Don't feel bad: a lot of attorneys and judges get confused about the court system, rules, and procedures.

Here is a 10,000-feet overview of the court system: you can break the court system down into two parts - civil and criminal. Criminal court is when you are alleged to have... View More

I think you'll find yourself coming out the same or better without hiring an attorney. The ticket isn't going to be significantly outcome determinate here. Your wife can ask for a formal hearing on it, and try negotiating for a zero point ticket for what it's worth. The insurance... View More

One of your options might be to try to arrange a free initial consult with an attorney. I hope you wife is okay. Depending on whether she has the basis to move forward with a claim for her hand injuries, the determination of liability could be important in a comparative negligence setting with the... View More

You need to contact the Court in Florida to get this ticket resolved and off your record. So old, probably a failure to prosecute. Thank you for using Justia's Ask a Lawyer, but don't rely on what you are told here, consult a local attorney who will obtain all the facts from you and... View More

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answered on Feb 24, 2024

In Michigan, law enforcement officers are generally allowed to enforce traffic laws on public roads, including areas adjacent to or near private property such as apartment complex parking lots, especially if they have a direct impact on public road safety. However, the legality of a police officer... View More

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answered on Jan 1, 2024

Generally, if you are placed on probation and then subsequently convicted of new charges, it could be considered a violation of your probation. The terms of probation often include a requirement to avoid new criminal offenses. If you are facing court for charges that occurred before you were placed... View More

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answered on Oct 31, 2025

In Michigan, a Level 2 driver’s license falls under the state’s **Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)** program, which places certain restrictions on young drivers. One of those rules limits who you can have as passengers under age 18. Normally, a driver with a Level 2 license may not have **more... View More

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answered on Oct 14, 2025

It may be worth hiring the lawyer if avoiding points is especially important to you, but the decision depends on your priorities and financial situation. In Michigan, two points are relatively minor, but they still appear on your driving record and can affect your insurance premiums for several... View More

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answered on Sep 27, 2025

What you describe sounds like a troubling pattern of repeated stops and potential harassment. In Michigan, turning on your blinker at a red light is not a traffic violation on its own, so using that as the sole reason for a stop raises questions about whether there was valid legal justification. If... View More

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answered on Jul 24, 2025

It’s completely understandable to feel nervous with your oath ceremony so close, but a simple traffic ticket—especially one that’s already paid and closed—is unlikely to affect your naturalization. These kinds of minor infractions are not considered crimes involving moral character or... View More

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answered on Jul 6, 2025

Warnings issued by law enforcement are not formal charges. They serve as notices to correct your driving behavior without proceeding with legal action. If the officer clearly stated they were warnings and not citations, they will not appear as charges or require fines.

Only the speeding... View More

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answered on Jul 6, 2025

If the officer marked the following too close and careless driving citations as warnings, then they do not carry fines or result in charges. A warning is not a formal citation and does not go on your driving record or appear in court unless you are later charged with another offense related to the... View More

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answered on Jul 6, 2025

You’re facing a situation that’s both legally urgent and personally overwhelming, and you deserve real help—not silence. The arrest and impoundment based on a surprise warrant from another county may violate your due process rights, especially if you were never properly notified. If the... View More

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answered on Apr 12, 2025

In Michigan, a speeding violation of 85 mph in a 55 mph zone is categorized as a civil infraction, not a misdemeanor. Civil infractions typically result in fines and may add points to your driving record but do not carry criminal penalties such as jail time

Given your history of one... View More

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answered on Mar 24, 2025

Your situation raises legitimate legal concerns about the search procedure during your traffic stop. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches, and case law like Arizona v. Gant does address the parameters of searches incident to arrest during traffic stops. While your public... View More

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answered on Jan 27, 2025

It sounds like you and others in your community are dealing with a difficult and concerning situation. If you believe this officer’s actions are crossing the line, there are steps you and your community can take to address it. Start by documenting everything—write down exactly what happened... View More

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answered on Oct 10, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Police officers generally need reasonable suspicion to make a traffic stop. If you didn't commit a traffic violation but the officer believed you might have information related to an ongoing investigation, they may have grounds to stop you.... View More

Are you asking in relation to your husband? If the car is registered to you, and not your husband, then you would be the only one responsible.

Absolutely. In fact, some departments and areas have license plate scanners mounted on vehicles they can use to just drive around a parking lot of run all plates almost instantly.

The court is the one that reports - or "abstracts" - data to the Secretary of State, so they would need to change the date.