Legal Question in Traffic Law in New Jersey

Hello, I have a court date scheduled for February for a "public urination" ticket in New Brunswick, NJ. I am concerned about the ticket and am fighting it in court. While searching the internet for info regarding this ticket, I stumbled upon this website and your name. Here is my story: I was walking back from a friend's house at approximately 1 a.m. While walking home with two friends, I needed to pee, so I walked behind some trees approx. 50 feet from the road. While walking to the trees, a police officer must have spotted me from his car from the intersecting block. As soon as I got to the trees, my friend alerted me that police were coming, so I immediately turned around; I never started to urinate. So, I walked to the curb where I was met by the police officer. He told me he was writing me a ticket for public urination, I said I never began to urinate. He didn't answer my statement, and he went to the car and wrote the ticket. The officer knows I had a few beers that night, but did not issue me a ticket for underrage drinking (I'm 19), and further, I only had a few so I was not intoxicated. Finally, when the officer "saw" me urinate, it was pitch black out, 1:00 a.m., my back was turned to him, and the officer was about 50 feet away. I was just want to say again, that I walked to the trees to urinate, and as soon as I got there, an officer arrived at the curb so I immediately turned around. I was only at the spot where I was going to pee for around a second or two, therefore, it would be impossible to urinate.

I am fighting this and I would like to know:

1) What do you think of this? Is it worth fighting, because If I lose in court, it is $300-$500, while the ticket is only $165.

2) How do I respond in court if they ask me about drinking?

3) I was told that if I am found guilty, then the info about the public urination is sent to the DMV? Will employers see this?

Thank you, and I appreciate it.


Asked on 12/24/09, 10:36 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Allan Marain Law Offices of Allan Marain

Yes, it is worth fighting. Employers will see it. You desperately need legal representation on this. The lawyer will cost much more than the fines. IT IS WORTH IT. You do not need a conviction of this type of offense on your record. IT will come back to haunt you for years to come.

A.

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Answered on 12/29/09, 11:05 am


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