Rarely is anyone allowed to speak as to the facts of the case at arraignment - but each state has different rules. The arraignment is a time for a plea and appointment of counsel if needed and allowed under the charges.
You may have little choice but to go to trial if you want to present your side of the matter. Only if you plead "guilty" or "no contest" will you likely avoid a trial (unless the state drops the charge for some reason).
So, if you want the opportunity to present evidence on your behalf, you will likely have to go to trial. If there is a prosecutor assigned, he or she might be willing to see your evidence ahead of time, but I wouldn't recommend talking to the prosecutor without advice of counsel.
Cited for Fare Evasion
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11-27-2010, 04:34 PMcdwjavaRe: Cited for Fare Evasion
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12-13-2010, 01:27 AMhalo202Re: Cited for Fare Evasion
i have to complete 15 hours community service by the 25th. now im scheduled to do it on the 15th, 16th, 17th but i have a doctors appointment on the 15th. the times for the places they gave me where i could do it at are extremely inconvenient with their hours and i told that i needed to do it afternoons/evenings. i have a bunch of doctors appointments (i have health problems), classes, and other things between now and the 25th. beyond the stuff im scheduled for would put it on 20th and only a couple days really to get them all in.
what would happen if i didnt complete the community service? -
12-13-2010, 04:25 AMflyingronRe: Cited for Fare Evasion
Don't even consider it. If this is a pretrial diversion, you're being given a big break to avoid getting a criminal record for the charge.
You'll not likely get another chance and people who blow their diversion don't tend to get much sympathy at trial.
If it is the sentence from an actual conviction, any suspended sentence or whatever can become unsuspended and you'll end up in jail. -
12-13-2010, 07:47 AMcdwjavaRe: Cited for Fare Evasion
Ditto.
If you fail to complete the terms given to you, do not be surprised if your next doctor visit occurs while you are in jail garb. -
12-13-2010, 03:16 PMhalo202Re: Cited for Fare Evasion
the $75 fine was waived for 15 hours community service.
i want to get this done and out of the way, im just in a tight spot. im just hoping the weather isnt horrible because im not going there in a blizzard. the hours are not a good time for me. couldnt i just find out where i could do court community service and go there when i can to get it done?
what happens if i get sick? they dont care and try to send me to jail over this?
they would really go after me for something so small? people who get charged with DUIs get letters in the mail years later saying they need to complete their hours. -
12-13-2010, 03:20 PMcdwjavaRe: Cited for Fare EvasionWe do not KNOW what they will do. What they VAN do and what they WILL do are two different issues.Quote:
Quoting halo202
Understand that not completing the community service hours could result in harsher penalties, collections on the fines, maybe even an arrest warrant if that is permitted in your state for this sort of thing. Just be prepared for penalties for not completing the service that YOU said you would do