Two questions regarding the law and my options.

Question

So.

In a lapse of judgement, I wrote 'Pig' on a cop's mailbox with an extinguished cigarette.

I was cited with a Class 2 Misdemeanor. What will likely happen?

There was no damage done at all to the mailbox. It wiped right off, but he saw me.

I know I shouldn't have done it. I was irrational, for a split second. Here's the second question, though, and it will help explain why.

I recently got my car impounded (unrecoverably), due to being pulled over with a flurry of driving limitations.

I had no insurance, no license, and no regstration.

Here's some background information.

I got in an accident in college. At the time, I had insurance, so the damages were covered, but I had no money to pay the ticket. Afterward, to boot, my mother dropped me from the insurance plan.

After that, I had to keep driving, to work to pay the ticket, and get insurance again. Nobody could lend me money, I tried.

Anyway, a month went by, and I paid the ticket. I had to pay that before getting insurance, because I couldn't get another extention. Shortly after, though, I got pulled over with no insurance. I couldn't make the court date, as it was in a nearby town. I didn't have gas, and I didn't want to risk getting pulled over again.

A short while went by, and I got a letter letting me know my registration was revoked, and my drivers license was suspended on two accounts (not showing to court, and not paying the fine [I never knew how much it was, I never received a letter.])

So just two days ago, I got pulled over, and.. well it's obvious. They impounded my car. It's going to cost more to get it out than I can sell it for. I was going to sell it to help me go back to college. My citations were: Suspended Driver's License (two accounts), Posession of Suspended Driver's License (I didn't know you had to get rid of it.. I told the cop it was suspended up front, I wasn't trying to fool anybody of anything,) No Registration, No Insurance, Cracked Windshield (why they pulled me over.)

What hope do I have for this? What could I do to make this easier? I feel like a criminal for all of these traffic violations, when all I've been trying to do is get straight with the court for a 5mph accident, and get ready to go back to school, lol.

What can I expect to pay? I live in Arizona. I'm 19 years old.

Answer 1

In my experience, people with stories like yours fall into one of two categories. A few are truly burdened by an unfortunate and inescapable chain reaction of events, and can't get their heads above water. Most are some combination of self-delusional, manipulative, and irresponsible.

Figure out which of those two you are. If you are the first, then tell all of this to the judge, be sincere and contrite and hope for the best. If you are the second, keep your mouth shut and accept whatever the court has in mind for you.

Answer 2

as strange as this may sound i halfway believe you....i mean i believe all the stuff that happened but i find it hard to believe that you absolutely have no resources whatsoever to pay for all you have done...further, it may sound like the system is picking on you but the system is not the one who to defaced/vandalized a mailbox (which is a federal offense by the way) i think if it were me i would start staying home in my free time, catching a ride to work (i know ~ you have to find another job first), saving your money and paying the fines and look forward to going to school in the winter or spring term....all is not lost and this is not the worst thing that could happen to you  

Answer 3

You made a lot of poor choices. I am surprised there wasn't a warrant out for you since you didn't show up to court.

You will probably have your license suspended for a few years. You will probably receive multiple tickets and citations for all your traffic violations. As for the mailbox you will probably get some sort of community service or probation for destruction of property. You also may have to pay for a new mailbox.

______________________________________...

When you make mistakes there are consequences. You have to try to do the right thing and move on. You may have to work dead end job for a little while to payoff your debt. It's not going to just  magically go away. If you make bad choices own up to it and do what you have to do to make it right. If that means working at McDonalds for a year and taking public transportation then that's what you do. Life isn't easy but remember it could ALWAYS be much worse!

The best thing you can do is show up for Court, Pay all you Fines and behave.

Answer 4

First off why in the h**l would you do that to a cop's mail box and then go back and say "I'm sorry??"

To me that was immature and ignorant and very irresponsible on your part I don't care about your age at the time that you did this!

They make laws for everyone, not just a few people.. And if you think that people are going to even begin to feel bad for you, as you can already tell by the responses on the board, that not many people are...

And complaining about going to have to stay in this small town and not be able to go back to school, you had options, you couldn't of called and told them that you were trying to work to get enuff money to pay back what you owed already instead of taking the chance that you were going to get pulled over how many times??? before they impounded your vehicle?

I'd say that this was a costly experience for you, the real question is? did  U learn anything from it other than its costing you big bucks?

I'd say buck down, see if your sister or whoever can get you back and forth to work or maybe catch a ride with someone thats working the same hours that you do and pay off what you owe, cause sadly enuff your records will follow you no matter where you go in life...

And keep yourself outta trouble and stop writing on mail boxes, that was stupid on your part sadly enuff to say.. And maybe once you did that they were after you from that point... It's been known to happen in the past.. thats a different story all together tho...

Best of luck

Answer 5

Let me get this straight:  you vandalized a mailbox because you are frustrated that the police keep enforcing the law that you broke at least four times?

Thickheaded, ain't ya?

Stop driving you putz.  Go back to school and get a job near a bus route.  Save your money, pay your debts and quit making excuses.

All of this is your own fault.

EDIT - oh the drama.  You don't have to kill yourself and you don't have to give up college.  Make all of your scheduled court appearances and find out how much money this is going to cost to clear up.  Then go to Virginia and get a job THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE DRIVING.  Live with your sister, save your money and go to school part-time.  Pay off your tickets and wait until you have a valid license and insurance before you drive again.

Geesh.

EDIT #2 - The header of your question indicates you want to know your options.  Having ignored all of the previous options offered to you by law, this is what you have left.  If you think I'm hard on you, wait until you see the judge.

Good luck to you.