Client Hauling Hay in Traffic Accident -Cited with 3 Criminal Charges
All 3 Charges Dropped!The Charges
The defendant was driving her vehicle with several bales of hay in her back seat. She became involved in a traffic accident and received injuries. Police charged her with a criminal charge of Expired Registration more than Six Months. The bales of hay in her car resulted in a citation for Obstructed View of Driver and she was cited for Refusing to Obey Traffic Laws.
Expired Registration For More Than Six Months
Florida law states it is a crime to drive on an expired registration for more than six months. This is a second-degree misdemeanor that is punishable by up to 60 days in jail. Any motor vehicle is required to be registered within 10 days of purchase. The registration period, which is 12 months, expires at midnight on the last day of the registration period, which is midnight of the individual's birthday.
Obstructed View of Driver
Florida Statutes state that no person is allowed to drive a vehicle that is so loaded their view is obstructed. A violation of this will result in a non-moving traffic violation as provided in Chapter 318. Any obstruction is the responsibility of the driver to be cleared before driving. This can include anything hanging in the mirrors, debris, tint, and stickers.
Refusing to Obey Traffic Laws
There are many penalties for refusing to obey traffic laws in Florida. You will most likely have to pay some sort of fine, and points could be added to your record. If you have more than 12 points on your record, you may have to pay more for car insurance than someone who does not have any points on their record. Too many points could also restrict your privilege to drive.
Motion to Consolidate Charges
If you have been charged with similar offenses, a motion to consolidate could be filed by your attorney if they see it fit. Courts will generally allow consolidation of charges as it speeds up trial cases or to eliminate duplicate cases that would involve the same individuals. Your attorney should look at the charges and determine if consolidation will save you time and money, as well as if it will delay your trial or not.
Contacting Musca Law Firm
If you or a loved one have been charged with any traffic charges, Musca Law Firm would like to hear from you. We offer free, no-obligation consultation sessions to new clients, and we have a commitment to answer our phones 24 hours per day. Our lawyers have well over 150 years of combined experience in defense litigation. We have many strong defenses that could be used for your case. In many cases, after we negotiate with the prosecution, we can have your charges either lowered or completely dropped. We serve the entire state of Florida and have offices located in many different cities. We look forward to hearing from you soon to determine how our legal services may best fit your needs.
RESULT: The Attorney filed a Motion to Consolidate criminal charges with traffic citations. After firm negotiations, all three charges were merged and DISMISSED.