| bryce.f |
i go to court on the 15th... next wednesday for speeding. 57+ over. i have a few questions..
i called POINTTS, its 650$ to get dave walkeden to go for me.
http://www.pointts.com/edmonton.htm
im wondering if i should maybe just go myself?
and if i do go . . .
1. if i lose my licence does it get taken away on the spot? (so i could go with a friend who can take me home after or something)
2. what do people dress like in court? should i wear all black with a white tie or something and avoid bright colors or anything?
3. i plan on being respectful, but is there anything that people tend to do that pisses off judges? im not going to lie, im planning on only answering questions im asked. . . .
4. do you know what the judge will ask me?
5. can you pray for me? hahah. but really, i need it. |
|
|
| shortie |
First, if you are of the 'lower income' (or tell them that you only make some real low amount of money a month... they are not likely to check at all... not that you heard that from me or anything.... .. . . .) you can get free legal representation in court from student legal services at the Univeristy (and trust me that they do work and get people off or lowered amounts, etc, and actually use a real lawyer to tell them what to do on the case.... . .. ) and if you go asap they will appear for you and get the date put over 2 weeks (is it a TRIAL or is it just traffic court? they will set up a trial for you if you want to plead not guilty or if you want time to barter with prosecution) (pm me if you want for more info)
next, dress in your sunday bests (as your mom would say) - ie: shirt and tie and dress pants. you want a very good impression, especially for this type of thing and as (I am assuming) a young male - want a good impression.
pissing off a judge - if it is a tiral (if just traffic court or docket then it is just a JP and they are cranky as hell most of the time because docket court is a waste of time and money...) basically dont be bitchy or whiney and dont lie or make it look like your are beating around the bush.
JP or Judge will ask what you plea (if docket or traffic) and then if you understand what your consequences are, yadda yadda. They will ask if you have anything to add after a plea of guilty and you tell them about yourself. best things. make yourself look like a super guy (ie: I go to school, or I plan in the future to do ___. I grew up in Edmonton, I work ___ hours a week, I have a family of ___ kids (or whatever)... I have never been in trouble with the law....etc)
If it is a trial, contact the prosecutor's office and ask to speak to the prosecutor (phone the courthouse first wich your docket number and ask who the judge and prosecution will be that day, call prosecutor office and leave a message for them to call - OR wait until the morning of court and go early and speak to them and try to reach a deal - they are all easygoing (mostly) and likely to make a deal unless it is really bad and you have apast history)
If it is just traffic court or docket (what is the courtroom #?) then you speak to a JP and they ask you what you want to plea and go from there. often if you have no past the prosecutor will provide you with a sheet of paper that gives an alternative plea bargain type thing. get that and ask for more time. figure out what is best for your position. If not, I wont lie, not taking an offer or pleading not guilty looks pretty bad and doesnt please judges at trial... so either get some legal advice or cross your fingers, toes and eyes for a pleasent judge :blink: but 57 over.. was it at least on a hiway?? hmmm... well you can always hope for a mistake on the ticket I guess or a plea bargain/alternative measures....
... that was long winded :stickpoke |
|
|
| 95EagleAWD |
57 over?
Good luck.
SkiTlz kissed his licence good-bye for a month and spent almost two grand in fines when he got caught. |
|
|
| shortie |
quote:
Originally posted by 95EagleAWD
57 over?
Good luck.
SkiTlz kissed his licence good-bye for a month and spent almost two grand in fines when he got caught.
probably.. but you can always hope and try :rolleyes:
Lately it seems that a lot of the judges at trial are willing to cut younger guys a break on things if they have no past - albeit usually with things like theft under and what not and with a good lawyer and sappy story about how they are such a wonderful person with a clear future, blahblahblah... but ya, prolly pushing it with 57 over... some of them are pretty pissy about that sort of speeding but I would go try to get some legal info - maybe there is a loop hole or something you are not seeing on your own, or something... no harm trying for a plea bargain though if you can - even if it means only a bit less of a penalty, at least it is something and you tried :dunno: the joys of our legal system |
|
|
| 95EagleAWD |
Not denying he can hope and try, and you might as well make a go at it.
I'd rather pay a ton then have my license suspended.
I'd say it really depends on the situation too. I'd be a lot more leniant on someone 57 over in the middle of nowhere with no one else in the car; rather than say the Whitemud with 4 friends in it.
