Attaching Tags Not Assinged.. But Car Wasn't Mine!!

[scaredhopeless]

I live in flordia..
My friend was visiting me from texas. her tags were expired so i put a old plate and tags on her car so i could drive her around. We got pulled over. She told them it was her car. I was driving though. She had no registration or title or insurance. I got a ticket for attaching tag not assigned. the tag on my plate went to another plate. I have a court date in 3 weeks. i want to know what to expect? what should i say? what will happen? am i going to go to jail. ive never been in trouble in my life. i called a lawyer he said if i hire him he can get the charges dropped? should i hire him? what should i do. any adivice at all would be helpful please.. thank you...

 

[qadaq]

Hi!

If he can get the charges dropped that sounds good to me.

This should be a traffic offense. If that's correct at least in some states you can't go to jail. Now in Texas you can apparently go to jail for not wearing your seatbelt. I don't know about Florida.

Look at the ticket. Does it require a court appearance? Can you just pay it? If you can just pay the ticket you're not going to jail. If you can't figure it out from the ticket, call the courthouse and ask. If the lawyer is sure he can get it dropped you probably can as well by talking to the DA. If you can afford it, I'd let the lawyer handle it.

Your local library probably has a copy of the law you broke. Have a look. The penalties will be there. Dumb question. Why didn't you just take your car? (or did you just have some current license plates hanging around?)

 

[scaredhopeless]

I have a court date..

 

[wtd]

What the heck does this mean?

the tag on my plate went to another plate

Every traffic ticket in Florida gives you a court date - which means if you don't pay the fine (call the number on the ticket to find out the fine) by that date that they produce a warrant for your arrest for failure to appear.

Next time you may wish to pick up the phone before you jump on the internet (what do you think we did when we didn't have the 'net?). (duh).

 

[scaredhopeless]

IT says i must appear it doesnt have a number to call or a fine amount.. i dont think you have to be so rude either.. jeeze.. and it says on the ticket criminal violation. and on the back it talks about how you can pay if you have a NON CRIMINAL VIOLATION. so im not understanding what you are saying..

 

[qadaq]

Yikes! "Criminal Offense" is a bad thing. That lawyer's sounding better all the time. For a "Criminal Offense" unless I'm mistaken (definite possibility) you could go to jail. I wouldn't think it would be that bad, but then again a $1500 dollar fine for no insurance doesn't sound reasonable to me either so there you go. (I didn't get one but I checked the statutes on it once.) If you don't want to pay for a lawyer, see if you can apply for a public defender. If not I think I'd go for the lawyer. At least go to court before your court date and see how things go. I don't know if you can do this, but I'm not sure why not, call the courthouse, (The number should be in the phone book in the blue pages. It SHOULD have been on the ticket. That's wierd.) see when they're trying any cases of your nature and attend the trial. It should be a public trial so there shouldn't be any reason you can't attend. More money than time? Hire the lawyer.