MrMcGee123
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York
I live in New Jersey and I was in New York for a trip with my family this summer at Rockland State Park.
After being there for a while, I decided to drive my little cousins to the pool (from Lot A to Lot B- a 1 minute drive). While going from lot A to lot B, I was stopped by a NY State officer in the parking lot of the pool. Two of my cousins sitting in the backseat were 7 and 8 years old who did not have their seatbelts on. The other was 3 years old sitting in the lap of his mother. The officer gave me 3 citations: two for no seatbelts for the 7 & 8 year olds and one for a child under 4 not being in a car seat.
Because this was only a trip from one lot to the other, I was not very adamant about having checking for seat belts. Also the speed limit in the park was 15mph. With my license from NJ, the officer thought I had drove from New Jersey without seat belts.
I was told that pleading guilty will incur additional fees for a high point offense, so I plead not guilty and my court date is coming up in the next month.
Is there anything I can do to help lower any penalties I will receive for this. I did not intend for this to happen. I know in the end, the facts are facts, but would going into court and telling the facts help me in any way? Does the fact that I was pulled over in a parking lot make a difference in this case? Because this is a potential high point offense, should I try to get a lawyer to represent me?
Thank you in advance.
I live in New Jersey and I was in New York for a trip with my family this summer at Rockland State Park.
After being there for a while, I decided to drive my little cousins to the pool (from Lot A to Lot B- a 1 minute drive). While going from lot A to lot B, I was stopped by a NY State officer in the parking lot of the pool. Two of my cousins sitting in the backseat were 7 and 8 years old who did not have their seatbelts on. The other was 3 years old sitting in the lap of his mother. The officer gave me 3 citations: two for no seatbelts for the 7 & 8 year olds and one for a child under 4 not being in a car seat.
Because this was only a trip from one lot to the other, I was not very adamant about having checking for seat belts. Also the speed limit in the park was 15mph. With my license from NJ, the officer thought I had drove from New Jersey without seat belts.
I was told that pleading guilty will incur additional fees for a high point offense, so I plead not guilty and my court date is coming up in the next month.
Is there anything I can do to help lower any penalties I will receive for this. I did not intend for this to happen. I know in the end, the facts are facts, but would going into court and telling the facts help me in any way? Does the fact that I was pulled over in a parking lot make a difference in this case? Because this is a potential high point offense, should I try to get a lawyer to represent me?
Thank you in advance.