BWAHAHAHAH I face 30 days to a year in jail. Too damned funny

[The Straight Story]

As I posted in Feb. I was pulled over here in CA for running a stop sign and not having a valid Driver's License.

I am all for paying a fine and moving on. I did coast through that stop sign on the way home from taking my daughter to school. No one else around and I was turning right.

Never had a ticket before, and I am 42.

After my mom died and I was living in Ohio I was not really thinking about my license. Turns out it expired there in Ohio last year in October. I moved here and had a residence in Ohio, so I was covered in not getting a CA driver's license technically. But then I forgot my license was up for renewal in 2007 (and since I was not there I did not get the notice). The wife and I even talked about me moving back to Ohio for a spell to find work, so I was in no Hurry to change over to a CA license.

My car was impounded (car was not in my name, and have already paid $500 to get it out), I got it back. And I called weekly to see what I owed so I could be a good guy and pay it. Finally I got a court notice this week (hello, this is MAY). I face a fine for the stop sign and 30 days to a year in Jail for not having a valid license.

I just have to laugh at this point.

bush and crew fuck us over, lie to get us in a war, thousands of US troops dead, many more maimed and/or wounded, and a guy like me is facing jail over having a license that was not renewed.

God is this a fucked up country or what?

For over 20 years I have renewed my license by simply paying a fee. I forget once because I was going through absolute hell (mom died, many others died, wife got diagnosed with parkinson's, etc and so on) and I have to worry about going to jail????

Sure, I can get an attorney, but that costs money. And I have been out of work since July mostly (I have a job now).

The America I once believed in is dead.

Maybe I should have voted for a war to kill people. Maybe I should have made up lies about said war. Maybe seeing thousands upon thousands die is a good thing.

Bush is walking free, while his lies have killed so many. Me? I face jail time and fines I cannot even begin to afford because I forgot to send money to a state agency.

Yeah - I was wrong. But before you punish me with glee, remember that it was not me that made the decisions to send so many to their final resting place based on LIES.

I made an honest mistake. In the future I will do my best to lie and manipulate things....

[sandnsea]

1. Fix your driver's license

and go to court. You'll get a fine, maybe less if you explain your financial circumstances. And yes it annoys me what people will do to each other over next to nothing, but let these sob's get away with all kinds of horror and corruption. I don't undertand it.

[The Straight Story]

2. I fixed it

I now have a CA Driver's license.

[sandnsea]

9. They don't have room for you in jail

They'll probably work out a payment plan if there's a fine too. Don't worry about it, just do go to court.

[Hissyspit]

3. Get an attorney. Find the money.

If you've no priors you might get a prayer for judgment continued if they have that in CA.

Traffic courts like it if you have a lawyer to take care of things properly and move them along. And the lawyers usually know exactly what to do to keep fines and sentences down and keep your insurance down. That will save you money in the long run.

[EFerrari]

13. He likely qualifies for the Public Defender or the sliding scale attonerys

from the local bar.

[midnight]

55. That sounds down right dreamy.... But sadly that is not so.

These attorney's know how to keep things not moving along. They know how to squeeze every dollar possible from a misfortunate situation..... Do talk to an attorney and see if she or he puts everything in writing. That will be all the information you need about how much a ride they will take you on.

[Syrinx]

4. Wow, I had no idea you could get a year for that!

I drove around here for a while after my license had expired. I wonder what the penalty is here for that.

The state used to send out reminders when your license was getting close to expiring. And I didn't realize they had stopped. Now the way I remember when to renew is that it is in the summer following a presidential inauguration.

Good luck. I hope you don't have to go to jail. And you know you have over 100,000 99,999 character witnesses at the DU. :)

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Everybody else has to renew their license, what makes you special?

You're attitude is for shit, you ought to go to jail.

[EFerrari]

10. And you ought to go on ignore.

[Wilber_Stool]

50. Yeah boy.........n/t

[Duke Newcombe]

11. Yikes...

Do you think that could have been MORE brutal, Casual?

