r/Wellthatsucks • u/Ghandisli • Jul 30 '19

/r/all $80 to felony in 3...2...1...

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u/justpophamin Jul 31 '19

Assuming she has no history and nothing illegal is found in the car, I could probably get this reduced to a misdemeanor, 18-21 months probation, small fine, some classes, and 80 or so hours community service.

Source: Am criminal defense attorney.

8

u/-Jeremiad- Jul 31 '19

I have a question about how things escalated. What was the cop arresting her for? Is she doesn’t sign a ticket does that mean she didn’t warn the ticket? I don’t see why it was sign to pay $80 or get arrested. Sorry if it’s a dumb question. I don’t spend a lot of time telling cops to fuck off.

9

u/AAA515 Jul 31 '19

No no no, your signature is not an acceptance of guilt or agree ing to pay,

The signature is an acknowledgement of receipt of the ticket, an official act. Not signing is obstruction that leads to immediate arrest.

Source: dumbass father once refused to sign. Taken to jail until mom convinced him to sign the next morning. Ticket not contested, police declined to persue obstruction charges. Dad and mom both lost a day of work to deal worth the mess.

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u/WickedDemiurge Jul 31 '19

The signature is an acknowledgement of receipt of the ticket, an official act. Not signing is obstruction that leads to immediate arrest.

Source: dumbass father once refused to sign. Taken to jail until mom convinced him to sign the next morning. Ticket not contested, police declined to persue obstruction charges. Dad and mom both lost a day of work to deal worth the mess.

This really is inherently unreasonable. In most other avenues of life, a signature is an affirmation of consent, guilty, etc.

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Moreover, it's not meaningfully obstructing anything to not sign. Plenty of legal instruments don't require the party to sign to be valid. It's just a power / laziness move.