Everyone pray for me tomorrow. I go to court in Petersburg, Virginia for driving a vehicle with expired tags & driving on a revoked license. The expired tags are no big deal, but the driving on a revoked license is. This is my second offence in five years & you usually need a lawyer, because jail time is possible. No lawyer, just have to take my chances on jail time.
They have most likely impounded the car you were driving. ask for community service in lew of a fine or jail. they probably took you to jail at the time of your arrest for driving on a suspended license. Use that jail time as time served in case they take you back. The car is gone, write it off because they will charge you ludicris fees to get it back. I once had my 67 Cougar towed and impounded in San Francisco by the cops for parking in a handicapped zone for less then 2 minutes. It cost me 90 bucks for the tow, 200 a day for storage, they had the car about a week, a 600 dollar ticket for using a handicapped zone , it adds up.
My license was revoked over a Circuit Court case involving the Virginia DMV. I lost & thought my fine was $650 which I paid. Six months later the computer revoked my license & I had to come up with an additional $650 for the court plus about $180 at DMV. On Social Security that is not easy. I was driving my daughter's truck, because mine lost a transmission & in Virginia if your personal property tax is not up to date you can not renew your tags. Thus I got stopped for her tags & found that my license was still revoked.
Bummer, Don't they send snail mail (or some thing?) about out standing fines/ revolked licience etc? I don't live in the States so I'm not judging, I just don't understand how it could be revolked and you did not know about it? Hey, I have a 67 Cougar, had it since I was 15 , it's my first car
Remind the judge you're not a threat to society, not a criminal, and living on a fixed income. And you're there because of some paperwork, not because of some type of malicious activity, and that placing you in jail would serve no purpose to anyone.
Make sure you take ALL RECEIPTS and plead no contest.....that way you will be allowed to explain yourself.....I am not sure about there, but alot of times you can call and ask advice over the phone to an attorney....tell them you are on a fixed income. I would say you will loose you licence for a good period of time.....I dont know about jail time, but I would say that without a bunch of priors you should be ok, just depends on the judge... Make sure you dress very nice and speak very polite....DO NOT ARGUE ABOUT ANYTHING! Try and explain that you thought things were paid and got a letter that they were not, appoligize and ask for a payment plan to get all fines and court cost paid.....I did that on a bogus DUI charge that I had, you will be on probation while you pay them, but the judge may give ya a break.....(at least that was how it was in ohio) Good Luck!
Survived court somehow. Real zoo, got convicted on both, fines & court cost $206. Was bad, I am old and twisted & walk with one of those walkers with the four wheels, brakes, & a seat. Looked really bad so they gave until February to pay my $206.
