Posting my friend's case here. What can he do so he doesn't lose his license for a year. He's not trying to get out of it or anything, just wants to know his options so please no "you did it, there's nothing you can do."
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
was walking from point a to point b, my dorm room to an apartment with my friends. I had a limeade bottle in my hand, it also had a little vodka in it with the limeade. As we were walking to the apartment, a girl came up to my friend and stopped us. I saw the cop on the sidewalk wit his flashlight, but I wasn’t going to do anything stupid. So I continued to stand there, waiting for my friends to start walking again. As we’re standing there he comes up to me and asks what is in the bottle. I say “limeade”, he continues to ask and I continue to say “limeade”. They say they’re not stupid and tell me to sit on the curb, and ask for my ID. I don’t have my CA ID on me but I give them my college identification and tell them my name. They ask how old I am and what not and cite me with an MIP. Eventually they harass me into admitting there is vodka in the bottle with the limeade.
I’m just wondering what I can do. I had my arraignment on Monday, and since it was cited as an infraction, that’s how they cite it on my campus, I didn’t think I’d be losing my license. So when the judge read my case and made sure I knew that with a “Guilty” or “no contest” plea I’d lose my license for a year I panicked and pleaded “not guilty”. I still need to post bail, and receive a court date. I’ve had a couple attorneys tell me to proceed with the trial and when I get there try to find a Public Defendant and try to see if they’ll reduce the infraction to another infraction that won’t cause me to lose my license.
What do you guys think?
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
was walking from point a to point b, my dorm room to an apartment with my friends. I had a limeade bottle in my hand, it also had a little vodka in it with the limeade. As we were walking to the apartment, a girl came up to my friend and stopped us. I saw the cop on the sidewalk wit his flashlight, but I wasn’t going to do anything stupid. So I continued to stand there, waiting for my friends to start walking again. As we’re standing there he comes up to me and asks what is in the bottle. I say “limeade”, he continues to ask and I continue to say “limeade”. They say they’re not stupid and tell me to sit on the curb, and ask for my ID. I don’t have my CA ID on me but I give them my college identification and tell them my name. They ask how old I am and what not and cite me with an MIP. Eventually they harass me into admitting there is vodka in the bottle with the limeade.
I’m just wondering what I can do. I had my arraignment on Monday, and since it was cited as an infraction, that’s how they cite it on my campus, I didn’t think I’d be losing my license. So when the judge read my case and made sure I knew that with a “Guilty” or “no contest” plea I’d lose my license for a year I panicked and pleaded “not guilty”. I still need to post bail, and receive a court date. I’ve had a couple attorneys tell me to proceed with the trial and when I get there try to find a Public Defendant and try to see if they’ll reduce the infraction to another infraction that won’t cause me to lose my license.
What do you guys think?
