My question involves criminal law for the state of: MIP in California, and failure to appear to the court.
I have complicated case for MIP charge in California.
The story goes back to July 2005.
I have lived in Menifee when I was 15-16 during 2002-2003 as a foreign Exchange. I came back from Japan in 2005 to see my friend, and I was 19.
My friend who was already 21 years old at the time bought alcohol before we went to beach. I was told we cannot drink in public place, so I did not touch any.
On our way back home, I was holding the bottle in his car, and I drank a bit out of the bottle, and we got pulled over. After the offcer wrote us a ticket, he told me wait for the letter from court. At the time, I did not carry my driver's license or any other forms of ID. It doesn't mean I purposefully didn't carry ID, but at the time, I did not have form of ID, but Passport. But my friend suggested me not to carry my passport because it is troublesome if I lose it, or if the car gets robbed.
Several days after, the mail was delivered from the court to my friend's house where I was doing home-stay, I asked my friend to read it for me and translate it in easier language for me, and asked what I have to do. I wanted to be sure, since it is sensitive case, we went through many adults to make sure. So the letter was saying that the procecutor or judge understood the circumstances that I explained that in Japan, it does not really have strict law for minor in possession or consumption of alcohol, and passengers can sit in the car and drinking. So our understanding for the letter was as warning.
A month later, I moved to Washington to start my university education. Since then, I have not been experiencing any troubles, untill yesterday.
I went to the office to renew my driver's license, and officer told me I got suspended or revoked license in California.
So I tried to call many offices such as Mandatory Action Unit and so on in order to straighten the situation, but no one did not answer.
At night, I had to go to work so I drove. On my way back home, I got pulled over and arrested. But 5 minutes after, thanks to the law, I was released because the police officer told me they cannot arrest me with valid WA Driver's License, even though I got my license suspended in California.
The funny things are,
1. When I applied for WA Driver's License on December, 2005(approximately 5 months later), I was not told anything, and told I have clear record.(When foreigner apply for driver's license, they run stricter background check).
2. I drove down to California for the break on December 2005 after I got driver's license issued without any problem, I got pulled over for speeding(5miles over) in Temecula, I was not arrested nor mentioned I have MIP and/or failed to show up to the court.
3. I renewed my license a couple of times in WA, I was never told by people who reissued my license, and never told by police offices that I got those records and got my license suspended, or arrested because of those records.
4. In 2007, I was charged for violation of fireworks in WA State Park, and I wasn't told about those records even though court ran my background check.
5. My friend who I stayed during July 2005 never told me or forwarded me a letter from court, and even I asked him if he recieved any, and he said no.
It suddenly happened and came to me yesterday.
I am willing to Solve the problem ASAP, and I will call LA Superior Court and Mandatory Action Unit in LA, and seek for attorny assistance in WA.
But before I take some actions, may I ask some advice??

