Need advice: Court issues.

Ok I'm lookin for some advice on traffic issues.

- Sept 2003 I got pulled over in Chicago for driving on suspended plates since I failed the emissions on my old Honda Crx. So I had to go to court. Before my court date i sold the car because i was moving to Arizona. So I needed the money quick so I can start school. I was in a rush. I signed the title over to the buyer who happens to own a performance shop in Woodale, IL. So in court day I explained the judge my situation. I told him I sold the car and I signed the title over to the buyer. He told me that I needed proof. I told him that I don't have time since I have to start school in another state in 3 days. So I never showed up to court. Stupid mistake I know. But I have no other choice.

- Up until now I my license is suspended and I'm sure I got a warrant out for my arrest. I called the secetary of state and they told me that I have to come in court in person to settle the situation. I cant really afford traveling right now nor do I have the time. So I decided to get a lawyer. Ok this is where it gets me irritated. I called atleast 8 different lawyers and two has listened to my situation. One wanted 500 bucks which is not bad i guess? The other wanted me to provide the vin number and the number of the person who bought my car and to call her back. I called her back but left a message with her secretary. Then a couple of days later , I finally reached the lawyer. She told me that shes busy with other cases and she'll get back to me. Took down my number and I asked her if I should get a continuance for the court that i have here in Arizona (got pulled over recently and have to show proof of my license) and she told me yes. So I don't understand why these lawyers are not helping me out? Anyone has any info or advice that in anyway that can help me out? Greatly appreciated.

Didn't you need legal advice after getting fired for theft, too? Driving on suspended plates, failure to appear, driving on a suspended license. This may be cliche, but it's the best advice you'll ever get, "STOP BREAKING THE LAW ASSHOLE!"

Didn't you need legal advice after getting fired for theft, too?

I didn't steal. I don't understand how you're jumping into that conclusion.

Driving on suspended plates, failure to appear, driving on a suspended license. This may be cliche, but it's the best advice you'll ever get, "STOP BREAKING THE LAW ASSHOLE!"


That's not the advice I was looking for. My brother took my car to get the emissions done. He's the one who told me that it failed after I found out why my plates got suspended. Still, it was my responsibility to get that part handled. :rolleyes:

Ok I'm lookin for some advice on traffic issues.

Then a couple of days later , I finally reached the lawyer. She told me that shes busy with other cases and she'll get back to me. Took down my number and I asked her if I should get a continuance for the court that i have here in Arizona (got pulled over recently and have to show proof of my license) and she told me yes. So I don't understand why these lawyers are not helping me out? Anyone has any info or advice that in anyway that can help me out? Greatly appreciated.

Just to be clear were you driving without a valid driver's license in Arizona? :shakehead

If so then the current or priority issue is your problem in Arizona. For the time being hire a lawyer there to file a motion for continuance with the court otherwise you will be in a similar predicament like in Illinois. Then get the mess in Illinois worked out.

That's not the advice I was looking for.
As they say, "be careful what you ask for."

Let's see:

You got in trouble for something someone else didn't take care of.
Strike one.

Failure to appear.
Strike two.

Driving without a valid license.
Strike three.

Asking for legal advice on an internet forum, full of trolls like us.
End of the inning.

You already have a lawyer. Go with that.


:2cents:

I know I know it was a stupid mistake on my part but I really have no choice. The thing is I'm trying to get a lawyer but non of them are calling me back. It's like they're not taking me serious. I might have to fly in in person.Which I'm tryin to avoid.

I know I know it was a stupid mistake on my part but I really have no choice.

Bullshit!

When it comes to breaking the law, you have a choice - you chose to do it.

Bullshit!

When it comes to breaking the law, you have a choice - you chose to do it.

Umm no I didn't actually. I registered for school before I got pulled over.I did not purposely break the law. Could I have solved this matter before I moved? Possibly but like I said I was short on time and I can't miss any school days. Do I really need to explain myself?

