License suspension for parking tickets

Lucky - you'll talk to the prosecutor, appear before the judge, and go home. Unlucky - you'll talk to the prosecutor, appear before the judge, pay a small fine, and go home.

First the judge will resolve contested cases with an attorney. Then, the judge will handle arraignments for unrepresented parties. There will be no arraignments of represented parties, because most lawyers will waive arraignment and issue a plea of not guilty by fax or letter. When you are called, the judge will probably handle all the suspension cases together and will tell you that you have the right to be represented by an attorney. You should plead not guilty and I recommend you retain counsel. If you cannot afford counsel, apply for the public defender. You are eligible to seek relief under the parking adjudication act. It would be better if you can get the ticket downgraded to another offense or defeat the charge on a notice defense. The parking adjudication act will keep your license from being suspended. But it still counts as a conviction for driving on a suspended license. The best way to avoid the more serious charges of a second conviction for driving on a suspended license, is to never take a first conviction. Please feel free to contact my office for a free consult.

There is a very good chance you speak with the prosecutor and the summons is downgraded. There is also a chance that does not happen. Regardless, all the cases with attorneys will go first. If you retain a lawyer, you have a higher likelihood of avoiding further suspension and you will be one of the first cases to finish.

East Orange is a very busy hectic Court. If you pay the 39:3-40 friving suspended ticket under the parking ticket section you will not lose your license and will pay onlya relatively minor fine. What they did not tell you is there is a $250/year for three year surcharge as with any 3-40 driving suspended. Drive suspended is a relatively defensible ticket. They have to prove notice. With an attorney they will likely just downgrade the ticket to unlicensed driver. At worst only $100/year for three years at best no surcharge at all and just a $200 fine. It pays to have an experienced criminal defense attorney with you on this type of ticket in that Court. Call for a free consultation.