Costa Mesa, CA asked in Traffic Tickets for California

Q: should I fight my case at court? should I get my license before the date?

About a month ago I got pulled over at 2 in the morning for making a left turn on a red light and not having a license. I am currently 17 but will be 18 by my court date, should I fight it even though I'm guilty? What are my best options?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Alexander Andryuschenko
Alexander Andryuschenko
Answered
  • Traffic Tickets Lawyer
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Hello. Since you are asking a lawyer, I assume the question has nothing to do with your internal moral struggles. From a legal perspective, strategically, if you are trying to keep your record clean, it is far better to fight your case even if you believe you are guilty. For example, if you get your driver's license by the courdate, the court, or the police officer might reduce the fine and/or dismiss the unlicensed driver charge altogether. If you are facing a referee, he or she might offer a diversion as an alternative to a guilty plea. Also, it is relatively common for police officers not to show up for trial - allowing you to get a dismissal based on officer's failure to appear. Good luck.

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