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Plea(s)
PLEA(S)
Your decision concerning which plea to enter is very important. Please consider each plea carefully before making a decision. If you plead guilty or nolo contendere in open court, you should be prepared to pay the fine and court costs.
PLEA EXPLANATIONS
PLEA OF GUILTY
By a plea of guilty, you admit that you committed the act charged, that the act is prohibited by law, and that you have no defense for your act.
PLEA OF NOLO CONTENDERE (NO CONTEST)
A plea of “nolo contendere” means you do not contest the state’s charge against you. You will be found guilty upon a plea of “nolo contendere”, but it is not an admission by you that you are guilty. Also, a plea of “nolo contendere” or “no contest” cannot be used against you in a civil suit for damages as can a plea of guilty.
PLEA OF NOT GUILTY
A plea of not guilty means that you are informing the court that you deny guilt in this case, and that the state must prove what it has charged against you. If you plead not guilty, you have the right to a trial by judge or jury. You will need to decide whether to hire an attorney to represent you at trial. You may defend yourself, but no one else except an attorney may represent you. Court appointed attorneys are not provided at the Municipal Court level.
IF YOU WISH TO ENTER A PLEA OF GUILTY OR A PLEA OF NOLO CONTENDERE: please so indicate in the proper space provided on the reply form. The fine for Nolo Contendere is the same as that for a plea of Guilty. Either plea indicates that you agree to waive appearance before the Court for trial. Please refer to fines schedule to determine the total amount of fine(s) and costs acceptable by the Court.
IF YOU WISH TO ENTER A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY and desire a trial, please so indicate trial by Judge or Jury on the reply form and mail your plea on or before your appearance date. You will be notified by the Court when you must appear for trial and any other required procedures.
IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE CHARGE(S) BY THE APPEARANCE DATE SHOWN ON THE CITATION, AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE MAY BE FILED AGAINST YOU OF “VIOLATE PROMISE TO APPEAR” AND AN ARREST WARRANT MAY BE ISSUED, AND YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE RENEWAL MAY BE DENIED. ADDITIONALLY A FAILURE TO APPEAR OR SATISFY A JUDGEMENT ORDERING THE PAYMENT OF A FINE AND COSTS IN THE MANNER ORDERED BY THE COURT MAY RESULT IN THE DENIAL OF A RENEWAL OF YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE. A JUVENILE WHO FAILS TO APPEAR BY THE COURT DATE MAY HAVE THEIR LICENSE SUSPENDED. WARRANT FEES OF $50.00 WILL BE ASSESSED FOR EXECUTING OR PROCESSING A WARRANT.