During a recent vacation, I was arrested out of state for public drunkness. Do I have to show up in court if I’ve already paid my fine, or do I need to hop a flight across the country to take care of the hearing date?
During a recent vacation, I was arrested out of state for public drunkness. Do I have to show up in court if I’ve already paid my fine, or do I need to hop a flight across the country to take care of the hearing date?
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Answer: (1)
It really depends on the charge against you, as well as the state you’ve been charged in. Being arrested out of state isn’t usually different from being arrested in your home state. Typically, for minor traffic violations and some misdemeanors, you can plead guilty, pay the fine, and not have to attend the hearing based on a “pleading in the mail.” For more serious misdemeanors and usually all felonies, you will have to appear before the court. If you live out of state, you should immediately contact a lawyer in the state you were arrested to understand your obligations in appearing before the court. In some instances, your attorney may be able to appear before the court for you, or waive any further appearances.
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Posted by Bert Gonzalez on 30 Apr 2010