Legal Question in Criminal Law in Ohio

court fine was more than max possible fine

My friend recieved a ticket for minor misdemeanor possession of marijuana. On the ticket the maximum fine is $100. It also says that the ticket may be waived if signed as an admission of guilt and mailed to the court with the fine amount. She called the court and they told her that she had to appear, she could not just sign the ticket and mail it in like the ticket says. Upon appearing in court and pleading guilty she was fined (and paid) a $150 fine and $62 in court costs. On a photocopy of the ticket the court made (after she signed the ticket) the amount of maximum fine is changed to the $150 dollars. I am wondering if the court is in the wrong at all on this and is my friend entitled to any of her money back and did the court actually err here or is the information on the ticket incorrect, in which case would the ticket not then be void?


Asked on 11/26/04, 12:47 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joseph Jacobs Jacobs & Lowder

Re: court fine was more than max possible fine

She did have to appear, and the fine just recently went up to 150 from 100. It sounds hokey that they did this but it wasn't. A number of people including police think that you can pay a waiver on this but you really can't.

Call directly if you want:

Joe Jacobs

216-952-1990

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Answered on 11/29/04, 12:59 pm


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