Q: Why is my appearance in court mandatory?
I was in an accident due to a failure to yield left and they found me at fault for the accident. I was told by the officer in charge that I would be able to pay my citation and plead guilty for the charge, but now it says I have a mandatory court appearance. It is a misdemeanor for crim/traffic and I’m not sure what that means really. I also live out of state for college, so I’m not sure if I will even be here for the hearing. I need help!
A: A court appearance is generally required if there was property damage or if someone was injured. An attorney may be able to appear on your behalf without you having to travel back. You should reach out to an attorney directly for more specific advice.
A: I am assuming that the box was checked for property damage or accident which makes the offense a misdemeanor and therefore mandatory. Court appearances, through at least February 1, are being held remotely - via Zoom. You could either handle the matter that way or better yet pay an attorney to represent you.
William Bailey agrees with this answer
A: If the officer checks the "property damage or injury" box on the citation, the court appearance becomes mandatory. That means failure to appear will result in an arrest warrant. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by a maximum of 90 days jail, though jail is rare in cases like this. Avoiding a criminal conviction record is typically more important to most people. With the court's response to COVID, a remote appearance via Zoom is likely for the First Appearance. Contact the court about those details. You may want to consult or retain a criminal defense attorney.
William Bailey agrees with this answer
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