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Staunton, VA - Littering Ticket

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CFrend

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Virginia.

I actually had a court date today for a littering ticket I received in January,
the officer was there and said the following about my littering ticket.
"The subject pulled up next to the trash can and threw the napkin onto the ground"
I recanted with
"I threw my bag of trash into the trash can, I did not see any napkin."
The judge asked the officer "Did you see the bag he speaks of?" officer says "No. Just the napkin." and just like that I am guilty.

Here is what happened.

I was on my way to make a road trip to northern Virginia to visit some friends and family, so I stopped by the BP on the way and pumped my gas, then proceeded inside to pay for it, and buy a Subway sandwich, a pack of two cookies (from Subway), and a drink (also from Subway). I went to my car in the parking lot, and ate my sandwich there.

I then proceeded to put all of my trash in the bag that Subway gives to its customers, and drove up next to the trash can.
I proceeded to roll down my window, reach out to the trashcan, and toss my bag of trash inside of it.
Now apparently at this point the officer saw a napkin fly onto the ground and accused me of watching it because I sat in my car for about twenty seconds.
Wrong, I was putting on my seatbelt and checking my gauges before I went on this trip.

So I decided to ask for an appeal to the decision, because obviously I was wrongly accused and found guilty.
So my question is, how should I go about proving my story? I stopped by the BP and they said they don't have video surveillance tapes, so I can't do that. But I'm thinking maybe if I show the judge the exact amount of trash that one has left over after eating a Subway meal, and ask her/him,
Why would I just throw a napkin out of my window when I have the rest of this trash to throw away?
Why would I pull up next to a trash can to litter?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, the appeals trial is next month.

Thank you,
Collin
 
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CFrend

Junior Member
I'm sorry, but is it wrong that I don't want to pay for something I never did?
Is it wrong for me to fight because I was wrongfully accused?
I'm not going to sit down and let them walk all over me, I'm going to have my justice.

I'm sorry, but to protect and serve? Yeah right, harass and inconvenience is more like it.

Listen, it's not going federal, it's staying within that court house but they said I have a right to appeal their decision.
So I'm going to do it, and get an appointed counsel as well so I will have more strength in the case.

It's not nothing to me, I do not like to be wrongfully accused and then found guilty because some cop was trying to meet his quota.

So, please, if you may, post some help here as to what I should bring to the case.
 

racer72

Senior Member
get an appointed counsel
No you won't. Virginia does not provide court appointed attorneys for misdemeanor or lesser cases, nor any case on appeal except for capital crimes.

The reason your wasting your time is you have not proven reasonable doubt.

Now apparently at this point the officer saw a napkin fly onto the ground and accused me of watching it because I sat in my car for about twenty seconds.
You can positively acertain a napkin did not fall on the ground while you were paying attention to something else? Bet you can't.

Paying this ticket instead of wasting yours and taxpayer's money will have zero affect on the rest of your life. It will not affect your driving record. It will not cause you to have a criminal record. You won't have to live in shame like O.J. It something this trivial is bugging you this much, you will turn into a nutcase for a simple speeding ticket.
 

dalongboarda

Junior Member
If you feel you were wronged fight the case, that is why we have the judicial system.

If you lose, then you have to pay the fine. But at least you stood up for what you thought was right.

It doesn't matter that it is only a littering ticket, it's the principle at hand. You feel you were wronged, so stand up for yourself.

Brooks
 

melandrad

Junior Member
What is the status on your case

I was searching today and found your question. I am anxious to hear the outcome of your story. My husband was driving on 95 and did not litter, but was pulled over by a cop claiming he had thrown something out of the window. He has a court case tomorrow and we really didn't think anything of it until I started searching Virginia Code tonight. How scary... you can be found guilty of a misdimeanor, serve a year in jail and have fines up to $2500. Basically it says that unless you have hard evidence that you didn't do it, then you are guilty. How backwards is that? You can murder someone and get away with it because of insufficient evidence, but you can be found guilty of lesser crimes without any evidence at all. I am honestly very scared about this. If he is found guilty tomorrow, we are going to appeal so any advice you can give would be great. I really don't know what to do here.:confused:

I am also shocked at the lack of assistance the other users have been in replying to your message. One day you (the posters whom are negative) could be in a similar situation and I would think you would want real help from people rather then being received with such ridicule.
 

The Occultist

Senior Member
Melendrad, if you notice, this thread is about 9 months old. You may also notice that the OP had a total of two posts on this site, and they both happened to be on this thread. Odds are the OP is long gone and not checking his thread anymore. If you wish to contact him, you should consider using a PM. Do note that it is inappropriate to necro-post, which is reviving a dead thread.
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
Are you all DAFT? This thread is over SIX years old!
To be fair I reported the original daft one. Others just are "guilty" of not looking at the age of the thread. :)


BTW: The ODO (and YES that is going to stay as a wonderful acronym) signed up just to post to this thread. Curious that! ;)
 

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