Wreckless driving? (lawyer, home, employment) - Phoenix area - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

codyh3 · 08-22-2010, 05:06 PM

I just wanted to get some advice on my situation.

First let me say, I was being completely stupid on the freeway on the way home from California today. I was going about 90 in a 65 on I-10 by tulleson. Also, I was going in and out of traffic pretty quickly.

I passed by an undercover cop while going through all of this traffic and he pulled me over. At first he made me get out of the car and said he was going to take me to jail and have the car impounded. Then he said he was going to just cite me a ticket and to go have a seat in the car. He came back up to the car and said he needed to see me again. I had 2 other people in the car and he said the deal he was going to cut me was to have one of them take the car home and take me to jail. My car was a manual and neither of the drivers knew how to drive it. So he decided to let me go but I have to go to a court date on September 16th.

So, needless to say I am freaking out. I am 19 years old and have no other bad history on my driving record.

Stupid mistake, and it definitely will not be happening again... but what would you guys suggest I will be charged with? Jail time? Comm service? Fines? Anything helps!
Thanks.

las vegas drunk · 08-22-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codyh3

I just wanted to get some advice on my situation.

First let me say, I was being completely stupid on the freeway on the way home from California today. I was going about 90 in a 65 on I-10 by tulleson. Also, I was going in and out of traffic pretty quickly.

I passed by an undercover cop while going through all of this traffic and he pulled me over. At first he made me get out of the car and said he was going to take me to jail and have the car impounded. Then he said he was going to just cite me a ticket and to go have a seat in the car. He came back up to the car and said he needed to see me again. I had 2 other people in the car and he said the deal he was going to cut me was to have one of them take the car home and take me to jail. My car was a manual and neither of the drivers knew how to drive it. So he decided to let me go but I have to go to a court date on September 16th.

So, needless to say I am freaking out. I am 19 years old and have no other bad history on my driving record.

Stupid mistake, and it definitely will not be happening again... but what would you guys suggest I will be charged with? Jail time? Comm service? Fines? Anything helps!
Thanks.

I did the exact same thing back in 2003. I got 8 points on my license and a $250 fine. I ended up losing my license for a year because I had a DUI back in 2000 (2 majors within 5 years=1year license revocation). I would not sweat it as you will not be doing any jail time or lose your license since you have no former tickets.

rjrcm · 08-22-2010, 06:24 PM

Reckless driving - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

Arizona

28-693. Reckless driving; classification; license; surrender
A. A person who drives a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
B. A person convicted of reckless driving is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
C. In addition, the judge may require the surrender to a police officer of any driver license of the convicted person, shall report the conviction to the department and may order the driving privileges of the person to be suspended for a period of not more than ninety days. On receipt of the abstract of conviction and order, the department shall suspend the driving privilege of the person for the period of time ordered by the judge.
D. If a person who is convicted of a violation of this section has been previously convicted of a violation of this section, section 13-1102 or section 13-1103, subsection A, paragraph 1, in the driving of a vehicle, or section 28-708, 28-1381, 28-1382 or 28-1383 within a period of twenty-four months: 1. The person is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.2. The person is not eligible for probation, pardon, suspension of sentence or release on any basis until the person has served not less than twenty days in jail.3. The judge may require the surrender to a police officer of any driver license of the person and shall immediately forward the abstract of conviction to the department.4. On receipt of the abstract of conviction, the department shall revoke the driving privilege of the person.
E. The dates of the commission of the offense are the determining factor in applying subsection D of this section. A second or subsequent violation for which a conviction occurs as provided in this section does not include a conviction for an offense arising out of the same series of acts.
F. On pronouncement of a jail sentence under this section, and after the court receives confirmation that the person is employed or is a student, the court may provide in the sentence that if the defendant is employed or is a student the defendant can continue employment or schooling for not more than twelve hours per day nor more than five days per week. The defendant shall spend the remaining days or parts of days in jail until the sentence is served and shall be allowed out of jail only long enough to complete the defendant's actual hours of employment or schooling.

sherry5006 · 08-22-2010, 07:59 PM

Ummm.... hire a lawyer! Maybe you can plead it out to lesser offense. Did I mention, hire a lawyer?

codyh3 · 08-22-2010, 08:46 PM

I forgot to mention that the cop said I was "going 103" but he wasn't using radar. And thanks for the advice so far guys. So on top of reckless driving he wrote the ticket for criminal speeding 30+ which would be a 310 dollar minimum fee as I looked it up. Now my situation is looking more bleak.

Bummer · 08-22-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codyh3

I forgot to mention that the cop said I was "going 103" but he wasn't using radar. And thanks for the advice so far guys. So on top of reckless driving he wrote the ticket for criminal speeding 30+ which would be a 310 dollar minimum fee as I looked it up. Now my situation is looking more bleak.

I believe the best advice so far is from Sherry . . . HIRE A LAWYER. To be honest, I'm surprised you weren't arrested on the spot with those speeds . . . you are extremely lucky.

Also, Thank God you weren't in a serious accident.

Good Luck

codyh3 · 08-22-2010, 09:08 PM

I know it was a really stupid mistake on my part. But the officer let me go because I was really polite to him. Kindness goes a long way sometimes I suppose.

Thanks you guys.

observer53 · 08-22-2010, 09:36 PM

You should be able to get a free consult with a lawyer and see what the situation is, and go from there.

Howard Roark · 08-22-2010, 09:45 PM

I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for drivers such as yourself. 90 and above in a 65 zone? I know you regret it. But that is what the punishment you will get is all about isn't it?

In my part of town on Saturday morning two people within a couple of hours ran through red lights. I blasted my horn at both. What is it with you types?

OurNextAdventure · 08-23-2010, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for drivers such as yourself. 90 and above in a 65 zone? I know you regret it. But that is what the punishment you will get is all about isn't it?

In my part of town on Saturday morning two people within a couple of hours ran through red lights. I blasted my horn at both. What is it with you types?

Easy there homeboy. Yes, what he did was wrong, and he knows it; but he came here looking for advice, not ridicule.

But I do agree with you. 19 years old, you probably aren't that great of a driver in the first place, even if you think you are. So take it easy next time. You did the crime, now you gotta do the time (and fees.) This is called a punishment. Just take it with a grain of salt, and hopefully you will have learned from your mistakes. Its all a part of growing up.