What Do I Say at My Arraignment

**BuckleMyPoo** · 06-20-2012, 11:06 PM

My question involves traffic court in the State of: Los Angeles, CA

Long Beach Courthouse

I have my (first)arraignment on friday and I want it to be quick and painless. I have read/research many topics stating to be straight to the point and no stories! My arraignment is at 9:30am, should I get to the courthouse at 8am or earlier?

My violations were unsafe left turn and no evidence of insurance. I would like to correct my insurance violation, but plead guilty for the unsafe left turn. (i had a expired card at the time) I have the insurance card showing that it was insured during the time.

The judge would state my charges and what do I say? "I would like to correct the insurance violation, but plead guilty on the unsafe turn"?

After and IF they let me correct the insurance violation, when do I ask the judge for a second extension or reduce fees? I'm a fulltime student and in the process of getting a job, i'll be able to pay off the $200 left turn ticket if i get an extension.

And am I going to get hit with a $200 court fee for the arraignment?

**Do I need my original citation? OR do i just need to bring my driver's license and the proof of insurance? Don't have the citation with me, left it when i moved out.

Thanks!

**That Guy** · 06-21-2012, 07:00 AM

Quoting BuckleMyPoo

My question involves traffic court in the State of: Los Angeles, CA

Long Beach Courthouse

I have my (first)arraignment on friday and I want it to be quick and painless. I have read/research many topics stating to be straight to the point and no stories! My arraignment is at 9:30am, should I get to the courthouse at 8am or earlier?

My violations were unsafe left turn and no evidence of insurance. I would like to correct my insurance violation, but plead guilty for the unsafe left turn. (i had a expired card at the time) I have the insurance card showing that it was insured during the time.

The judge would state my charges and what do I say? "I would like to correct the insurance violation, but plead guilty on the unsafe turn"?

After and IF they let me correct the insurance violation, when do I ask the judge for a second extension or reduce fees? I'm a fulltime student and in the process of getting a job, i'll be able to pay off the $200 left turn ticket if i get an extension.

And am I going to get hit with a $200 court fee for the arraignment?

**Do I need my original citation? OR do i just need to bring my driver's license and the proof of insurance? Don't have the citation with me, left it when i moved out.

Thanks!

You asked this in your original thread and the reason no one posted a reply is because there is no reasonable way that one could attempt to sit here and give you every possible answer to every possible question that the judge can ask you.

You are asked questions by the judge and you simply answer them as you did here. If you want to plead "guilty" to one charge, you state so loud and clear when the judge asks you so that he/she can hear it; if you have a correction to one charge, you offer that when the judge asks you for the correction; if you cannot afford to pay that day, you ask the judge for an extension to pay! Pretty simple, isn't it?

You need to be inside the courtroom when it opens up and since the lines get really long, you need to be at the courthouse as early as you can. This will vary from one court house to the next, and I am not going to guess what time do people start lining up at your courthouse.

I don't know where you get the idea that you're going to get hit with a $200 for the arraignment!

And no, you do not need your original citation. Just your picture ID will do!

That is about as much hand holding as I can do.

Good luck!

**BuckleMyPoo** · 06-21-2012, 10:49 AM

Haha thanks again

I just wanted to be prepared. I got the $200 from "court fees" for the judge/court time or is that trial by jury only?

I didn't know if the judge would just come out and say it's correctable or not. I didn't want to just say i'm guilty and be not able to correct the other violation. In another thread, the user ask for an extension after the arraignment at the clerk and it cost $30.