Duke

[sandnsea]

12. For forgetting to renew your license?

Really?? Jail?

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Richard Steele]

15. No doubt you'll happily do a year in jail the next time you forget a date, right?

Right?

[SeattleGirl]

17. Wow. Aren't you an asshole?

It's YOUR attitude that is for shit.

[Downtown Hound]

18. Spoken like somebody with a mighty big stick up their ass. n/t

[regnaD kciN]

38. Reminding me of the Stephanie Miller clip...

..."Good Lord! The rod up that man's butt must have a rod up its butt!"

:crazy:

[Hekate]

21. Wow. You get the Iggy Award from me. The most charitable thing I can say about you is...

...you have not been following the story over the past couple of years. Even reading the OP completely would tell you life has not been normal in the TSS household for some time.

Hekate

[orleans]

24. bug up thy ass syndrome? n/t

[lligrd]

26. If They Put People In Jail For Having A Shitty Attitude

You wouldn't be posting right now.

[timtom]

39. This reply cannot be for real!

You're joking, right?

[TheWatcher]

46. You should go Cheney yourself for YOUR attitude.

Sniveling, Ninnying Asshole.

A year in Jail for an HONEST MISTAKE?

Why not the Death Penalty?

My goodness, let's just make it a Terrorism Charge.

[SeattleGirl]

47. Bet Bush and Cheney would wet themselves over that one.

God, the way our "justice" system is fucked up makes me want to piss all over them.

[Vickers]

57. "You're attitude is for shit"

*WOOP!* *WOOP!*

"Irony Alert!"

*WOOP!* *WOOP!*

"Irony Alert!"

[Rosemary2205]

59. ROFL

You know, I'm pretty much a hard ass when it comes to personal repsonsibility but even I think that was an douchey thing to say.

[davekriss]

72. Why are you here?

[proud2BlibKansan]

73. And you ought to grow a heart

[Fox Mulder]

74. What an asshole response.

[yardwork]

83. Ought to go to jail for having an expired driver's license?!

Geez.

[Gemini Cat]

84. Oh yeah and maybe he needs tarring and feathering and a horse whipping and

all sorts of punishments. I mean we can't have a civilized society with TSS running about with-out renewing his driving license. THINK of the CHILDREN! What will we tell them!!!!!???!!! :sarcasm:

TSS: I hope it all works out for you.

[EFerrari]

6. Hey, you can get a Public Defender. If you didn't get the notice

for renewal and with the family medical history, you'll be okay, my friend. :hug:

[Duke Newcombe]

7. Don't sweat it.

Traffic School for the "California stop", and no points on your (future?) driver's license, plus a fine as you mention.

In most of CA, jail time for a nonviolent, low-level traffic "offender" (I hate that term) is a REMOTE (next to non-existent) option.

I got jammed up in a rural (read, don't have a nice car and the wrong suntan) kind of county in Northern CA. It was a bummer, but as you rightly point out, not the worst thing going on in life or the world.

I hope you are able to resolve this to your satisfaction, and have a little peace. All we can really control (and some say true control is an illusion) are the things close to us, and try to heal, one person at a time, one situation at a time, one vote at a time.

Shrub and his pitiful band will get theirs, in this life or the next. Take care of this situation and your lovely mate. Here's strength and prayers coming your way for this situation.

Duke

[timtom]

40. Let me say,

I really like your take on things. Very similar to mine, and all.

All of it.

Cheers.

[Duke Newcombe]

61. Thanks. Believe me, it was "earned" not "learned" n/t

Duke

[Guaranteed]

8. Much like SnS said above, don't do anything dumb,

and do whatever you can to fix the situation.


You'll be fine, I promise. Just don't start getting angry- or lazy, for that matter- and start doing stupid stuff.

[MiaCulpa]

16. suggestions

I don't know what part of Ohio you're in, but don't just resign yourself to getting fucked over more than you have already. Try your state rep's office, and/or your local news station. Most news stations have those 'action teams' that help work out various problems, or local newspaper. I wouldn't even be afraid to call the governors office. You've had some 'special' circumstances that should be taken into consideration. There are a lot of people who are overwhelmed lately. You're not alone.

