Junkyard_dog
New Member
Good morning to everyone here. I've been doing some reading on here, and it seems like a good place to go with this dilemma.
Last month I found myself in a pinch with a ride to work as my main vehicle broke down. I resorted to taking my Buick, which at the time, had an expired registration (4-10). Now just like anyone else, I do not like brushes with the law, but I figured it was a one-time deal, I was going about 10 miles to work, and what are the chances that I would catch the attention of an officer? The Inspection sticker is up to date, as well as the insurance. As I was pulling out, I realized that I had an old plate in my home office that came from a vehicle I sold, and it had a valid sticker on it (9-10). So I got the sticker and transferred it to the plate on the car. ( I know, I know...
)
So, I am on my way to work... and the CAR BREAKS DOWN! I coast it off to the side of the road, into a safe, public-parking spot in a rural area near a stream that many people use for fishing.
I called work and asked that someone come get me, and I'll tow the car home tonight (company wrecker). (maybe calling for a ride in the first place would have been smarter?)
Ugh, I had to let the car sit a day as I was very busy with work and could not get to it the same day. I contacted the local police department the next morning, explaining that I would be removing the car with my wrecker that evening, in order to prevent a police-tow. An officer called me back and asked me why the registration was expired, yet still had a valid sticker on the plate. I was kinda at his mercy here, so I spilled it. My words were: "I was in a real bind and needed the car, so I took a sticker off of a canceled plate." He explained that the $36.00 sticker was cheaper than a "citation" for driving the car as it was. I agreed, apologized, and we ended the conversation. At this point, it looked as though he was looking the other way.
2 hours later, I got nervous and towed the car home.
Yesterday, I get a certified letter in the mail from the magistrates office, and a copy of the same letter sent regular mail.
Page one: "Summons for criminal case" (An order to show up for a hearing on August 27, 2010 @ 9:30 a.m.).
Page two: "Notice of Preliminary Hearing" (Charged with S-75, SS-7122 SS-1 Altered/Forged Documents).
Page three: "Fingerprint order" (I gotta drive to the county courthouse prior to the hearing and pay $125.00 for fingerprinting).
Page four: Instructions for fingerprint order.
Page five through seven: "Police criminal complaint"
Page eight: "Affidavit of probable cause"
Now, I know that this is charged up to be a Class B misdemeanor in my state, and I know that I did something wrong. However for some reason I can't understand why all the fuss? I read a story about a guy who was stopped not too long ago driving a car which had a falsified inspection sticker attached to it. The officer took the sticker, and gave him a citation. Told him the next time he sees the car, he wants to see it re-inspected legally. Case closed.
In my case, the officer left the plate and the sticker affixed to the car.
The officer never "stopped" my vehicle and obviously;
The officer never saw the car in motion on any public highway/roadway.
I never openly admitted to actually operating the vehicle with the bad sticker.
I do have a prior record. However it is not felony, and the conviction was back in 2002, in which I spent 2 years on County probation in a DIFFERENT county. After that, I moved to the place I am at now, and kept my nose completely clean besides this.
I have a clean driving record, and I am a commissioned Notary Public for the state (NON-DMV), which I am in a lot of fear of losing if I am convicted of this.
I applied for the help of the County Public Defender immediately, and left a phone message for (from what I hear) the best criminal defense attorney in the county. I am awaiting calls back on both.
Can anyone shed some light on where I can proceed with this? Should I be looking to have the charges lessened? Please help.
Last month I found myself in a pinch with a ride to work as my main vehicle broke down. I resorted to taking my Buick, which at the time, had an expired registration (4-10). Now just like anyone else, I do not like brushes with the law, but I figured it was a one-time deal, I was going about 10 miles to work, and what are the chances that I would catch the attention of an officer? The Inspection sticker is up to date, as well as the insurance. As I was pulling out, I realized that I had an old plate in my home office that came from a vehicle I sold, and it had a valid sticker on it (9-10). So I got the sticker and transferred it to the plate on the car. ( I know, I know...
)So, I am on my way to work... and the CAR BREAKS DOWN! I coast it off to the side of the road, into a safe, public-parking spot in a rural area near a stream that many people use for fishing.
I called work and asked that someone come get me, and I'll tow the car home tonight (company wrecker). (maybe calling for a ride in the first place would have been smarter?)
Ugh, I had to let the car sit a day as I was very busy with work and could not get to it the same day. I contacted the local police department the next morning, explaining that I would be removing the car with my wrecker that evening, in order to prevent a police-tow. An officer called me back and asked me why the registration was expired, yet still had a valid sticker on the plate. I was kinda at his mercy here, so I spilled it. My words were: "I was in a real bind and needed the car, so I took a sticker off of a canceled plate." He explained that the $36.00 sticker was cheaper than a "citation" for driving the car as it was. I agreed, apologized, and we ended the conversation. At this point, it looked as though he was looking the other way.
2 hours later, I got nervous and towed the car home.
Yesterday, I get a certified letter in the mail from the magistrates office, and a copy of the same letter sent regular mail.
Page one: "Summons for criminal case" (An order to show up for a hearing on August 27, 2010 @ 9:30 a.m.).
Page two: "Notice of Preliminary Hearing" (Charged with S-75, SS-7122 SS-1 Altered/Forged Documents).
Page three: "Fingerprint order" (I gotta drive to the county courthouse prior to the hearing and pay $125.00 for fingerprinting).
Page four: Instructions for fingerprint order.
Page five through seven: "Police criminal complaint"
Page eight: "Affidavit of probable cause"
Now, I know that this is charged up to be a Class B misdemeanor in my state, and I know that I did something wrong. However for some reason I can't understand why all the fuss? I read a story about a guy who was stopped not too long ago driving a car which had a falsified inspection sticker attached to it. The officer took the sticker, and gave him a citation. Told him the next time he sees the car, he wants to see it re-inspected legally. Case closed.
In my case, the officer left the plate and the sticker affixed to the car.
The officer never "stopped" my vehicle and obviously;
The officer never saw the car in motion on any public highway/roadway.
I never openly admitted to actually operating the vehicle with the bad sticker.
I do have a prior record. However it is not felony, and the conviction was back in 2002, in which I spent 2 years on County probation in a DIFFERENT county. After that, I moved to the place I am at now, and kept my nose completely clean besides this.
I have a clean driving record, and I am a commissioned Notary Public for the state (NON-DMV), which I am in a lot of fear of losing if I am convicted of this.
I applied for the help of the County Public Defender immediately, and left a phone message for (from what I hear) the best criminal defense attorney in the county. I am awaiting calls back on both.
Can anyone shed some light on where I can proceed with this? Should I be looking to have the charges lessened? Please help.
