Possession of Fireworks in Washington
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Washington
I am Canadian and was camping in a Washington State Park over the 4th of July weekend. We bought fireworks (from one of the million roadside fireworks stands) and asked the employee we bought them from where we could light them off, he told us anywhere that was open grassy and safe because it was fourth of july weekend.
All throughout the evening we could hear fireworks going off everywhere around us (after all it was 4th of July weekend) so we walked out of our campground (because near us it said no fireworks) out to a big open point (with only one way in - one way out) (not hiding AT ALL) and the men we were with lit off the fireworks as we ladies sat on a bench and watched. All of a sudden a truck zooms up a lady in sweat pants and a plain grey sweatshirt (no uniform) shone a flashlight on us and started screaming and swearing.
We were sitting on a bench right out in the open, (one of the ladies with us was pregnant). We had no idea we were doing anything wrong she told us she worked in the park (no uniform/badge etc) and that she was calling for backup? We told her what campsite we were in and that we would meet a park ranger back at our campsite. Half an hour later a lady in uniform showed up and wrote me up a ticket for fireworks possesion in a washington state park (as I booked the campsite we were staying in). I didn't even touch a firework never mind set one off. I sat on a bench and watched yet I have a "mandatory court appearance" set in August. I work full time and we were camping 7 hours and a border from home. I cannot waste my time with this.
Also note the date on the ticket is wrong (it was July 2, ticket says July 3) the lady who first stopped us was in normal street wear and very very abrasive. My address and phone number on the ticket is wrong (even though she took my id to her truck to write the ticket)
What are my options?
Please please advise. The worst ticket I have ever gotten was a speeding ticket 5 years ago.
Re: Possession of Fireworks in Washington
In the future, I would recommend taking legal advice from a guy selling fireworks on the side of the road.
You were setting off fireworks in a national park, right? That is NEVER legal. Something about a fire hazard... you might want to google Arizona and Wild Fires.
I think it is great that you don't want to waste your time with this. Why, then, should I waste my time with your question?
I will give you a hint... what part of "mandatory court appearance" is unclear?