No contest or Not guilty?

[MRhea]

I live in WI and I received a scbool bus violation. I plan on going to court over the matter. I am wondering if I should plead no contest and hope that the fine and/or points are reduced or if I should take the time to plead not guilty and have to deal with everyone having to haul it into court?

 

[lawrat]

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Do a yahoo search for your county's municipal code and look up the exact citation. If you think you can fight it and think the officer won't show up to court, then plead not guilty.

See, what you can do, is contact the police department and ask when this particular officer is off duty. They have to tell you. Better way to ask, ask when he is working. Then schedule your court date on a day he is supposed to have off.

 

[4saken1]

Did you ever go to court and what did you plead? Do you know what the ramifications are between not guilty versus no contest? I have a situation and need to know what to do also. Any help you can offer me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MRhea]

I have yet to go to court, but I did receive leagal council and he informed me that they didn't have much of a case against me due to some discrepancies. He advised me to optain a copy of the poliece officers report from he clerk of court's office, which I did. He also advised me that since I do not believe that I am guilty I should not admit guilt.

 

[4saken1]

ok....i have court on thursday....does a no contest count as a guilt plea? my only other recourse is to plead not guilty...but then what did your legal eagle tell you would be the ramifications of that if you were still found to be guilty? with a not guilty are we given the opportunity to have a jury trial?

 

[MRhea]

Pleading No Contest is the same as saying that you are guilty. So if you feel that you are NOT GUILTY that is what you should plea....BUT...I do believe that a plea of NOT GUILTY needs to be entered IN WRITING and given to the Clerk of Courts before 5pm on the last business day before your inital court appearance. So...if your court appearance is Thursday your plea must be entered by WEDNESDAY...BUT...check the back of your citation for exact instructions. I do not know about the court costs etc....I do not think that you will receive a trial by jury...My person disclaimer to you: I am NOT lawyer or a law student...I am more than happy to try and help you with your own leagal issue but I must warn you that this is just advise that has been given to me and I am now passing it on second hand to you. Because I do not know the exact details of your citatoin or otherwise I cannot be sure that this advise will be of help to you. I hope that it is of some help though. If your court date is MANDATORY meaning you MUST make and appearance in court...all this is void...but if is NOT MADADTORY meaning the opposite (no appearance is necessary) than this advice could be of some great help to you.