Best,

Diane

[SeattleGirl]

20. Hey Mia, the OP lives in California now.

:hi:

[housewolf]

19. Our poor country is seriously ill where our "justice" system is concerned

So we have a high school girl who is arrested because of her prom dress, a boyfriend who is arrested and charged with abuse after calling for help to get his girlfriend out of the bathroom that she refused to leave for a long period of time, a man facing up to 56 years in prison because his 5 year old son picked up the father's gun and shot his little sister (56 YEARS?????). Then of course there's Guantanimo and ghost rendition (but that's another post altogether). We've got people going in for long-term sentences on 3-rd time shop-lifting charges. It's sick, I tell you. Then we've got companies making big profits building and staffing more and more prisons all across the country....



I'm so sorry for your troubles. I've spent many years in Calif and I think you'll get off with a fine - I sure do hope so! Good lord, of all people, YOU deserve a break!

[Syrinx]

23. what was the thing about the girl and her prom dress?

I heard a teaser on the news about that, but never heard the full story.

Did she steal the dress or something?

Thanks.

[ForeignSpectator]

36. No, just because of the dress itself

Check out TYT about it...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x131273

[Madrone]

60. Not exactly.

She was denied access to the prom because of her dress - something she SURELY knew would happen when she arrived, based on the fact that there were printed notices handed out well BEFORE prom just to remind the students of the "will be enforced" dress code.

She knowingly showed up in a dress that violated the dress code - then got handcuffed and escorted out for THROWING A FIT in the hotel lobby and refusing to leave. I'd say that entire incident boiled down to her getting exactly the attention she was seeking.

[housewolf]

80. Here's a link with pictures

Admittedly, the dress (?) REALLY is inappropriate for a high school prom... and I guess she didn't actually get arrested but was handcuffed and taken in but no charges filed.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/12/see-the-dress-that-got-a_n_101311.html

[Beregond2]

22. In my experience

if you go to court and tell your story, they will work with you. No one is trying to be an asshole or persecute you personally. And the jails are so overcrowded now, the last thing they want is to mess with a minor case like this. Just do what you have to do to put it behind you, and move on.

[notadmblnd]

25. You don't need a lawyer. you can probably talk to the officer that wrote your ticket

before you even see the judge. Explain to him, the circumstances and and show that you have things straightened out. He might be willing to drop it down for you. I doubt you'll do any jail time for your first ticket. Dress nice, maybe some nice dockers and a button down shirt, and neat hair; judges like it when people dress nice for court. It shows respect and feeds their egos. Be polite and you'll have nothing to worry about even if they can't drop it down to a lesser offense for you. Who knows, you might even get lucky and the officer not show up. If that happens, it could then be thrown out entirely.

[SeattleGirl]

27. Mmmmn, I'm not sure about that.

I understand what you're saying, but it also might come across like TSS was trying to weasel his way out of it, or worse, that it might seem like he was trying to skirt the law.

Talking to the judge, or, better yet, trying to get a pro bono or very low cost attorney, would be the better bet, I think.

[EFerrari]

28. I'm afraid that won't happen and might even get people mad. n/t

[regnaD kciN]

41. Agreed...

At least up here in Washington state (and probably down there as well) once the charges have been filed with the court -- which has to be done within two business days, so it certainly has been done by now -- the matter is officially out of the police's hands, except to testify at the trial. Attempting to contact the arresting officer would probably be seen as a bribery or extortion attempt, and could really land TSS in hot water (as in felony charges that carry a lot more than a year in prison).

The person to talk to is not the policeman, but whoever from the DA's office is prosecuting your case. Even then, the wisest choice would be to get an attorney and have them make the contact -- they know the protocol involved, and probably know how best to "sell" the prosecutor on a bargain. If nothing else, look for ads for inexpensive lawyers (they'll generally offer cut-rate divorces, DUI defenses, and immigration procedures). But do get representation -- it's a good way to make sure the court doesn't decide to "make an example" of you.