Umm no I didn't actually. I registered for school before I got pulled over.I did not purposely break the law. Could I have solved this matter before I moved? Possibly but like I said I was short on time and I can't miss any school days. Do I really need to explain myself?Okay, assuming that you didn't know about the suspended plates, we'll over look that. As for court, you didn't have a choice other than to miss court? Someone kidnapped you, and physically restrained you, perhaps? That would be about the only way you can say it wasn't your fault, you had a choice, and you chose to break the law and not go to court. Driving on a suspended license.... someone made you drive knowing you had a suspended license? You had absolutely no choice other than to drive for years with no license? As Ray stated clearly... bullshit!

You clearly need to grow up and start taking responsibilty for your actions. Yeah I know it's not what you want to hear, but it is what you need to hear.

I'm struck by the fact that you couldn't afford to travel, but then said you hired a lawyer to straighten things out for you.

Here's my advice:

1) Get the paperwork to show you've sold the car.
2) Go to Illinois, show the paperwork indicating the vehicle is sold, and pay the fine for what you did. It will be cheaper to get a rental car and drive there and back (or fly on SW Airlines and rent a car) than to hire a lawyer.
3) Once you have the matter settled in IL, you can then settle the matter in AZ.

The basis for this entire situation is that you were driving an illegal car in IL. Rather than have your record ruined and arrest warrants out for you in several states, wouldn't it be best to miss a few days of school to be free and clear? Your choice.

Further, you asked why the lawyers "aren't helping out". Well, usually you have to put up a substantial retainer in order for an attorney to represent you - they won't work for free, and having paid them up front will encourage them to work on your behalf. As I stated before, it will be cheaper to appear in court in IL to take care of it, than to pay an atty to do it for you, which will require them to travel to IL, or hire another atty that has priveleges in IL to handle it for you. Both of these situations might require you to travel anyway, so just go do it yourself.

2) Go to Illinois, show the paperwork indicating the vehicle is sold, and pay the fine for what you did. It will be cheaper to get a rental car and drive there and back (or fly on SW Airlines and rent a car) than to hire a lawyer.

I thought his driver's license was suspended? :confused: Which would rule out him driving and if he does another intentional and knowing violation of the law. A rental car company will not rent you a car without a valid driver's license. Of course, he could get someone else if they are willing to go through all the trouble to help out. Plus he would be driving over 1700 miles one way from Arizona to Illinois. Rough drive. :grinyes:

Also, the Arizona incident may have priority if the court date is near. But he has not clarified, although a lawyer advised him to get a continuance in that case. :2cents:

Are we all confused yet......:lol:

You clearly need to grow up and start taking responsibilty for your actions. Yeah I know it's not what you want to hear, but it is what you need to hear.

I admit it was my mistake. I didn't know what I was thinking. I was under ALOT of stress. But I see your point though. I appreciate it.

I'm struck by the fact that you couldn't afford to travel, but then said you hired a lawyer to straighten things out for you.



Well I was going to borrow some funds which isn't much. I just found a Lawyer for 500 bucks. I can pull that off on my own. As for traveling, I don't have any room in schedule to do all the leg work.




1) Get the paperwork to show you've sold the car.
2) Go to Illinois, show the paperwork indicating the vehicle is sold, and pay the fine for what you did. It will be cheaper to get a rental car and drive there and back (or fly on SW Airlines and rent a car) than to hire a lawyer.
3) Once you have the matter settled in IL, you can then settle the matter in AZ.


Lets just say IF I did manage to have time to handle this situation on my own, wouldn't I get arrested? I believe I have a warrant. It's an easy fix, I know it. I know where to find the person I sold the car to and have him sign the bill of sale. Then just show it to the judge. It's the time that's bugging me.



The basis for this entire situation is that you were driving an illegal car in IL. Rather than have your record ruined and arrest warrants out for you in several states, wouldn't it be best to miss a few days of school to be free and clear? Your choice.



I only have one warrant out as far as I know of. I guess I can work something out with the school but I have to find out to see if I will get arrested and I do NOT want to end up in COOK COUNTY jail.

As for traveling, I don't have any room in schedule to do all the leg work. ...... It's the time that's bugging me.

..................I guess I can work something out with the school but I have to find out to see if I will get arrested and I do NOT want to end up in COOK COUNTY jail.
No room in your schedule? It's the time that's bugging you? You GUESS you can work something out with the school?

Dude, you need to GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS and do whatever you have to in order to get this straightened out.

You've already let it snowball way too far. Fix it, do what it takes, and THEN get on with your life.

