go? Ive never even been in a courthouse before.
 


seniorjudge

Senior Member
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. Ask about drug court, 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 seven 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/wife/ex-wife/niece/grandma/grand-daughter is pregnant/sick/dying/dead/crippled/crazy and needs my help.

3. I’ve got a job/military posting in [name a place five hundred miles away].

4. This is the first time I ever did this. (This conflicts with number 5 below, but that hasn’t stopped some defendants from using both.)

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!”)

6. I was influenced by a bad crowd.

7. I/my kid/my whatever has surgery scheduled.


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.
 

cepe10

Member
How old are you?
another stupid question - doesn't pertain to the legal issue at all....

For the poster: are you required to appear? Traffic court is nothing to worry about there will be a good deal of people in similar situation. Expect your trial to take all of about 5 minutes if that - among a bunch of other folks.

At trial you can make a statement that you where speeding but not at the mentioned speed and ask for probation or a reduction given your clean record - call the dmv and request a copy for the trial. Getting it down to 15 mph over would make a difference in terms of points.

http://www.courts.state.me.us/mainecourts/violations/contested.html

LWPAT is great at the plea down info if he comes around.

Some of the other posters are here to mock but don't worry about them:) they just don't have a life.
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
another stupid question - doesn't pertain to the legal issue at all....

For the poster: are you required to appear? Traffic court is nothing to worry about there will be a good deal of people in similar situation. Expect your trial to take all of about 5 minutes if that - among a bunch of other folks.

At trial you can make a statement that you where speeding but not at the mentioned speed and ask for probation or a reduction given your clean record - call the dmv and request a copy for the trial. Getting it down to 15 mph over would make a difference in terms of points.

http://www.courts.state.me.us/mainecourts/violations/contested.html

LWPAT is great at the plea down info if he comes around.

Some of the other posters are here to mock but don't worry about them:) they just don't have a life.
Stupid question huh?? I think OP will find that her age and length of driving, will play a part in weather a Judge will show "leniency" toward her and reduce the fine...

And Cepe...Keep with the nasty remarks toward me and find yourself out the door! ;)
 

Vanessa7

Junior Member
Stupid question huh?? I think OP will find that her age and length of driving, will play a part in weather a Judge will show "leniency" toward her and reduce the fine...

And Cepe...Keep with the nasty remarks toward me and find yourself out the door! ;)
baystategirl- Thanks but no thanks. I came here for advice on what to do, not for you to tell me how screwed I am and ridicule me about my age.

Anyways. Yes I am required to attend the court date. What exactly will my penalty be? I've tried looking it up on the State of Maine's website, but it doesn't really say exactly what it is. I just want to get this stupid mistake out of the way and move on!
 

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