All in all, a dumb choice, but we've all done it, and he just got caught. Life's a bitch, eh? |
|
|
| SilverNeonRacer |
I've personally seen the crown stop a kid from pleading guilty.. even though his job was driving on a 50+ ticket... the crown pulled the kid aside, explained the punishment, the kid was still willing to plead guilty.. so the crown settled with the judge for 49 over.... big fine, lotsa demerits, but he got to keep his license...
so it is possible for something to be done to help... but don't go expecting it. |
|
|
| shortie |
Honestly, it depends on the judge, crown and circumstances.
Look and act polite and respectful, tell the truth, make yourself look like a saint and wonderful young man with the potential to better society in the future, blahblahblah, make it sound like you are truely aware of your consequences and what you did wrong and then explain why you deserve a slight break.... and hopefully you werent doing over 50 in like a school zone or something :rolleyes:
Agree with above postier.
Talk to the crown, they are usually pretty understanding for petty things. I saw some kid caught for fraud in the work place and theft under get a complete discharge because his lawyer gave some sob story about how the kid wanted to go to law school in the future :blink: Also, have gotten people off of things like full-out dui's and failures to provide just because of petty mistakes made by police - you never know unless you try - and a little legal aid can sometimes help find the loopholes or talk to the crown for you and bargain... and the list goes on...
sadly, it can all change depending on judge, crown, time of the month, sob stories.... etcetc
It aint over till its over, OP - you never know how the dice will roll, really, but who knows |
|
|
| EK9Hatch |
Its all about having a good lawyer. Shit, look what OJ got away with.
Jamie |
|
|
| eddie187 |
| i don't know if they change the law but 3 years ago i was doing 50 over the speed limit i went to court myself and talk to the Prosecutor i got it down to 3 demerit and a $350 fine. |
|
|
| shortie |
quote:
Originally posted by eddie187
i don't know if they change the law but 3 years ago i was doing 50 over the speed limit i went to court myself and talk to the Prosecutor i got it down to 3 demerit and a $350 fine.
exactly...
thats not really 'the law' but more of a plea bargain with the crown.. happens all the time for pretty much most summary convictions or crimes they proceed summarily with, assuming the accused has little to no past and doesnt act like a total prick. IMO they are trying to eliviate the whole trial backups in the court system (takes about 4+ months from docket if not more, in Edmonton). so whatever works. pretty much everyone and their dog wants to go to trial these days anyways, which often wastes everyone's time involved which in turn makes for cranky judges which consequently makes everyone's life a little more misserable
and yes, a good lawyer will get you far in life :thumbup: |
|
|
| BigDaddyLeo |
A guy my wife works with was caught doing 130 in a 60 zone, His court date it was almost certain he was going to lose his lisence.
(he drives for his job) and he broke down in the court room, I dont suggest this but his Crying actually got him off with a warning.... just a warning. I figured he should have at least paid a fine or something. |
|
|
| DivineRight |
quote:
(if just traffic court or docket then it is just a JP and they are cranky as hell most of the time because docket court is a waste of time and money...)
Hah hah hah, that line is golden because its true :D |
|
|
| bryce.f |
im 18, male. i was doin 167 on highway 2 between edmonton and leduc. speed limit is 110 there... so it was really fast... but everyone usually goes 130 there.. but still... 57 over. it was sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. and i was the only one in the vehicle.
i am pretty sure i have decided to go without a lawyer... i dont have money to pay for one, and im not too sure about the free ones at the u of a im guessing. i will look into that.
but what i want to do is go in, and be honest, plead guilty, but try to get a break. as for convincing the judge that i am "worthy" of a break, i will tell them how i am going to school, (im taking nursing, u of a) and i dont make much money through the year, allot of my time is spent in class (nursing is crazy) and how a car is almost essential when clinicals come around (going to old folks homes at 6:30 a.m twice a week). i am also dependant on my car for work for the rest of the summer, so i will tell them that.. tell them how i now understand that i could have easily killed someone, that it was dangerouse, stupid, and that it wasnt a normal circumstance, i never went that fast, and since i havnt sped at all.
so i could go there and do this without setting a trial date etc. etc. right? and it might get me off on a break, or i might get screwed. |
|
|
| Jord@n |
| If it's your first ticket you may luck out (as I did). I had a ticket for 60 over, higher then yours is. I talked to the Crown Prosecutor (CP) and he lowered it to 49 over which is just a lot of demerits and large fine. I was just honest, told him I made a mistake and it won't happen again. Depends how lucky you are and what CP you get. Good luck! :thumbup: |
|
|
| SilverNeonRacer |
quote:
Originally posted by bryce.f
and that it wasnt a normal circumstance, .
if your gonna tell them that.. you better have a damn good excuse or rather reason why you where going that fast... |
|
|
| dtjohnst |
quote:
Originally posted by SilverNeonRacer
if your gonna tell them that.. you better have a damn good excuse or rather reason why you where going that fast...
