Jaywalkers Do Not Need a Criminal Lawyer
- By Art Gib
- Published 12/22/2011
- National, State, Local
- Unrated
Obeying the laws of the land isn't hard, especially when inconvenient court appearances and sometimes stiff financial penalties plague those who choose to break laws. You may not need a Jacksonville criminal defense attorney to resolve minor offenses, but the hit on your checkbook could be more painful than you think. Consider the following list of infractions and average cost of consequences.
Jaywalking
Barbara was in too much of a hurry to walk another twenty feet down the Jacksonville sidewalk to the corner where she could cross the busy city street on a crosswalk, with the green walking man icon lit up on the opposite side. She darted between passing cars across several lanes to the median, and then continued through moving traffic to the sidewalk. To her surprise, a police officer quickly walked up to her and cited her for $50.
Speeding Tickets
Some states in the mid-western United States have flat terrain and one speed limit for highways that stays the same for hundreds of miles. However, other states with hill country and road hazards including wild animals, sharp curves, or small towns lining the highway change speed limit signs at times with every mile. Robert discovered he had to pay more when he did not pay attention; a traffic ticket for the infraction of traveling only eight miles over the speed limit near Albuquerque cost him $80.
Leash Law Violation
Laura decided to walk her medium-sized dog without a leash in a small Reno park near her apartment building. She was looking at her phone text message when her dog ran up to an elderly woman walking with her cane down the sidewalk. The dog startled the woman, who lost her balance and fell to her knees. A police cruiser passing by stopped, and Laura was fined for $200 for not controlling her animal. Luckily, the elderly woman decided not to press charges for violating the law of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
Littering
John's old farm pickup truck had more dirt coating it than did the Little Rock dirt road that he drove on. Unfortunately, it had collected more than dirt. Crumpled bags of fast food leftovers littered the floor of the passenger side, and a few even blew around loose in the bed of the pickup. Within one mile of entering the highway onramp and accelerating to 65 mph, one of these bags of trash blew out of his truck bed and into the windshield of the car behind him. The car driver swerved in reflex action, and almost lost control of his vehicle. Highway patrol, who witnessed the event, pulled John over and presented him with a fine for $500 for littering; this was John's second offense.
A Jacksonville criminal lawyer and associated court fees may not be necessary when some infractions are committed, but a bit of forethought and conscientiousness can keep you from having to pay in other ways.
Jaywalking
Barbara was in too much of a hurry to walk another twenty feet down the Jacksonville sidewalk to the corner where she could cross the busy city street on a crosswalk, with the green walking man icon lit up on the opposite side. She darted between passing cars across several lanes to the median, and then continued through moving traffic to the sidewalk. To her surprise, a police officer quickly walked up to her and cited her for $50.
Speeding Tickets
Some states in the mid-western United States have flat terrain and one speed limit for highways that stays the same for hundreds of miles. However, other states with hill country and road hazards including wild animals, sharp curves, or small towns lining the highway change speed limit signs at times with every mile. Robert discovered he had to pay more when he did not pay attention; a traffic ticket for the infraction of traveling only eight miles over the speed limit near Albuquerque cost him $80.
Laura decided to walk her medium-sized dog without a leash in a small Reno park near her apartment building. She was looking at her phone text message when her dog ran up to an elderly woman walking with her cane down the sidewalk. The dog startled the woman, who lost her balance and fell to her knees. A police cruiser passing by stopped, and Laura was fined for $200 for not controlling her animal. Luckily, the elderly woman decided not to press charges for violating the law of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
Littering
John's old farm pickup truck had more dirt coating it than did the Little Rock dirt road that he drove on. Unfortunately, it had collected more than dirt. Crumpled bags of fast food leftovers littered the floor of the passenger side, and a few even blew around loose in the bed of the pickup. Within one mile of entering the highway onramp and accelerating to 65 mph, one of these bags of trash blew out of his truck bed and into the windshield of the car behind him. The car driver swerved in reflex action, and almost lost control of his vehicle. Highway patrol, who witnessed the event, pulled John over and presented him with a fine for $500 for littering; this was John's second offense.
A Jacksonville criminal lawyer and associated court fees may not be necessary when some infractions are committed, but a bit of forethought and conscientiousness can keep you from having to pay in other ways.
Art Gib
As a former active duty Navy Judge Advocate, Eric Roper, a Jacksonville criminal defense attorney, has 15 years experience in both prosecuting and defending criminal trials in Federal and military courts. (http://ericroperlaw.com)
View all articles by Art Gib