Posted on 07/28/2005 7:46:14 AM PDT by The Other Harry
I have posted several messages about my recent experiences with the judicial system (which I would suggest you all avoid).
Here’s some more comment...
The last time, the judge had 197 cases on his docket for a one-hour period. About two-thirds of the customers did not show up. I don’t know why. Maybe they had paid their fines, or maybe they simply didn’t show up.
(Not showing up is a very bad idea, btw. They will come get you. Police officer at the door.)
That still left him with about 60 cases in an hour. One minute per case. You get no time to say anything. Unless you know what you are doing and are very organized, you are in trouble. You need an attorney.
I may be wrong here, but I also think most judges make allowances for the apparent financial situation of the defendant. In other words, I think it may be better to appear as a disheveled homeless person rather than to be neat and nicely dressed. I did the latter, and I got screwed. Other people who had done worse than me got off lightly.
... over the DUI? What was the sentence?
So what'd you get?
What I got was was 10 days in jail, which turned out to be five since I minded manners while in there. Also about $750 in fines and court costs.
I don't really object. I was wrong and I was guilty.
But it still strikes me how much difference there was between what I got and what other people got. Most of the others were on like their third or fourth conviction, and they got almost nothing.
Also some other things, like a one-year suspended driver's licence. No DMV.
For a DUI, ten days is very light. This must have been your first such offense. (... and hopefully last.)
FYI, my court date is coming up soon.
Link.
My attorney has told me that I shouldn't even have been arrested and there is no way the pinhead DA can win. We'll see. It's only a class B misdemeanor anyway.
Right?
No, that was me. Sorry about that...
AL= Alabama
AR=Arkansas
You took a wrong turn somewhere.
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