Do I need to hire an attorney?

[Texan2]

Is there a way I can find out before his court date? As the person prosecuting the case?

For Class C stuff youwill usually have an opportunity to meet with the City Attorney on your court date for a few moments. You can explain the circumstances and work something out right then in most cases.

 

[Tejano Scott]

Sure you can find out. Just call up whoever issued the ticket and ask them for the number of the City Attorney or DA who is prosecuting the case. For the most part they try and force people to deal with them on the day of their hearing. If worse comes to worse, show up for the initial hearing, plea not guilty, and request a jury trial. This ought to buy you additional time to strike up a deal with the City Attorney/DA. If not, show up the day of your next hearing and observe whats happening. In Dallas when I did this for myself, I quickly realized there 300 people there that day for jury trials. So I told myself, there is no way in hell the DA would chose me over some of these other idiots. Sure enough, after a wait of a few hours, they came in and released almost 90% of the people who plead not guilty and demanded a jury trial(either because they couldnt get the officer there testify or b/c it wasnt worth it). I have been to traffic court twice in Houston and pretty much the same story.

 

[Clockwork]

Slightly off topic, but on that Jeep - check the metal ports coming off of the radiator for corrosion. I used to own a Jeep and some of the metalic components of the radiator became corroded and the metal took on a consistency of paper and it began to leak antifreeze which meant my Jeep had no coolant and it began to overheat. Just a thought.

As to the main topic - I wouldn't bother with costly lawyer fees and the like. He's obviously not the sort of person that does this on a regular basis by your own admission and still a minor. Making mistakes when you're still a kid is nothing more than a lesson that prevents you from making the same mistake when you're an adult. It's okay to mess up when you're young so long as you learn something from it.

 

[TexasRedneck]

I agree - skip the attorney and sit down w/the DA. I wouldn't worry much about doing it in advance - generally speaking, if you go in there hat in hand (or your son does with you at his side), he'll likely chuckle to himself, remember how stupid HE was as a kid, and realize that there's not much point in pushing the issue. He'll likely offer to downgrade the charges. If he doesn't, then suggest it to him by asking if your son can plead "Guilty by Youthful Ignorance" and then laugh lightly. Bring the letters, etc., bring his grades (if they're even halfway decent) - anything to show that your son is REALLY a good kid, just guilty of making a dumb choice that he'll NEVER repeat. Point out to the DA that the fines, etc., are going to be paid by your son, NOT by you - because you DO believe in there being consequences. Suggest that Community Service might be a more appropriate consequence.
Bottom line is this - these guys spend their days listening to folks denying their guilt, trying to blame everyone BUT themselves - it's a breath of Fresh Air when they have someone coming in, saying "Mea Culpa", and simply asking for mercy. Our local county is known for being pretty harsh on speeders - coupla years ago, Schoolmarm got tagged in her new Caddy CTS for like 90 in a 65. Did a nice letter and faxed it over in advance, basically saying "I'm sorry", and pointing out that she was a teacher of many years with direct family in LE, and that she simply messed up by not paying attention as she should have been. They dropped the speeding down to like 75, gave her a hundred-dollar fine and 60 days deferred adjudication.

 

[Tejano Scott]

I agree - skip the attorney and sit down w/the DA. I wouldn't worry much about doing it in advance - generally speaking, if you go in there hat in hand (or your son does with you at his side), he'll likely chuckle to himself, remember how stupid HE was as a kid, and realize that there's not much point in pushing the issue. He'll likely offer to downgrade the charges. If he doesn't, then suggest it to him by asking if your son can plead "Guilty by Youthful Ignorance" and then laugh lightly. Bring the letters, etc., bring his grades (if they're even halfway decent) - anything to show that your son is REALLY a good kid, just guilty of making a dumb choice that he'll NEVER repeat. Point out to the DA that the fines, etc., are going to be paid by your son, NOT by you - because you DO believe in there being consequences. Suggest that Community Service might be a more appropriate consequence.
Bottom line is this - these guys spend their days listening to folks denying their guilt, trying to blame everyone BUT themselves - it's a breath of Fresh Air when they have someone coming in, saying "Mea Culpa", and simply asking for mercy. Our local county is known for being pretty harsh on speeders - coupla years ago, Schoolmarm got tagged in her new Caddy CTS for like 90 in a 65. Did a nice letter and faxed it over in advance, basically saying "I'm sorry", and pointing out that she was a teacher of many years with direct family in LE, and that she simply messed up by not paying attention as she should have been. They dropped the speeding down to like 75, gave her a hundred-dollar fine and 60 days deferred adjudication.

Super advice Texas Redneck. This +100...

Believe me, the DA has bigger fish to fry than your son who goofed up. Last time I went to traffic court, there were people in there busted for going 100+ on a motorcycle, etc.(which was one of the cases the DA ended up taking to jury trial).

 

[Charlie]

".....................there were people in there busted for going 100+ on a motorcycle, etc.(which was one of the cases the DA ended up taking to jury trial)."

The guy on the motorcycle was probably just drying off his fairings! IBTL

 

[Randman]

".....................there were people in there busted for going 100+ on a motorcycle, etc.(which was one of the cases the DA ended up taking to jury trial)."

The guy on the motorcycle was probably just drying off his fairings! IBTL

Lmao...I've been that guy.. I just didn't get caught..

 

[Glockster69]

The guy on the motorcycle was probably just drying off his fairings! IBTL

Exactly. I sure miss him.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Exactly. I sure miss him.

Ah thought he wuz back tryin' ta be a security guard an' buildin' AK's....

 

[Glockster69]

Dunno. Just remember scenario, not screen name. And I aint lookin it up.

 

[Randman]

:sign0101::sign0101::sign0101: Back on topic!

 

[Glockster69]

Agreed
Post 27 was an excellent addition to the thread

 

[Randman]

Agreed
Post 27 was an excellent addition to the thread

Umm, but it's my thread! Ha!

 

[Glockster69]

javascript:void(0) So you're right. I didn't go back to #1. My apologies sir.

 

[Randman]

javascript:void(0) So you're right. I didn't go back to #1. My apologies sir.

No worries..it is starting to bore a bit now..