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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    5

    Default Open Container Citation in New York City

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: new york

    my friend and I were standing outside of his car and the cops came and started asking us questions. after he took our ID's he gave both of us citations for open container. my friend is 22 and i'm 19 (20 in a couple weeks).
    when the cop gave us the pink slips he said something about sending the fine by a money order or check. the officer said it was $25 but I did not see anything that mentioned the price on the pink slip.
    also there is a court date on the slip. does this mean I have to go to court after I pay the fine?? and should I expect anything in the mail from them soon??

    thanks for ur time

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    98,846

    Default Re: Open Container Citation in New York City

    Call the court and ask about the fine. If the ticket says you have to go to court, then you have to go to court.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    5

    Default Re: Open Container Citation in New York City

    thanks for the rely sir.
    I don't hve to pay the fine till I go to court right?? and are they going to send me anything in the mail about my summons or the only thing they will send me is confirmation that they received my payment??

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Open Container Citation in New York City

    my court date is on february 17th.
    do I need to hire a lawyer to fight this or will the judge most likely drop my case since I wasn't drinking, was outside of the car, and I have a clean record.
    but if they say i'm guilty and have to pay the fine, is it going to add points to my driver's license??

    thanks for any help

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    1,419

    Default Re: Open Container Citation in New York City

    There might be a way to pay the ticket by mail. It's better to show up in court and pay the fine. They probably will let you go in a week or 2 before the court day if you want to try and get it over w. Just to arrive to the court when it opens and see if they will let you go in. Make sure you go right when the court opens . The fine is 25 dollars,your lucky he didn't give you a citation for underage drinking. There a small chance to get it dismissed if you get lucky.

    I got the same ticket and was able to go before the date.I paided a 25 dollar fine . You might be able to talk to a legal aid really quick if your lucky. I don't think it will affect your license am not sure.The ticket is a violation not a criminal charge.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Open Container Citation in New York City

    thanks for your quick reply.
    do u know what the whole court process is like?? like if the judge finds me guilty are they going to charge me court fees, and the fne? so I wish I just paid the stupid fine, b/c I don't have money just to waste like that.

    when the cop was questioning me he asked if I had been drinking and I told him no. and even if he tested I would of been clean so it would of been wrong for him to give me a ticket for underage drinking

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    1,419

    Default Re: Open Container Citation in New York City

    The judge is gonna ask if you want to plead guilty or not guilty.If you plead guilty your gonna owe 25 dollars no court fees,if you plead not guilty your most likely come back again and argue your case.Sometimes they give out tickets like that to everyone there,sometimes they dismiss the ticket b.c w. all the cases,an open container is nothing. Two ppl when i went were complain that someone else was drinking and everyone got a ticket.

    You can argue your case,and hope they find you not guilty,you might be able to get a legal aid.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Open Container Citation in New York City

    if the citation doesn't add points to my license, I'll most likely just plead guilty so that I can just pay the $25 there and then, and just get this whole thing over with.
    because having to come back another day to prove my case and all that seems a little too much for a $25 citation.

    thanks again for your help

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