[ SECRET POST #2086 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2086 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 060 secrets from Secret Submission Post #298.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ], [ 1 - posted twice ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Freaking Out

[(Anonymous)]

So, my boyfriend got a speeding ticket on the way to his uncle's funeral (82 in a 70), and neither one of us realized it at the time, but that's a criminal misdemeanor in VA (anything over 80, apparently).

When I googled, most people are saying that the only way to get the charges lowered is to get a lawyer for his Thursday court date, but 1) the court date is this Thursday and 2) we don't have the money for that anyway.

Has anyone had any luck with this in Virginia? It was in southern VA, if that makes a difference. I'm freaking right the fuck out right now, and any advice would be helpful.

Re: Freaking Out

[(Anonymous)]

Won't you just go to court and pay a fine? Or are you trying to lessen the fine?

Re: Freaking Out

[(Anonymous)]

He's up for a teaching license, and a criminal misdemeanor would probably fuck that over. So, if the judge lowers it to 79 instead of 82, that would be enough.

We'll find a way to pay the fine, it's just terrifying that this could ruin not only grad school (which was really fucking expensive), but also a shot at a career. Thus, the freaking out.

Re: Freaking Out

[(Anonymous)]

You could try explaining to the judge why he was speeding? It might give them sympathy to lower the sentence (and the recorded speed).

Re: Freaking Out

[(Anonymous)]

Do they do that? Neither one of us has ever been pulled over before or even gotten a ticket. We're really out of our depth >.

Re: Freaking Out

[mekkio]

Yeah. Explain to the judge and maybe they'll have mercy. But always admit fault and then explain. (And never with a, "I was speeding BUT." Rather a, "I was speeding. I was trying to make it to a funeral.")

Re: Freaking Out

[(Anonymous)]

Is there a law school in your area? Sometimes they have programs where law students offer legal advice/representation for free or a low fee to give the students experience (this might be called a "legal clinic"). My neighbor did this when she was in law school. Of course, you'd be getting a student and not an experienced lawyer, but it's not like all professional lawyers are automatically great at their jobs anyway.

Otherwise, I'd say start doing web searches or crack open the phone book and start calling places and see what you can find. You might search for terms like "non-profit" and "legal aid" to find low cost/free help. You could also search for places that specialize in traffic violations and see if you can find a lawyer or firm that will work for a flat fee so at least you know what you are in for (you could ask about paying in installments if necessary).