I'm kind of curious myself what circumstances existed that made him feel like 50+ over was acceptable at the time. |
|
|
| bryce.f |
quote:
Originally posted by dtjohnst
I'm kind of curious myself what circumstances existed that made him feel like 50+ over was acceptable at the time.
i didnt feel that it was acceptable. but, it wasnt a normal circumstance... it was a one time thing. i used to usually drive 5-30 over depending on the roads (whitemud, highway etc.) anyways i was driving my dads truck which is a beast and i was late so i decided to go fast. i normally drive my car, and its a 1.5l civic hatch, with a 4 speed manual (ghetttttto) so trust me... i dont rip. now that i look back,,,, yea it was stupid... it was nice to go that fast, definately "fun", but i was retarted... not really worth it at all. if i would have hit someone, or a deer ran on the road or whatever i probably would have died, and worse killed someone else. im not gonna do it again.. so in that sense... i feel "justified" for not receiving 1900$ and 6 demerits and having my licence suspended, because i dont feel like i am a hazard to the road anymore. that day i definately was, but just the cop pulling me over was enough to scare the crap out of me.
anyways, i found out i can get a free lawyer through u of a, so im gonna go there tomorow and check that out, and hopefully they can help me out... if not, i guess ill be takin the bus till im done school.. |
|
|
| SilverNeonRacer |
So your reason is that you were not used to the vehicle you were driving, and as such since you failed to check the speedo as often as you should have, ended up grossly exceeding the speed limit?
That I can understand to a point... when I used to drive a 5spd suzuki swift, I never looked at the speedo, I knew based off what gear I was in and engine noise how fast I was going... when i hopped in my dad's full size ram, the combination of the vehicle size difference, the smoother quieter engine, and the fact it was an auto.. i found myself speeding in it, but I normally caught myself at 25km/h over.. |
|
|
| SkiTLz |
| Just take the suspension.. Its wicked fun.. Probably one of the best holidays ive ever had.. |
|
|
| bryce.f |
| -12 hours till court. pray pray pray. |
|
|
| shortie |
| better talk to the prosecutor, no need for prayer :rolleyes: |
|
|
| PookGai |
| i'm just curious now, how did the trial go and what did u end up getting? |
|
|
| bryce.f |
hey. so yesterday i went in. got there 20 mins early and went to the clerk, told her i needed to talk to the prosecutor, so i got a number. I waited about an hour and a half, then my number got called and i went into a little room with a desk and gave the lady my 3 tickets. she asked me why i never had my licence or insurance card. i told her that i wasnt planning on driving so i never had my licence and that it was my dads truck and i had no clue where the papers where. So she canceled the 2 tickets. then she asked me if i was going 167. i said yes. she asked me if it was my first ticket. i said yes. then she said she would give me 350$ fine, no licence suspension, 4 demerits (speeding under 49 over). i thanked her and then a police officer carried myh stuff into the actuall court room and i waited for the judge. the judge and people read over my stuff, the judge asked me if i plead guilty, i said yes, and then she asked me how long i needed to pay, and i said 1 month. YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for all your help guys.
especially djohnst and shorti. !!! you guys are awsome. |
|
|
| shortie |
| yay Im SO happy to hear it went so well :) (hopefully you learned your lesson lol - if you are gonna speed like that, dont get caught... right? isnt that the lesson?? ;) kiddin') |
|
|
| Jord@n |
| Haha, same thing that happened to me. I think if you have to go to Leduc court you're fucked though. |
|
|
| shortie |
quote:
Originally posted by Jord@n
Haha, same thing that happened to me. I think if you have to go to Leduc court you're fucked though.
some of the smaller places have NO tolerence for this sorta thing. Like if you end up in ft sask or spruce grove, dont even bother praying, you wont get anywhere.... |
|
|
| ~sanj~ |
| lol lucky you bryce!! |
|
|
| SkiTLz |
| Shit pisses me off.. Your ticket(s) was way worste than mine yet I get 1 month suspension and $1750 fine.. Fuckin Sherwood Park |
|
|
|
