My question involves a traffic citation from the state of: NJ
About 3 weeks ago I found a handicap placard on the side of the road when I was out running. It was pretty beat up and bent. It looked like it was thrown away, so I took it home. Anyway I attempted one time to return it to the DMV and they looked at me like I was insane when I went there asked them about it. So I kept it.
Last week I blew out my back. The doctor thinks its either an irritated nerve or a herniated disk. The worst pain of my entire life. I have x-rays and the form from the examination.
Anyway I went to the mall tonight. It was pouring hard, my back was bothering me so I used the placard. When I came out a police car pulled up and he asked me where I got the placard as it did not match my plate. I said I found it and he said I was under arrest for possession of misplaced items. He handcuffs me and takes me to the station. I tried talking to him and I asked him how he found it and he said it came up as "unknown" on the computer.
He wrote up 3 summons to me:
Parking in a handicapped spot
Improper use of handicapped tag
2C:20-6 - and he wrote "Theft of mislaid property by not disposing properly of found handicap tag"
After all of this having me chained up first in the car and than in the station he uncuffs me and says I will take you back to your car. I was like um, ok. He says you are free to go. Than he says this teaches you, dont do it again.
I looked this up on the net and this is not what 2C:20-6 says:
"In accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:20-6, captioned Theft of property lost,
mislaid, or delivered by mistake "a person who comes into control of
property of another that he knows to have been lost, mislaid, or
delivered under a mistake as to the nature or amount of the property
or the identity of the recipient is guilty of theft if, knowing the
identity of the owner and with purpose to deprive said owner thereof,
he converts the property to his own use.""
Now I didnt steal this, nor do I know whom it belongs too. I found it, thats it. That being said I am scared. He scheduled the quickest court day he could which is next week and said to me unless the world ends you had better be there.
As soon as I got home I called an attorney who is from this area and he said the cop way, way over reacted. He said he was going to take care of it. This guy is a former prosecutor.
Anyway I am really scared. I do a lot of high tech security work. I cant afford to have this on my record. I admit I found it and did use it but thats it. I certainly didnt steal it. Even the police dont know who it belongs too.
I want to hear some opinions.