[EFerrari]

67. The local bar usually has a list of attorneys who do sliding scale

and even pro bono work. The Public Defender's office usually has a copy of that list for people who get priced out of their services.

[tkmorris]

29. You DO know you're not going to jail, right Straight?

Yes, that may be the maximum penalty for the offense, but you won't get that. You'll get a fine, and probably not a very high one at that.

Further, this is nothing new. I really have no idea what America you once believed in, but the America you've actually lived in all these years has always mandated having a license and there have always been penalties like that possible if you don't have one. I assume this is new to you simply because you never got a ticket for it before.

[SeattleGirl]

30. Did you read his entire post?

He forgot, plain and simple, because of the crap that has been going on in his life.

Your snark here: "I really have no idea what America you once believed in, but the America you've actually lived in all these years has always mandated having a license and there have always been penalties like that possible if you don't have one..." was uncalled for.

[tkmorris]

32. Yeah, I read his post

I never said he deserved to go to jail or what have you. I simply reassured him that he wasn't going to jail, since that seemed to be the original point of the post. And he won't, in large part BECAUSE of the facts you cited.

And that bit you quoted isn't snark. If YOU read his post you will find that he viewed his offense and the possible penalty it carries as evidence that "the America I believed in no longer exists", which is just nonsense since it is not new. I am the exact same age he is and similar penalties were in place in most states, including mine, the day I acquired my license at 16 years of age.

[SeattleGirl]

34. I, too, read his post.

If I misunderstood your response, I apologize.

[ForeignSpectator]

42. TST probably overreacted with respect to the jail sentence, as can be seen from...

...most posts here.

But I can see what he means with "the America he believed in". I think he didn't mean an America that lets off people driving without license. But if you see it in the context of a criminal president still in office, economic unfairness and so on, it makes sense. That is compounded by the prospect of him going to jail over having forgotten to renew his license.

So I can see what he meant with the "America he believed in no longer existing".

[davekriss]

78. He believed in an America where...

...justice and fairness and reason is held above all else. He faces jail time for a MINOR offense of no significant importance. George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, et al, walk free without any penalty whatsoever even though they committed the crimes of aggressive war, violated the Geneva Convention prohibitions against torture and redition, admittedly (and illegally) spied on American citizens, and on and on and on ... and they pay no penalty. The JUSTICE and EQUALITY and RULE OF LAW which he and we so highly prize has become a hypocrisy. That's why he can rightly say "the America I believed in no longer exists".

[regnaD kciN]

43. While it's true that he forgot...

...one of the general principles of the law is that the burden of making sure one is following it lies with the individual. As the old saying goes, "ignorance of the law is no excuse," and neither is failing to follow the law because one forgot one's responsibility to make sure one was doing so -- in this case, by having a valid license. Forgetting may be enough to acquit someone in terms of an unwritten "moral law" (i.e., matters of "virtue" versus "sinfulness") but the civil law in this and virtually every other country deems otherwise.

[melody]

31. Very similar thing happened to my son

The phrasing is "up to a fine and 30 days to a year in Jail". Up to -- you won't get nearly that. My son got a fine that he's been paying off in payments. No jail time.

In California, they let go drug pushers with one day in jail because they don't have space. You aren't going to jail for something like this. I agree -- avail yourself of the California bar sliding scale and you can probably get it dispatched in short order. Try not to worry -- it really is nothing.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[comtec]

37. Damn.. Too late!

Already donated :)

[regnaD kciN]

44. I HEAR, GROVELBOT, AND OBEY...

No donation this time around! :evilgrin:

[Jamastiene]

35. I wish our government would go ahead and take bullshit "fee fees"

out of our paychecks like they do taxes all along during the year. Just consolidate all the bullshit "fee fees"* and include them in taxes taken out. That way we wouldn't have so much shit to try to keep up with. THEY certainly know when we owe them another arm or leg for not much of anything. If they know and are keeping tabs on us so closely anyhow, why don't they just take their cut and leave us the hell alone?

