Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in California

I had received a traffic ticket on 07/2009. My court date was on 05/03/2010, but I showed on court on 05/04/2010, the clerk told me that I had a failure to appear but not to worry and gave me a court date of 12/21/2010 to see the judge. My traffic ticket fine was $436.00

I showed up on 12/21/2010 and pleaded "not guilty" instead of "no contest", judge told me to go see the cashier who will provide a date for the trial.

I went to the cashier and she informed me that my bill was $1150.00 because of the ticket and failure to appear,and that I would have pay for it first inorder for them to give me a trial date, after the trial if I win than I will get the money back. I told the cashier that I needed to talk to someone concerning this.

Cashier gave me a court date of 12/28/2010 to see the judge concerning this.

Right now I have too questions, first being whether I can change my plead to "no contest" so I can set up payment arrangement or ask for community service and secondly I was informed by the clerk that not to worry about the failure to appear, then why am I being chrged for it without being informed.


Asked on 12/27/10, 1:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

When you plead "not guilty," the trick is to ask to be released on your own recognizance instead of having to pay bail in order to get a trial date. Or you could hire a lawyer.

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Answered on 1/01/11, 2:39 pm


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