No Seatbelt And Driving While Under Suspension.

I hope someone can help me here. I am very scared...I've never had to go to court before. I've always had an excellent driving record.

Approx 2 yrs ago, I received a traffic ticket that I thought I had paid.

On the evening of Sept 2, 2012, I was driving home from a family bbq. I was nearing the off ramp on the highway and my son started throwing up in the car. I reached under my seat and couldn't reach the plastic bag I had under there to give to my son. I couldn't quite reach it so I undid my seatbelt and grabbed the bag and gave it to my son. I'm coming off the hwy and grabbing for my seatbelt and there was a ride program right on the ramp!

He came to the car and I gave him my lisence and insurance. He checked everything out and came back and said that my lisence had been under suspension since April. I can say that I honestly didn't get the notification that the officer said they send out. Our mail goes to a 'super mailbox' so maybe it's possible it went into someone else's box. I have no idea.

I got my lisence back but I stilll have to go to court next week for these charges and I'm petrified! I'm 50 yrs old and feel like a child so scared. We haven't the means for me to get a lawyer or I would have done so.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

bbuffy2000 wrote:

I got my lisence back but I stilll have to go to court next week for these charges and I'm petrified! I'm 50 yrs old and feel like a child so scared. We haven't the means for me to get a lawyer or I would have done so.

Minimum fine for Driving while suspended is $1000 (plus surcharges and reinstatement fees), mandatory 6 month license suspension, and up to 6 months of jail time.

People here are going to be apprehensive about giving you advice because of the possibility of jail time. I wouldn't worry about going to jail, but representation is recommended anyways.

I feel sick...thank you for letting me know.

Talk with the prosecutor on your first attendance date. If your record is relatively clean and they find you credible, they might allow you to plead to a less serious offence. I've seen some people plead to drive no licence, which is a reduced fine and additional suspension.

Okay, I'll do that. I've been driving for 34 years with a perfect record...no points ever taken off my record, etc. We\ll see what happens. Thank you so much for your help.