Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: criminal defense

You can get a public defender for the marijuana charge. I don't know whether the PD will help you with the traffic violations.

Re: criminal defense

A first time seatbelt citation carries a fine of $20, however with penalties and assessments it should run between $37-$50. A traffic court commissioner should allow you to present your valid license and the fine for the expired license would be no more than $50. (The commissioner in this county reduces the fine to $10 so it depends on the standards in that jurisdiction). Possession of marijuana (assuming it was a minimal amount) can either be treated as a misdemeanor, whereby the fines and penalties are much more severe; or an infraction. Look on your citation to see if the officer cited it as an infraction. The courts will allow you to do community service in lieu of paying the fines. There is an installment charge to do so and there is a minimal dollar amount that cannot be worked off thru community work service. You should be able to call the court clerk's office and ask them what your total fines are going to be. If you cannot afford to pay them, then go to court on the date given in the citation and tell the Judge/Commissioner that you cannot afford to pay the fines in full. He is likely to let you make small payments until paid in full or he may let you do the community work service. Good luck.

Re: criminal defense

It looks likes fines. If the expired d.l. is a misdemeanor it is more serious. As for marajuana charge, it's a max 250 fine. But it's a drug conviction so I don't think it's good to have a drug conviction on your record. My web is www.wallinlaw.com. Thank You...David Wallin

Re: criminal defense

Two excellent attorneys have addressed your legal situation. I am taking the time to write here because of how extraordinarily you painted a portrait of your life in only two sentences.

In two sentences, everyone who reads LawGuru learned that you don't care about your own safety (no seat belt), smoke enough pot that you can barely make a living ("very little money"), and are stoned often enough that you can't even remember to renew your license when DMV sends you the form in the mail, or couldn't raise the pittance to pay the fees.

I suspect you have ignored the advice and pleas of all your family on this issue, but maybe when it's obvious to a complete stranger who never even met you, you will take a fresh look at what you are doing. THAT is what you "can do for your situation." If you were my son, this is what I would tell you, so take it for what it is worth.

Good luck.