I was drunk last night and me and a friend had bumped into two guys walking in the opposite direction (or they bumped into us). They yelled something to us and we started to walk close behind them.
About this time a cop runs up and grabs me from behind. After some time and lecturing the cop wasn't issuing a ticket, the other two guys were already gone, and the cop was walking back to his car.
I wasn't running my mouth to the cop, I'm quite sure of this and have my friend and an unbiased bystander as a witness. While he was walking toward his car he said "one more word out of you and you're going to get arrested" (this is the only 'threat' ever uttered between us).
In retrospect I could have not said a word but I replied "What for?" completely innocuously. He prompted cuffed me, threw me in the back of a car and charged me $424 for a misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
I looked into the law in my city and it says that one can not be charged more the $200 for the offense?
2007-03-11 13:38:25 · 6 answers · asked by Kdawggy 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
My record is 100% clean up to this point. I just graduated from college and I'm applying for a government job and eventually lawschool so this charge is marring my record.
I don't understand how the cop wrote out the fortitude of $424 when the ordinance itself (verbatim, I looked up the code) says no more than $200. Any ideas on this?
Also if I ask for a public defender can I get free representation? I feel that even the worst lawyer could at the very least get it reduced -- Just the fact that I was only charged after I asked an innocent question after the long steel arm of the law said "not another peep"...
After being cuffed I was very compliant. Any similar experiences?
2007-03-11 13:42:42 · update #1
Well, it comes down to who is more believable in court -- you or the officer.
If you can show that you were merely asking why ("what for") he would arrest you, that isn't grounds for disorderly conduct. But he may (very likely) be able to come up with something else you did that might qualify.
As to the amount of fine, that's certainly worth contesting.
2007-03-11 13:45:40 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cops
2007-03-11 13:44:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fine is probably for $200. The $224 is probably court fees and related charges.
2007-03-11 13:47:05 · answer #3 · answered by beren 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who did you pay the money to? Hopefully to a desk sergeant were you can question the amount after being released.
Point this out to those responsible.
2007-03-11 13:46:14 · answer #4 · answered by Sgt 524 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're lying. Therefore, the question cannot be answered.
2007-03-11 13:57:08 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. Knowledge 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
fight it
2007-03-11 13:42:19 · answer #6 · answered by Grand pa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