Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Criminal Citation	YankeesRule	06/18/03
Do you have any tips on how to handle being cited for a criminal charge on reckless driving when you have to go to court... is there any chance the judge may drop the criminal charge? Is there anything you can say to help yourself out somehow? Thank you.
Clarification/Follow-up by YankeesRule on 06/20/03 4:20 am: About talking myself into being guilty, without lying, what am I supposed to say that would make me less guilty about what I actually did? The cop saw me going over 100 mph, and he saw me making aggressive lane changes right in front of his eyes. And since the judge will take his word over mine, even if I do lie, all I can think of to say is that I had no ill intent in driving fast to hurt or bother anyone, so hopefully they can move it down to a speeding ticket only. Any other suggestions? A local attorney fee seems to escalate over $700 so I really cannot afford that, unless you think the fine will be more than that.
Answered By		Answered On
Fr_Chuck		06/18/03
The first thing is to decide if you are really guilty or not. If you are, and there is proof against you, you have very few choices. Not knowing how your court works up there, but in GA, you have the option of pleading nolo ( not admitting guilt, but stating there is too much evidence against you) YOu don't have to make any statements, you are fined, but there are no points put against your licence. In defense of a charge, the first thing to do, is to go to some site like www.findlaw.com and look up the actual citation number on the ticket ( offence number) and see what all elements must be present to be found guilty of that crime. In that the officer in court has to prove you were guilty of every element of the crime. If not, they can not find you guilty. On talking in court, normally the worst thing to do, since most people end up talking thierself into being found guilty. Above all, it is always, always the best bet to hire an local attorney to represent you

Additional Options and ratings are only visible when you login!