Urgent Question Regarding Georgia Ticket

[jacobswain]

What is the name of your state? I hold a valid Illinois license, but received the citation in Atlanta, Georgia.

I received a citation in Atlanta on July 3rd for going 81 mph in a 55 mph zone. I spoke (through my local Illinois State's attorney's office) with the Atlanta Solicitor (head prosecutor.) He agreed to lower it to a 19 mph violation. This would help me keep my license. Additionally, this citation requires a mandatory court appearance.

So, without going through all of the drama I went through with the Atlanta Solicitors office, I ended up hiring an attorney to write up the Plea in Absentia himself and go to my court date next Monday (Sep. 26th) to represent me. However, today I received a letter from Judge Crystal Gaines of the Atlanta Court saying that the Solicitors office had spoken with her regarding my request for Plea in Absentia but that because of my violation (being under 21 and speeding over 24 mph over) I was no eligible for the Plea in Absentia. So I contacted her at the email address on the letter from her and she responded that I should not have contacted the Court through email and not to do it again and that I was welcome to hire an attorney but I would have to appear personally on Monday.

I live in Marion, Illinois. The Solicitors office actually had went to a different judge on August 18th to get a continuance to allow them more time to write up my Plea in Absentia and the judge did so. I don't know what to do.

My lawyer says he is not worried that she says I have to be there personally and because I have already attended traffic school and written a three page essay for him to give to the Judge that he thinks it won't be a problem.

However, call me a pessimist, but since every thing else I've done with Atlanta has gone in the worst possible way, I expect the Judge to say my attorney has to continue my court date a month down the road and that I have to be there for that court date. This is extremely difficult due to the fact that I am my mom's primary caretaker and she has Chronic Leukemia...nevermind that we live a good eight hours away from Atlanta.

Does anyone have any advice at all? More specifically, other than for DUI/drug charges have you ever heard of them making someone in my situation show up even though they've got an attorney to appear for them?

Thank you for your help.
Jacob

[LSCAP]

TRUST YOUR ATTORNEY!

I am not an attorney nor related to one.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by jacobswain

Does anyone have any advice at all?

The ONLY real advice that is worth anything is.... show up in court on the date/time ordered.... or you can simply plead guilty (as you were, since you provide NO defense in your post) and pay the fine.
The court has already made it fairly clear that they will accept nothing less.

If you don't show up.... it is VERY likely that a warrant will be issued for your arrest and your license will be suspended. Yes, your ILLINOIS license can and will be suspended over your 'failure to appear' in Georgia. See the 'Non Resident Violators Compact'.

More specifically, other than for DUI/drug charges have you ever heard of them making someone in my situation show up even though they've got an attorney to appear for them?

Yep. The court wants YOU there.... not your attorney.