*I call them "fee fees" because there are so many different types of fees and I don't want to list them all. There are soooo many. I just call them "fee fees, aka fees charged simply for the sake for charging us a fee for every damn thing we do."

[crimsonblue]

45. If you get a chance to make a statement

just print off this OP and read it.

[barbtries]

48. all they really want is money

go to the court and tell the judge briefly and succinctly what you have written here. if the fine is too large they will let you make payments and possibly reduce your fine. they really just want money and i feel very confident telling you that as long as you make your court date you will not go to jail. furthermore, if your "crime" is even close to that serious you will be eligible for a public defender.
i have been through this shit in CA (and worse shit than this), and one thing i am sure of is that what they really want is your money, and your appearance in court. fail to show up in court and you could be in real trouble; as it is i don't believe you are in real trouble. relax, it's gonna be okay.

i will say this. i always wondered why it was the post offices where snapped people used to go off and kill people. i always wondered why it wasn't the DMV; in CA they're worse than the IRS. they have criminalized poverty in CA. i don't know if it's the same in NC but if i don't get the cash soon to get new tags on my car (still expired CA plates and we've been here the better part of a year), i'll be finding out.

[ET Awful]

49. California jails don't have room for you, they'll never put you in jail for a traffic violation

I've been ticketed for the same thing in California, along with expired tags and not wearing a seatbelt (I was literally moving my car from one parking spot to another that was closer to the building I was working in.

End result? Fine and being ordered to correct the expired licence and registration.

Just because an officer writes a citation doesn't mean the judge will enforce everything on it.

As someone else upthread said, they want money for fines, etc.

I believe when it happened to me, the charges were "dismissed in the interest of justice," in the words of the judge that is.

[raebrek]

51. If it works like it does in Florida

Then you go to court, if you get lucky and the officer does not show up then you get off. I can think of one person I know that did this with speeding tickets and almost always got off on the charge because the officer didn't show up.

Raebrek!!!

[Fumesucker]

52. Laws are for the little people..

h/t The Queen of Mean..

[panzerfaust]

53. Go talk to the prosecuting attorney: Really!

I know that sounds ridiculous, but it worked for me.

When I was (very) young and lived in California I was charged with something like felony-reckless driving, and attempting to evade an officer. No, I did not hurt any one, there was no wreck, I was just young and male (with a '68 Goat with 3/4 race cam, exhaust cut-outs, etc. The way I drove, I truly got about 3-6 MPG).

Anyhow. I went and talked to the prosecuting attorney. We worked a deal where I agreed to plead guilty to an illegal left-hand turn, and to sell the car. So I paid a fine, instead of trying to fight it and likely losing my license - and having a mandatory jail sentence.

Prosecutors want convictions, but, at least some of them, also have compassion.

[JCMach1]

54. I agree... maybe work a 'no contest' deal if CA law allows that

[midnight]

56. Your last sentence makes so much sense considering the

insanity that has taken over our judicial system...Hang in there straighstory, you are definitely in turn for some good luck...

[Voice for Peace]

58. I strongly recommend NOT getting an attorney.

Judges tend to be more reasonable when they are dealing directly with a person who has the integrity to represent their own case honestly. I think judges don't like lawyers, that's been my impression. It's not like you need a lawyer for such a simple case. You can get free legal advice too (search google).

[EFerrari]

68. It depends on the venue. If it's a very busy one, people without

representation tend to irritate judges who need to keep thngs moving at a fast clip -- or, that's how it is in most courts around here.

[rucky]

62. Just stay away from the tags on your mattress.

that could get ugly if Johnny Law catches wind of it.

[nichomachus]

63. I used to work in the court here in CA

and I never saw anyone go to jail for not having a driver's license.

In fact, I saw about 50 people a day come up to the window with tickets for not having a driver's license and get put on a payment plan. Many of them had no registration and no insurance either.

The fact is that in CA the jails are so overcrowded that they're letting armed robbers and rapists out, so they can keep the murderers in. Most sheriffs are under court consent decrees to reduce prison population.

