I got stopped for a headlight being out & my car insurance had just expired. Went downtown Dallas to pay fine & show proof of insurance & they told me I had to have a trial by jury!! Whoever heard of that? Anyway, silly me, I forgot & missed the trial date. Get the run around when call Dallas courts. What do I do?
2006-09-05 17:42:06 · 8 answers · asked by Diane D 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I was told I HAD to have a trial, it could not be waived. I may have ben told wrong but that's what the person at the court building told me.
2006-09-05 18:09:10 · update #1
The judge , if he has not already, will shortly issue a bench warrant for your arrest, the charge being failure to appear. The new Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility laws are strict in Texas. You are incredibly lucky that your car was not impounded when you were pulled over. Dallas has an ordinance on the books that allows the officer to do so. If you were in a wreck, then it would have been impounded for sure. You need to keep calling them and tell them what happened and find out what to do. You are going to have to present yourself to the court eventually. Your disposition is up to the judge.
The warrant will require any officer who comes in contact with you to arrest you. It's just a matter of time until you get pulled over again, or a bored officer runs your tags, or you have to renew your license, and then you'll get arrested, your car will get impounded, and you will still have all the other stuff to deal with on top of that.
2006-09-05 21:13:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could have waived your right to a trial by jury, and the whole process would have gone a lot more quickly. Since you did not, and you missed your court date you need to call and reschedule. You might have to pay a fine unless you have a good reason, and they hate it when you say "I forgot". You should try and call, but if you cannot get a good answer then you need to go up to the courts building or there WILL be a warrant out for your arrest, and if you still have that headlight out then you will probably get stopped, and arrested. You do not want to get arrested over something so trivial so just call, or go up there, and keep this from getting out of control.
2006-09-05 17:48:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you're probably right about the bench warrant so don't get pulled over. Contact the clerk of the court in question and explain the situation and ask for a new date if you intend to contest the offense. Don.t forget that when they gave you the ticket they took a license number either from your car or drivers licenses. The most likely won't hunt down but the first time they make contact or you attempt to renew your licenses they will enforce the warrant. Call the court.
2016-03-26 23:53:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OHHHHHH, Not good! Ive never heard of a jury trial for a ticket?????????????? That's insane!!!!!!! I would find an attorney or talk directly to the judge this time around cause they will either take your drivers license or put out a bench warrant out for you for being contempt of court, don't get pulled over again or you will wind up in jail! You just don't want to miss a court day my friend, its not a good thing to do. By missing the date, its going to cost you good and plenty either way you look at it in fines and penalties or attorney. Wow, shouldn't have missed that court date. Hope next time you pay closer attention.
2006-09-05 17:48:28 · answer #4 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turn yourself in with enough bond money to get back out, get a lawyer, and then go to the new court date they give you cause anytime you miss court you have a warrant issued for your arrest
2006-09-05 17:43:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the court and tell them you got your dates messed up. They will either reschedule you and probably raise your ticket price. Kinda sucks.
2006-09-05 17:48:48 · answer #6 · answered by bkbat17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Run to another state!! You could get the DEATH PENALTY for what you did. You might want to stock up on firearms.
2006-09-05 17:48:18 · answer #7 · answered by Zippy the Wonder Slug 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
your screwed...better leave the country
2006-09-05 17:44:00 · answer #8 · answered by USMCstingray 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