Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Massachusetts
Hello! I have searched to no avail, hoping to find an answer to my question. So here it is!! Back in October of 2010 I was involved in a DUI, in which I rolled my car over off the Interstate. I was placed on probation and ordered to attend Driver Alcohol Education classes. I had attended the classes, and paid what I could before losing my job. I have been violated multiple times for monies owed, and apparently not checking in a few times. That is, in fact the case again. I don't know where my probation officer gets the idea I don't call him. Possibly he never checks his messages? But I digress. I am summoned back to the New Bedford District Courthouse for June 21. A mere 4 days away. I still owe an estimated $1,100 on various court, head assessment, lawyer fees, etc. I have been to a couple days of my community service, but due to matters I find to be more important than some silly fees(bringing father to kemo. treatments, hospital, & radiation treatments) within the past two months, I haven't been able to see to my other responsibilities. So I guess my question is, how much jail time could I face if a judge deems my situation unreasonable as to why I haven't been paying my court fees, and to this being probably the 4-5th time I've been summoned due to a violation. I heard from someone that it was about $100/day for staying incarcerated. Not too sure how that works, any help by my court date would be greatly appreciated. I'm very worried about what would happen to my father if I was gone for an extended period of time. Thanks!
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
I call troll or, even, an ex that wants to find out how much trouble his former love can get into. Just the tone is wrong... like wondering if you have been summoned back to court four or five times (probably) and getting dinged for "apparently" not checking in. I assure you that those things would stick out in your mind.
We don't appreciate liars here. Go play your game with someone else's volunteers.
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
To calculate the maximum time you can spend in jail, you take the maximum sentence from your conviction charge and subtract any time served. Yes, they can charge you for the cost of your incarceration.
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
From a quick google search, I see that the possible penalty for a first offense DUI in Mass. is 2½ years in jail and $5,000 fine. Now, subtract any time you have already served in jail for this charge and subtract any amount you have already paid in fines (not other costs...that money is down the toilet) and you have the sentence that the judge can give you for giving preference to "matters I find more important" over your court ordered probation conditions. Think about it this way: the judge gave you a break by sentencing you to probation, you piss on the opportunity he/she gave you while whining that you have "more important" things to do, and now that same judge gets to answer the spit in the face you are giving him/her by reevaluating what penalty is appropriate to protect society from your actions and dissuade you from further illegal conduct! So, you tell me how lenient the judge is likely to be.
As far as "what would happen to my father if I was gone for an extended period of time," the amount of effort you are putting forth to stay out of jail for his benefit gives lie to your concerns on that front! Cry me (and the judge) a river, cuz I doubt the judge will find that any more persuasive than I do.
And, yes, I too smell a troll...the fact that I answered anyway probably reveals some masochistic (or brain damaged) tendencies on my part. LOL.
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
Don't forget the misspelling of "kemo". Like in Kemo Sabe.
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
WELL let me be the first to say how polite you asshats have all been.. I wouldn't waste my time trolling a friggin' law website. Seems pretty redundant, no? Nothing I said was a lie, and I'd appreciate my question being answered as professionally as I'd asked. I know "kemo" isn't how it's spelt, I don't care. Shut up! Thank you Mr. Knowitall, for not being a douche. But I wasn't sentenced to serve time. First offense in Mass. is 1-year probation, and DAE classes (usually)... along with many fines. Which is what I got. So would I just spend the next few weeks in jail? Or until my probation ends in October?
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
Quote:
Quoting
Letssmokecigarettes
WELL let me be the first to say how polite you asshats have all been.. I wouldn't waste my time trolling a friggin' law website. Seems pretty redundant, no? Nothing I said was a lie, and I'd appreciate my question being answered as professionally as I'd asked. I know "kemo" isn't how it's spelt, I don't care. Shut up! Thank you Mr. Knowitall, for not being a douche. But I wasn't sentenced to serve time. First offense in Mass. is 1-year probation, and DAE classes (usually)... along with many fines. Which is what I got. So would I just spend the next few weeks in jail? Or until my probation ends in October?
Fine, then allow me to put it this way.
A judge seems to think that nothing in your life is more important than a courts orders since they have the force of law on those named within. Therefore, telling the nice judge that you had more important stuff to do than your court ordered probation is going to fall like the proverbial lead balloon.
Crap, you don't even know how many times you have been in court, what you have been accused of, how much of your sentence is actually completed or, even, what your responsibilities are.
By the way, I still don't believe you. No one with a loved one going through chemo would ever forget how to spell it... it becomes automatic. most people already know how many times they have been in court. me? I think you got so angry because you got caught and figure the best way to deal with that is to bluster your way through it.
I could be wrong. Probably not, though.
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
So you didn't pay fees. You didn't pay fines. You didn't complete community service. You didn't report as directed to your probation officer. The silly little fees are kinda the least of your worries. You have violated the majority of your requirements. Leaving meesages is not checking in.
Basically, you are looking at the time that your sentence calls for, minus any time that you spent in custody to this point.
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
Quote:
Quoting
cyjeff
Fine, then allow me to put it this way.
A judge seems to think that nothing in your life is more important than a courts orders since they have the force of law on those named within. Therefore, telling the nice judge that you had more important stuff to do than your court ordered probation is going to fall like the proverbial lead balloon.
Crap, you don't even know how many times you have been in court, what you have been accused of, how much of your sentence is actually completed or, even, what your responsibilities are.
By the way, I still don't believe you. No one with a loved one going through chemo would ever forget how to spell it... it becomes automatic. most people already know how many times they have been in court. me? I think you got so angry because you got caught and figure the best way to deal with that is to bluster your way through it.
I could be wrong. Probably not, though.
I never said I didn't know how many times I've been to court. I never said I didn't know what I was accused of. I never said I didn't know how much of my sentence was completed. And I certainly know my responsibilities. I quite frankly don't care if you don't believe I'm taking care of a family member with cancer, that's not up to you to decide. If I wanted to troll people, I'd go to blackpeoplemeet.com... Anywho!! Seeing as this is my first offense, does anyone believe house arrest would be appropriate? Given the circumstances?
Re: Probation Violation for Failing to Pay Fines from a DUI
you edited your post and now tell me I am wrong when I mentioned what your original post said.
We can't predict the future. I will say that missing numerous mandatory meetings and appointments will not garner leniency.