<p>Younghoss,
Are you suggesting, there is no way anyone can help his situation?</p>
<p>Thanks, IJmom</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What wasn’t his? The open containers of alcohol? It doesn’t matter if they were his, you can’t drive with open containers of alcohol in your car. Did he know that? What was his explanation?</p>
<p>I can understand everything else that he allowed except for the open containers of alcohol.</p>
<p>The best way to find a lawyer is to talk to friends to get referrals. Any attorney that regularly handles DUI cases, even though this is not one, will be knowledgeable about the open container laws. You may not be able to get rid of all the points but going from 4 to 2 would be worth it. The Courts are usually more interested in getting the fines than in giving out points.</p>
<p>In HI, I’ve read that points are no longer “given out,” but anyone (including insurers) can view driving records on-line. </p>
<p>Referrals are generally the best way to find a good attorney. What part of CA? Perhaps someone on CC can send you a private message if you indicate the city/part of CA where the citation was issued. Tough to know whether an attorney is really needed or not–sometimes it can be helpful to make a call to the court. SOME clerks can be very helpful, especially if you’re very nice and catch them on a good day. They can suggest to you whether an attorney might be useful or a waste of time; some might even know names to use and/or avoid.</p>
<p>Not sure how much this could be fought, since your S actually DID the things he was charged with, but would definitely chat with the clerk about options and advisability of counsel.</p>
<p>HImom, I wasn’t referring to the courts revealing points to insurers. I meant that courts are more likely to not be as concerned about points as fines. They like to collect the fines and have been known, locally, to increase the fines at trial. However, they are more likely to reduce the points rather than leave them as charged or increase them. I would never count on the insurance companies not finding out about points. They are not likely to miss an opportunity to significantly raise rates.</p>
<p>Yea, my niece got a moving violation ticket in college. She was offered the option by the clerk of paying a double fine & getting it off the record or paying the fine that was marked & having it stay on her record. I believe the double fine was paid.</p>
<p>himom</p>
<p>that depends on the local court. In NY and NJ, I have not been offered to pay double fine in exchange of points, otherwise I won’t be in the assigned risk pool.</p>
<p>For the last 12 years, I am fortunate not having the opportunity to be in CA traffic court.</p>
<p>Yea, of course, it depends on the court AND the judge. In HI, a double fine to take the ticket off the record is not an option either. Fortunately, have also never had dealings with CA traffic court, so don’t know how they handle things. DO know that folks have taken traffic school to lower the fine and not have things go on their record–the clerk should have that info & be able to provide it via phone.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the helpful responses.
I guess we have to wait for the actual notice and then call the clerk from the CA traffic court.
IJMOM</p>
<p>Be sure to ask about driver’s school/class to reduce the fine and/or points. Friends & family living in CA have talked about it before–not sure about current status.</p>
<p>Found this website that has FAQs & other info about traffic tickets. It may provide you with some answers.</p>
<p>[California</a> Courts - Traffic](<a href=“http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-traffic.htm]California”>http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-traffic.htm)</p>
<p>Make sure there is no date or other instructions on the ticket itself. Some jurisdictions do this and if people don’t know to look for it, they miss it.</p>
<p>Yes, in HI, the have all the instructions you need on the ticket itself (in 6 or 8 point font). You have to read carefully and MAKE SURE to follow the instructions or get hit with a pricey late penalty.</p>
<p>^^ based on Himom’s web site, in CA, only moving violation is allowed to traffic school. It specifically noted that alcohol related violations are NOT eligible to traffic schools.</p>
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<p>not sure if this case is with a mandatory court appearance, but a 4 points viloation is serious and better prepared to have a court appearance to “fight” it.</p>
<p>If this is his first offense, a lawyer might be able to persuade the judge to be lenient. I’m thinking that your son might be able to say that he’d never been in a position before where he needed to say “no” to his friends, and he handled it badly. He learned from the experience. It’s been a terrible warning to him and he’s aware how incredibly lucky he was that no one was coming the other way when he ran that red light. If he shows genuine contrition and can clearly state what he’s learned from the incident, there might be room for some leniency. He made choices. He made poor ones. What did he learn from his mistakes?</p>
<p>This is an important conversation for you to have with your son. If he ends up paying a huge fine and expensive insurance for years as a result of this, he could become so angry at the harshness of the punishment that he loses sight of the most important message here. He did make mistakes and he needs to learn from them.</p>
<p>I am really thankful for all the comments, specially the comments and information to help.
I am hoping (wishing) at least he be allowed to traffic school for his red light.</p>
<p>FrancesscaBennett, This is his first offense. He is a kid who does volunteering (habitat for humanity) most of his spare time. When he first came to me for help , I was speechless as I never in million years expected this from him. He is coming home today, and I want to be prepared.</p>
<p>Thanks HImom for the site information on California Courts</p>
<p>Artloversplus,
I am not sure whether this requires a mandatory court appearance.</p>
<p>Cartera45,
Why is that “Make sure there is no date or other instructions on the ticket itself” important?</p>
<p>At this point in life, I don’t punish my college kids for what happens in the world. They are adults and the punishments themselves are enough. </p>
<p>He tried tondo a good thing, he was designated driver and his friends took advantage. Yes it is ultimately his fault, but he really was trying to be a nice guy.</p>