QUESTION
Should I plead not guilty for running through flashing red light?
Asked on May 08th, 2013 on Criminal Law - Michigan
More details to this question:
I read online that you should always plead not guilty. What in the event that my actions were blatantly obvious? I accidentally ran through a flashing red light early in the morning. There were only a few cars around. The cop got me and gave me a ticket. Should I plead not guilty to this? I am really hoping to not have my insurance rates go up - is there any thing I can do to prevent that?
6 ANSWERS
Set it for trial. If the cop doesn't show, you win.
Answered on May 10th, 2013 at 5:15 AM
I suggest that you hire a traffic law attorney to represent you. Your attorney will negotiate a plea bargain with the court to get your ticket amended to a non-moving, no-point infraction, which means no points will be added to your driving record and your insurance company will never know you received the ticket. You will have to pay a fine and court costs, but you won't have to appear in court. If you just go to court on your own without a lawyer and plead guilty, then the judge will sentence you and the conviction will go on your driving record and your insurance company will be able to see that you received the traffic conviction. If you plead not guilty, the judge will set the case for trial and you will have to either hire an attorney to represent you or represent yourself.
Answered on May 08th, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Criminal Defense Attorney serving Bloomfield Hills, MI
Partner at
Law Offices of Marshall S. Tauber
2 Awards
The correct answer is that you should request a formal hearing, if you reside in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb or Washtenaw Counties and then you get an opportunity to negotiate a plea to a less punitive offense that assesses fewer points on your record than disobeying a traffic signal does. You can then plead responsible to the lesser traffic offense.
Answered on May 08th, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Thomas Edward Gates
You can try to plead down to a nonmoving violation. For traffic tickets, there is no arraignment, hence, you do not enter a plea of "Not Guilty." For traffic tickets you can a) pay the fine, b) challenge the ticket, c) state mitigating circumstances, or d) plead down the charge. A non moving violation is not reported to your insurance company.
Answered on May 08th, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Bankruptcy Law Attorney serving Livingston, NJ
Partner at
Law Office of Stuart M. Nachbar, P.C.
2 Awards
A. You should retain counsel. B. You should plead not guilty and then speak with the Prosecutor and see if he will offer you a lower offense in exchange for a guilty plea. This Answer is based upon New Jersey Law.
Answered on May 08th, 2013 at 12:54 PM
Appellate Attorney serving Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
at
Musilli Brennan Associates, PLLC
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Get an attorney, they can commonly do something in such situations if you have a good record.
Answered on May 08th, 2013 at 12:50 PM