Hello guys, so this is a very long story, but I will sum it up as much as I can.
I sent my paperwork to the DMV to get my registration renewed and my new tags (January, 2015), they told me I needed to get smoke check which I did, and sent paperwork back again, weeks went by and I didn't get my tags yet, knowing how painfully slow the DMV is, I didn't call. More weeks went by I thought it was getting too long so I called, they told me they were processing them and all the paperwork was in order and I should be getting the tags soon, they told me to be patient because it takes time.
So I waited more weeks, nothing yet, I called again and they were supposedly still processing them. So I waited even more weeks, by now it was June, 2015. I was driving my mom to a museum when I got pulled over by a cop. He told me I had expired tags, I explained him everything, he said: "Okay, get this fixed soon, it's very important, sign here." I signed, he gave me a ticket, and drove off. Exactly one day after, I went to the DMV got new tags and registration. I thought that was the end of it.
Months later (October, 2015), my ex-roommate (I relocated, and updated my address) told me I had received an envelope from court, I had no idea what could it be since I didn't recall having any legal problems. The letter said I failed to show up in court, and now I owed $1,006!! I thought it was a scam of some sort, but I called and it turned out to be a real thing.
Fast forward to now, I have a new court date in two days, I have this huge, completely unnecessary fine that was caused by a delay of the DMV in the first place, and I absolutely can't afford it, not even in a payment plan (broke student). I had absolutely no idea I had to go to court. Officer only told me to "take care of the problem" which I did.
How do I go about this in court? I got the fine in the first place because of negligence from the DMV! Also, I got the problem fixed right after. I can't afford to pay this fine, paying for this would mean literally going homeless.
What should I plead, guilty not guilty? Help please.
I sent my paperwork to the DMV to get my registration renewed and my new tags (January, 2015), they told me I needed to get smoke check which I did, and sent paperwork back again, weeks went by and I didn't get my tags yet, knowing how painfully slow the DMV is, I didn't call. More weeks went by I thought it was getting too long so I called, they told me they were processing them and all the paperwork was in order and I should be getting the tags soon, they told me to be patient because it takes time.
So I waited more weeks, nothing yet, I called again and they were supposedly still processing them. So I waited even more weeks, by now it was June, 2015. I was driving my mom to a museum when I got pulled over by a cop. He told me I had expired tags, I explained him everything, he said: "Okay, get this fixed soon, it's very important, sign here." I signed, he gave me a ticket, and drove off. Exactly one day after, I went to the DMV got new tags and registration. I thought that was the end of it.
Months later (October, 2015), my ex-roommate (I relocated, and updated my address) told me I had received an envelope from court, I had no idea what could it be since I didn't recall having any legal problems. The letter said I failed to show up in court, and now I owed $1,006!! I thought it was a scam of some sort, but I called and it turned out to be a real thing.
Fast forward to now, I have a new court date in two days, I have this huge, completely unnecessary fine that was caused by a delay of the DMV in the first place, and I absolutely can't afford it, not even in a payment plan (broke student). I had absolutely no idea I had to go to court. Officer only told me to "take care of the problem" which I did.
How do I go about this in court? I got the fine in the first place because of negligence from the DMV! Also, I got the problem fixed right after. I can't afford to pay this fine, paying for this would mean literally going homeless.
What should I plead, guilty not guilty? Help please.