crpsebride
Junior Member
What is the name of your state?
Virginia
About a month ago, I was driving and threw my cigarette butt out the window, like I have many times. I got pulled over, by a state trooper (i live in VA), and he gave me a ticket for littering. I didn't even know that could happen! When he pulled me over I thought he was just going to yell at me.
Anyhow, when he handed me the ticket he said the fine was prepayable. He said I could contest it in court, or just prepay the fine.
I called the Fairfax County clerks office and they told me the officer was wrong, it is not prepayable - it's a misdemenor, with a fine ranging from $250-$2500 and up to a year in jail.
Then I looked on the website they have for court cases. When I saw mine, I saw it does not say "littering", it says "HOV Violoation", and because of this mistake, it shows up as a prepayable ticket.
I don't know what to do. If I prepay the fine, I will have 3 points against my license. If I go to court I don't know what will happen. I have nothing on my record, no license points, nothing. I am a very law abiding citizen!
I am afraid they will be hard on me for littering because there's such a stigma associated with smokers. I even quit smoking because of this. I realize now this is wrong, even though people do it all the time. I am ashamed that I never gave it much thought before. I have really learned a lesson from this.
Please I need some advice. What are my chances in court? My court date is this Thursday!
Virginia
About a month ago, I was driving and threw my cigarette butt out the window, like I have many times. I got pulled over, by a state trooper (i live in VA), and he gave me a ticket for littering. I didn't even know that could happen! When he pulled me over I thought he was just going to yell at me.
Anyhow, when he handed me the ticket he said the fine was prepayable. He said I could contest it in court, or just prepay the fine.
I called the Fairfax County clerks office and they told me the officer was wrong, it is not prepayable - it's a misdemenor, with a fine ranging from $250-$2500 and up to a year in jail.
Then I looked on the website they have for court cases. When I saw mine, I saw it does not say "littering", it says "HOV Violoation", and because of this mistake, it shows up as a prepayable ticket.
I don't know what to do. If I prepay the fine, I will have 3 points against my license. If I go to court I don't know what will happen. I have nothing on my record, no license points, nothing. I am a very law abiding citizen!
I am afraid they will be hard on me for littering because there's such a stigma associated with smokers. I even quit smoking because of this. I realize now this is wrong, even though people do it all the time. I am ashamed that I never gave it much thought before. I have really learned a lesson from this.
Please I need some advice. What are my chances in court? My court date is this Thursday!
