Citation for Presence in a Park After Dark, PRR 1-03

My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York

Hi

I was out with a friend after midnight in a boardwalk area that was supposedly close. The boardwalk area was itself seemingly closed (there was no railing, anything blocking the entrance) we were just parked in the lot talking when the cops showed up and issued each of us a ticket - a pink summons slip with a court date saying we violated park law by being there after dark, violating this offense.


http://www.pinksummons.com/pinksummo...#ParkAfterDark


We both got a slip for the same offense. I am not from here but Maryland (and gave them my MD address) and I do not have a driver's license yet, just recently got a learner's permit and haven't used it yet, which may or may not matter. I also have never received a warning or a ticket from cops before. That link above looks intimidating and I don't want anything to show up on my record, especially as I was merely a passenger visiting from another state and my friend (the driver) didn't see anything either that told us not to go in (there must've been posted hours and warnings, etc. we missed in the dark/fog) and just wanted to take me to an area where I can see the beach. I am pretty sure we weren't the only car parked there as well. My question is, is there a way I can take care of this (like expunge the record) without showing up to court or paying a fine but just explaining things over the phone? I just really don't want this showing up as an offense in my records anywhere. I am a foreign person here on student visa and do my research at a federal agency, so I am getting very paranoid...

When you are summoned to court, that really does mean that you go to court.

You can try to negotiate a resolution of the charge with the prosecutor in advance of court or can retain a lawyer to do so on your behalf. I would not expect a prosecutor to have time to speak to you about this type of matter before your court appearance, but you won't know unless you try.

You should be concerned, you can be jailed over it according to the link you posted. Hire a lawyer.