You will probably pay a fine, unless you can go to traffic court and convince the judge to overlook it -- and that depends solely on the judge.

[tridim]

64. I coast through all stops signs at non-busy intersections

It costs real money to stop at a stop sign now.

I haven't been ticketed yet, but plan on using that as my defense if I am.

[Hydra]

65. Remember

This is the true meaning of totalitarian gov't- the laws are for the little people, not for the "important ones."

Hell, as I posted in 2006 after the Military Commissions Act passed, we have no legitimate gov't. They nullified the Bill of Rights, which nullified the entire Constitution.

The only right they have to rule us now is force- and they have no problem with that.

[InkAddict]

66. I thought perhaps you had not taken back your library book.

Jail time and fine for that too. Sorry about your "persecution."

[Nikki Stone1]

69. This guy does a legal show in LA on Saturday mornings

http://www.handelonthelaw.com/?src=overture

He's a lawyer and talk show host, but he does help people with problems like this.

[KansDem]

70. Why do you hate America?

Yeah, sure. Let you drive around with an expired license and the next thing you know, you'll be flying airliners into our buildings.

Yeah, I know all about you pre-terrorist types! THROW THE BOOK AT YOU!!! That's what I say...

:sarcasm:

[davekriss]

71. What do you expect from the nation that...

...imprisons more of its citizens than any other nation on earth? That's more on a per capita basis, and more in absolute numbers. More than North Korea and China, more than Iran. Welcome to the United Police States of America!

(Here's hoping they let you go with a fine -- imprisonment over an expired out-of-state license is just too much, too ridiculous, too totalitarian.)

[Vidar]

75. Law enforcement in the US is mainly there to further the interests of

the rich & powerful.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

76. I had a freind in HS

Killed by someone without a valid license, while your circumstances clearly are such that a judge should not, and will not, put you in jail its not a minor offense.

[mvccd1000]

77. Move to Arizona.

License doesn't expire until your 65th birthday.

I got my first AZ license when I was still 25, and I about shit when I saw that it was good for FORTY YEARS.

Beats the heck out of the "take your money every four years" policy of the other states I've lived in.

[Ilsa]

79. Hang in there. You'll feel alot better when it's all over. Good luck. nt

[Buns_of_Fire]

81. Chin up. I think it's gonna be okay.

As has been mentioned several times upthread, the jails are far too crowded to put someone away for such a relatively minor offense. Just show up, be respectful, state your story as concisely as possible, admit you screwed up, point out that you remedied the oversight as soon as possible, and you'll be in and out of there in no time (probably a bit poorer, unfortunately). The anticipation is usually far worse than the actual event.

[Turn CO Blue]

82. TSS - don't you get to visit with the DA right before your hearing?

That's how traffic "offenses" work here in Colorado. When you check in (early), you tell the clerk that you want to discuss your case with the DA. Then, about an hour or so before your hearing time, you get to go into a little room to plea bargain with one of the zillion Assistant District Attorneys...they are so busy and rushed, they usually immediately offer up a fine and reduce the points to half or less just to get you out of there quickly. then you go before the judge for like ten seconds to confirm your plea bargain. This is not legal advice - just sharing what happened to me.
TCB

[yardwork]

85. That's what I did once when I got a speeding ticket.

The ADA knocked down the miles per hour I was clocked, and then I got to ask the judge for a...whatever that's called.

[Jed Dilligan]

86. You're probably fine since your license was not taken away

for driving offenses. The law under whose shadow you are currently living was invented to double or triple fuck DUI offenders, and that's what the courts use it for.

[Contrary1]

87. Perhaps we can talk Bush and Company

Into hiring Haliburton to build a super secret special detention area at Gitmo for scofflaws, such as yourself.

A few days there, and you would probably confess to blowing up the towers.

First, no valid driver's license, then; coasting through a stop sign. Who knows what heinous crime you will commit next? For the sake of all Murkins, you need to do hard time. That oughta learn you.