Can I Change My Plea from Not Guilty to Guilty?

Question

I was ticketed for failing to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn. Now although I believe she should have been slowing down as the light was yellow(soon to be red), I don't believe they will care and that I will still have to pay. I was going to plead guilty but my mom convinced me to plead not guilty and now I a bench trial which is a inconvenience for me(I start school in Fall and will be forced to miss a day) and my mom(she will have to take another day of of work). What can I do and will I have to pay a greater fine?

45 minutes ago - 3 days left to answer.

Answer 1

I think the prosecution has to permit you to change your plea.

Answer 2

First, if you turned in front of someone, you failed to yield. While it's understandable that you might figure she would be slowing, it doesn't excuse you. You just guessed wrong. Who knows if the fine will be different. The judge might go easy, if you make it clear you know you screwed up, but it wasn't that you weren't paying attention. Or, it might be higher. But you're clearly guilty. Worth a shot, if mama's paying the fine. If not, you get a lesson. Nice mama - bad lawyer. And yes, you almost certainly change your plea to Guilty any time before the trial date, but it's not for sure that they will still honor the preset fine, since you may have passed the date to plead and pay the preset. Most likely, the clerk will just let you pay the preset. They will tell you before you do it, if you ask.

Answer 3

Contact the court, tell them you want to change your plea, find out what the fine is, and tell Mommy to butt out.