Reality bites, and it sucks to be you, but you have some pretty tough choices to make. You need to make the right choices. The ones you've made so far haven't worked well for you. :banghead:

I thought his driver's license was suspended? :confused: Which would rule out him driving and if he does another intentional and knowing violation of the law. A rental car company will not rent you a car without a valid driver's license. Of course, he could get someone else if they are willing to go through all the trouble to help out. Plus he would be driving over 1700 miles one way from Arizona to Illinois. Rough drive. :grinyes:



Well the point I guess I was trying to make is that it would be cheaper to travel to have the record cleared, than to hire a lawyer to do it. It seemed that money was an issue.

Well I was going to borrow some funds which isn't much. I just found a Lawyer for 500 bucks. I can pull that off on my own. As for traveling, I don't have any room in schedule to do all the leg work.

Lets just say IF I did manage to have time to handle this situation on my own, wouldn't I get arrested? I believe I have a warrant. It's an easy fix, I know it. I know where to find the person I sold the car to and have him sign the bill of sale. Then just show it to the judge. It's the time that's bugging me.

I only have one warrant out as far as I know of. I guess I can work something out with the school but I have to find out to see if I will get arrested and I do NOT want to end up in COOK COUNTY jail.


Wake up dude. This will only get worse the longer you let it go. "Not having the time" is NOT a valid reason to avoid taking care of it. Be real - you can skip a semester of school if need be - and it would be a great investment in time (which you don't think you have but actually do) to avoid being arrested down the line. Why don't you have the time? What is more important right now than not being arrested? You say that you don't want to end up in the Cook County Jail, but you refuse to take any personal action to make sure that doesn't happen, and are blaming it on the lawyer you paid money to. How long have you given the lawyers to work on it? It won't happen overnight, and I'm sure they have some higher priority things to take care of and will get to it when they can. How can you be critical of a lawyer not taking care of something right away, when you yourself have the same attitude?

Well the point I guess I was trying to make is that it would be cheaper to travel to have the record cleared, than to hire a lawyer to do it. It seemed that money was an issue.

Well it looks like a moot issue Mike since he does not desire to travel back to Illinois which I can't blame him. If the $500 is for the lawyer in Illinois to work out the mess he is in there then it is probably worth it. Lawyers do not work for free in these cases and considering his circumstances. Only a fool would represent himself Pro Se in a court especially with an arrest warrant out for him in that jurisdiction. IMO the lawyer is his best bet because from all indications he needs his driver's license re-instated. :2cents:

Well it looks like a moot issue Mike since he does not desire to travel back to Illinois which I can't blame him. If the $500 is for the lawyer in Illinois to work out the mess he is in there then it is probably worth it. Lawyers do not work for free in these cases and considering his circumstances. Only a fool would represent himself Pro Se in a court especially with an arrest warrant out for him in that jurisdiction. IMO the lawyer is his best bet because from all indications he needs his driver's license re-instated. :2cents:

Bob you're probably right. I guess I was thinking from my own perspective, I'd never have let it go this far in the first place and would have taken care of it prior to leaving IL. Live and learn!

OK no one has answered this (unless if I missed it), would I get arrested if I show up for court? Since I have a warrant out?


*I really really do appreciate EVERYONE's help even though some of you are harsh but your intentions are positive. Thanks again.

The longer you leave this the worse it is going to get.

If you go to court, it's very likely you'll get to stay.

You are wasting your money on the lawyer. All you need is a notarized statement from the buyer saying when they bought your car and the VIN number. The fact that you don't have any license plates or registration for the car should be adequate proof that you don't have it anymore. When the IL EPA sends out those notices to get your car tested, they give you up to 6 months to take care of it. Even if you blow it off or it flunks the test, there is a section on the form that you can sign and return, indicating that you no longer own the car, and they will drop the issue. You obviously ignored this easy way out until they finally suspended your plates. You could have been home free for no costs if you had just paid attention, now you risk getting into legal hassles for driving on a suspended license, and paying unnecessary tickets, fines, and legal expenses. Hopefully you will learn something from this experience? You said this happened in 2003, have you really been driving on a suspended license for 4 years? If so, it's likely your car insurance company would not provide any coverage to you if you got in an accident.