Can anyone please help me with Drunk in Public / speeding ticket info?
Posted by | Posted in Virginia Court Records | Posted on 25-08-2010
Hi, I live in Virginia.
I was pulled over by the police yesterday while driving my car, it was the first time I ever have been in trouble with the law and I have no prior criminal record at all. He gave me a ticket for going 50 mph in a 25 mph residential zone, and I also failed a breathalizer test, but the officer gave me a profane swearing or intoxication in public charge (DIP), he didn’t charge me with a DUI (he gave me a break and just gave me a DIP charge). He also said that he wasn’t going to charge me with reckless driving although he should have. I spent the night in jail and was given a paper with a court date in one month. My questions are:
1: Is the speeding ticket prepayable? It is for going 50/25 mph zone and the reckless driving law is 20 mph over the speed limit. If I prepay this, will they not charge me with reckless driving? The officer said he would not charge me with reckless driving but on the ticket it sais 50 in a 25 zone…
2: Is the drunk in public charge prepayable? It does not say anywhere on the form that I can prepay it, but when I got released from jail the guy told me I could prepay it at the clerks office to avoid court. Also I am really worried because if I have to go to court, won’t the judge see that I should have recieved a DUI instead of a DIP? What will happen concerning that? I was driving and failed a breath test, but I got a DIP… is it possible for the court to change it to a DUI or will the officers charge (DIP) stand?
PLEASE HELP i am extremely worried about this
Thanks so much for your answer, but the thing is that on my citation it does not say anything about a fine, and it doesn’t have an amount to pay or anything, it just sais to appear in court on the date. The cop also told me it was a fine penalty also, but on the citation it doesn’t say how much it is or anything about a fine, i’m so confused.
It appears that you will lose points on your liscense that might affect your insurance, but not as drastically as what the cop COULD have charged you. What he wrote on the citation is what you will be penalized for, as long as you just go and pay the fines. It is my understanding that you can pay a fine ANYTIME the courts are open to accept payment.
If you let the matter goto court and see a judge, he figures you are there EITHER because you cant afford, or most likely there to argue and they dont like that. In court you run a risk of answering a series of questions asked by the judge and he can assess what ever charge he finds appropriate. Pay your fine now, and avoid the risk of more serious charges.
You have to show up on your court date & then request a public defender & they will advise you or at that time plead guilty to the charge . of DIP.. They can not change it, unless they find you have prior charges of this offense .
Just show up & ask for a public defender to advise, you will have to go back to court because they will continue your case.
Or you can show up & plead guilty the DIP & pay the fine that they will access at that time ( you will be given 30 days to pay or appear ) meaning if you do not pay it within 30 days you are in violation & they will issue a warrant for your arrest. & put you in the County jail for being a fugitive when they pick you up & it will cost you more than if you just accept & plead guilty on your court date & agree to the fine & pay it within 30 days
Bottom line just show up Plead guilty & pay the fine within 30 days
j
There is no fine on the ticket because you cannot prepay it. You will have to appear for this one, and take what you get.