Is it better to plead or go to trial?
Is it better to plead or go to trial?
Another advantage of pleading guilty is the expense for a lawyer is generally less when the lawyer does not have to go to trial. In exchange for pleading guilty, the criminal defendant may receive a lighter sentence or have charges reduced. Additionally, pleading guilty avoids the uncertainty of a trial.
Why you should never take a plea bargain?
In addition, a guilty plea May haunt you for the rest of your life because it may result in a guilty finding that cannot be expunged from your record. In addition, if you’re found guilty and placed on a period of Probation, and during that period of probation you violate, you could be facing substantial jail time.
Is it better to plead guilty or no contest?
A no contest plea is essentially a guilty plea that says you are not going to fight the charges against you but are not admitting guilt. It has the same legal ramifications as a guilty plea. However, a plea of no contest can be more beneficial than a guilty plea in certain cases.
What happens if you plead guilty to a citation?
You can enter a “Guilty” plea. If you do this, you are agreeing with what you have been charged with and making an admission that you did what was alleged on the citation. The Judge will accept your guilty plea and access a fine associated with the charge.
Should I fight my first speeding ticket?
In general, we would recommend that you first try to fight the moving violation with Trial by Written Declaration because you can have the points on your record and fines dismissed altogether. That’s why we will often say that traffic school should be your second option when fighting a speeding ticket in California.
What should I say in traffic court?
What to Say in Court. If you believe you did not commit the offense with which you are charged, clearly and concisely explain why. The judge will only consider a factual argument, not something like “that cop was out to get me” or “there are too many speeding tickets given on that street.”
Do cops usually show up to traffic court?
Charges are automatically dropped when an officer fails to show up in court. That’s why most officers get paid overtime to appear in court on their days off. To reduce the chances of your officer showing up, book a court date, then defer it as many times as possible.
Is it worth going to court for a speeding ticket?
If you plan to fight the ticket, you’ll have to go to court, where a prosecutor will have to prove you were speeding. Even if you think the ticket is unjustified, speeding violations are hard to beat. If the officer doesn’t show up at the hearing, you could be off the hook, but don’t rely on that.
