My GF is 20 Years old and was pulled over for a traffic violation. My GF did not have her drivers license or learner's permit. The court date is scheduled for tommorow but she has now obtained a drivers license, so when she goes to court she will have it. I am aware that "Driving With No License" is a jailable offense in the state of Virginia. The officer did not arrest her just gave her a summons to appear in court. My GF has never been in trouble with the law and has no other traffic infractions. What are the chances that she will be sent to jail? My GF told the officer that she needed to get to work and that the owner of the car was sick. I am hoping that they will see that she now has her licence and will just give her a fine. I was hopeing that she can cry the "I am a single parent and I was just trying to get to work" story and they will let her off. What are the chances that she will be sent to jail?
2007-02-05 15:57:00 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
That's great that she got her license and that will be a positive influence in court. But it's all going to depend on the judge. Just tell her to be honest with him/her. Explain the situation at the time and show that she has done the right thing and gotten her license. Yes, she was in the wrong, and she still might have to pay the price for it. The judge might just require her to pay the fine and not have any jail time.
I had assisted in the arrest of someone for a suspended license in the Hampton area one time. The time limit was already up and the guy could have had his license reinstated at any time, but had not done so. When the court date came up, he had reinstated his license prior to court. The judge that day was very generous and turned his citation into a warning just because he had gotten his license.
Be honest and don't try the story routine. Think about how many people have said the same thing over and over again. Stories don't change, just the people saying it does. Good luck!
2007-02-05 16:14:13 · answer #1 · answered by bluelights 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The law is the law-it sucks real bad sometimes but its still that way. Appear at court on time, explain that you now have your drivers license and that you never have had any other traffic infractions. Don't tell your sob stories. I've heard some very interesting, creative sob stories and I hate them. Sometimes I want to come down harder on those that do give me a big lie sob story-I can't though. I don't believe you will go to jail, but I do think you may have to pay a fine. It may be a reduced fine, but in any case, its a whole lot better than jail.
2007-02-05 16:18:22 · answer #2 · answered by Terry Z 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The chances are almost so remote it doesn't even require a second thought. For one it's not a felony offense, and by having the license in hand when you go to Court show a willingness to comply and the Judge may very well dimiss the ticket. The fact that she is young and a single parent with a job is a big plus. And in todays world the Judge should understand that having a job and getting there are just as important as taking care of her children. No J.O.B. No F.O.O.D!!!
2007-02-05 16:16:06 · answer #3 · answered by Chuck-the-Duck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on what state you live in as to what the actual law regarding it would be. If the officer did not arrest her on the spot and then let her continue to drive the car without a license then it seems very unlikely that she will receive a jail sentence. Not to mention the fact that she has a clean record. I wouldn't sweat it too much I am sure it will be all good.
2007-02-05 16:08:41 · answer #4 · answered by Melissa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im going to go with my gut here and say that the judge will probably give her a nice big fat fine and maybe suspend her license now- with the possibility of allowing her to have to and from work privilages. Since she has never been in trouble before, a stiff fine may be the only thing that is in store for her.
They usually save jailtime for traffic offenses like this for repeat offenders. Good luck
2007-02-05 16:06:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chances are she will get a fine and possibly lose her license. It is unlikely she will go to jail. By driving with out her license she broke the law and there is no excuse for that. I hate it when people use their kids as an excuse for anything.
2007-02-05 17:11:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the judge and coming from a cop (me) making excuses like the owner of the car is sick and her telling the judge that she is a single parent and crying only pisses us off more because we don't care, we have heard it all before and we don't believe the person whether they are seriously telling the truth or not. So my suggestion is for her to go in there, apologize, stick to the story that she was going to work, present her valid DL to the judge and he will more than likely either dismiss the charges or give her a fine. I highly doubt they will arrest her for this...
Just take my advice and warn her not to tell any of her sap stories because that will only make it worse. She needs to own up to what she did wrong and that will make her look mature and responsible to the judge.
Good luck. You've been warned. LOL.
WHO GAVE ME A THUMBS DOWN!!! OH THAT'S RIGHT, PEOPLE ON YAHOO DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD THE TRUTH...MY FAULT.
2007-02-05 16:05:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No priors, she has her license, even the cop gave her a chance to correct the situation by not arresting her.
The best part - she followed through on that chance and got her license.
She goes to court tomorrow, presents the license to the judge, he fines her $25 for court costs, bangs the gavel, and moves on.
No worries man, its not like she committed vehicular homicide with no license......
2007-02-05 16:06:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the county that I live in in Illinois they would dismiss the ticket now that she has a license, if not pled guilty and ask for court supervision that should keep it off her record as long as she don't get more tickets and probably a fine but thats how it works where I live
2007-02-05 16:10:39 · answer #9 · answered by tenthirty_two 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I was a judge, I would say a fine is in order. Maybe traffic school and probation. If she was not arrested on the scene, I see no reason to put her in jail now.
2007-02-05 16:39:31 · answer #10 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