reckless driving / disobeying officer signal... i need advice for my court date?

Question

i was given a court date for the above.some friends were stopped by police after fooling around in a parking lot and they called me telling me to come back because i was also in the parking lot (fooling around i guess) and the police wanted to question me.i didnt belive them ofcourse because my friends always pull that kind of stuff.i eventually decided to drive by (just to make sure) and all i saw was a red van parked next to my friends car.i didnt think it was a cop so i didnt stop.then i get a call telling me to come back from another friend who also says police are there.so i went back again and thats when i saw the police car so i went to them.i stepped out of the car to see what was going on and was immediately yelled at by 2 people in plain clothes who told me to get up against the car and searched me.the first thing that was said to me was "what the _ is your problem?!" i wasnt even shown a badge, how could i tell they were cops? i cant say i disobeyed an officers signal

im just really scared im gonna get my liscence suspended or even revoked... i'm only 17 and have only had my liscence for 3 months now... i can say i'm guilty for the reckless driving, (yes, it was stupid on my part) but i didnt think anything of it at the time because it was a parking lot... but i cant say i disobeyed and officer's signal... i chose not to go back until i saw a cop car, not a red van... and the two men who game the court date and searched me and the car after yealling and swearing at me didnt even show me a badge or proof they they were police... i didnt see a uniformed officer until i was against the car after they searched it ... I do want to get a laywer but my family is going through some tough times right now and my dad really cant afford and attorney right now...

the uniformed officer didnt talk to me at all tho... he just talked to the plain clothed men who were searching the car... and i went back only because my friends said they werent gonna be let go until i showed up...

will my liscence be revoked? or possibly suspended?

i complied with everything i was told to do even when i saw no uniform or badge.... i guess the reason why i got that charge was because i didnt return back to the parking lot right away because i thought my friends were joking and there was no police car, just a red van , so i didnt think that my friends really got stopped by police... i really didnt think the red van was the police... i have never been in trouble with the law and i would have definitely went back to the scene had i really known that police were there...

the "red van" i guess saw us driving around in the parking lot... i didnt admit to doing anything... i wasnt even questioned...

Answer 1

I can't tell from your story where the reckless driving ticket comes in to play and disobeying an officer's signal covers many things. Were you asked to identify yourself and refuse or not hear the command? Were you asked to stay in your car and got out?

You saw a police car and yet you say you can't tell if the 2 plain clothes officers were indeed officers? Agencies will not allow civillians off the street to frisk and question subjects so I wouldn't say something like that to the judge, it won't fly. You can say something like, "I was unsure of the 2 persons identity and would have complied if they had identified themselves as police officers." Might work, but I doubt it.

You are looking for advice to do what exactly? Whithout knowing all the details involved...defining what "fooling around" in the parking lot means, why you got a reckless driving ticket, among others...its hard to give any advice on the charges themselves.

And a lawyer may or may not be necessary. The odds are your tickets are for misdemeanor crimes because you were not held for a hearing, correct? If you are inclined to spend the money on an attorney or know one who will take the issue up for you, it won't hurt but whether it will really help? Eh, if its a simple misdemeanor, the attorney just really isn't necessary.

The best advice you can get right now is to not miss that court date. Do not turn a possible misdemeanor charge into a felony by having a Failure To Appear warrant issued for your arrest. A FTA will result in being held until you have a hearing that can be 24 to 48 hrs after the arrest during weekdays and longer if you are picked up during a weekend or holiday time. Not to mention the fact that the FTA is a totally seperate charge that stays with you and would have to be reported on job applications. I have even seen colleges start to request felony arrest histories. Not worth it...not at all.

You will most likely face a fine, not a big deal. If you have a past arrest record that might up the ante, depending on the past charges. Go to court and find out what the Judge says. All you can do.

Good luck.



Add on:

Ouch. Let me guess...doing some fancy car work in the parking lot? Here's the deal...odds are you and your buds were spotted by someone who turned you in. If it was a large parking lot, odds are good its covered by cameras...not out of the realm of possibilty. You could've been turned in by the building security. If your area has a problem with this kind of thing, the plain clothes officers were probably on the lookout for this kind of stuff going on and it's just possible that the red van was a surveillance van. Who knows, lots of maybes in all this.

I'm sorry that you're scared. It's tough, I know, but you will be ok. As to whether or not you lose your license? Dunno hun, you might but the Judge might also put you on a restricted license, maybe require you to attend driving school again. It's hard to say what the new drivers laws are in your area.

Go to the court date and just tell the truth. Talk to the judge and explain everything and see what he says. Despite what seems to be popular opinion, yeah, they will listen to you. I won't lie and say it will be a fun and exciting experience LOL!! You will prob get the yell down from the judge about taking stupid risks, you coulda been hurt, coulda hurt your friends, innocent people....it won't to be mean, it will be to make sure you understand the seriousness of the situation. And it is a serious one, so go in there and face the music! We all do silly stuff in our youth, the trick is to accept responsibilty, learn from it and move on.

OMG...I sounded like my dad there....sheesh. But, dear ole dad had a point.

Answer 2

I would get yourself a lawyer. Now a days there are many many people impersonating a police officer. Without a uniform, no badge, and no police vehicle, and it being out in the dark, how is one suppose to trust the person is telling the truth? Even those that have a 'uniform' aren't really police officers. Thats a pretty shytty situation and I would definately get an attorney for this matter. I personally wouldnt have come back. I would have told them you can meet me up later or tomorrow, LOL!

Answer 3

First off, you should have never come back. Second, the officers have to identify themselves as police and if they didn't, they were in the wrong. Third, you will get screwed if you do not have a lawyer, trust me, they will not listen to you. Did you admit to reckless driving? You are not required to and you shouldn't have. Do the police even have a witness who is willing to testify against you, because it appears from your question that the police did not actually see you doing anything?

Answer 4

just be honest to the judge and calmly explain your side of things. They really do try to be fair. They will not revoke your license if you were not charged with a driving offense. Many communities have legal aid groups who give legal advice for free. You might look to see if there are any in your area.

Answer 5

Take a Radio to court

Answer 6

Get a lawyer right away.

Answer 7

Get a good lawyer.

Answer 8

Look for my email. I smelly a really rotten fish here.

Answer 9

talk to a lawyer

Answer 10

I'll break you out if anything goes down ... lol

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