Getting a ticket for Vehicle code 12500(a) and 5200(a) in California
A few days before Thanksgiving I had the misfortune by being pulled over by a cop in Burbank, which I wrote about here. In the time since that I have changed over my registration, gotten my California license (they have THE hardest written test EVER), and answered the question how much does a California smog test cost? Then last week I headed over to the Burbank courthouse to pay my fees. That is when I learned that the 12500(a) v.c. was charged as a misdemeanor! And that means that I could not just go up to a little window and make a payment. Instead I had to appear in court and be arraigned!
My court date and time was scheduled for Christmas Eve at 8:30am. What a bummer, eh? I searched the internet for info on what to expect. What I found was a lot of conflicting info. One place said that I would have to post bail before the court appearance but there was no mention of how much. One told me that I just needed to go before the judge with my new license and registration and ask for the charge to be reduced or dismissed. And that was pretty much the extent of info I found.
Not knowing how much money I needed or if they took debit cards I took out $300 in cash the night before.
ON THE COURT DATE
The day of court I arrived a bit before 8:30. There were two courtrooms and there were papers posted on the outside of the doors of each. You had to go up and see if your name was listed on the papers. I found my name on the first one. It also listed the charge and that I was there for arraignment. There were about 30 names on the paper. A bit after 8:30 a stern looking older woman, who was the bailiff, opened up the courtroom and let us in. She then set up a TV and told us we had to watch a video on our rights. The video lasted about 20 minutes and went through things like how you could plead, what pleading ‘no contest’ meant and the like. When that was over a few people got yelled at for wearing hats, a few for having food in the courtroom, a few for having kids with them, and a few for chewing gum. The bailiff brought out a stack of files and called out people’s names. When she called your name you had to answer if you had a lawyer, wanted a public defender or were going to represent yourself.
Once all of that was done, the bailiff cautioned us about the way the judge liked his courtroom. Apparently there was to be no talking out of turn or arguing or you would be arrested for contempt. It was then announced in what order cases would be heard. First would be people with private attorneys, then people that had to deal with the city attorney, then public defenders and then people representing themselves.
The judge came in shortly after that. He was the meanest, rudest, most foul person I have ever encountered. He would ask someone a question, they would answer and then he would cut off the person speaking. If the person did not stop speaking immediately they would get yelled at by the judge something to the effect of “Don’t interrupt me! Have some respect!” He later yelled things like “Can’t you see I’m reading” and “Listen to me when I’m speaking to you!”
I got to see someone charged with meth possession, someone charged with less than an ounce of marijuana (he had a note for medical reasons but apparently while it is legal here for medical reasons it is illegal to transport it!), there were people that were there for speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, using a cell phone while driving, making illegal u-turns, turning from the wrong lane and failure to appear.
One other guy was there for the same thing as me. He was up before me and I got to see what would have happened if I had been a black guy when I got my ticket. His charges were the same as mine only the cop that wrote him the ticket also impounded his car. Apparently he could not afford to pay the fee to get it back so the city took possession of the car and sold it. As a result he could not provide his proof of registration and the judge fined him $250!
By this point I was getting pretty nervous. The lowest fine I’d seen anyone get was $174. It was not too long before I got called up. The judge asked how I wanted to plead. After seeing how others has pleaded I said “Guilty.” The judge then asked if I had my license and registration, which I handed to the bailiff. And confirming that I was all legit, the judge announced he was dismissing all charges and that I needed to go next door to pay $10 administrative court cost! Hooray!
I also learned that they do take credit cards at the courthouse.
18 comments
wow! You know I got pulled over on my motorcycle yesterday and got charged for 12500(A) as well. I moved here from Washington so I have a valid WA license that has not expired but freaked out when I saw that 12500(A) was a MISDEMEANOR. I work for the Federal Govt. so any marks on my record puts my job at risk. I have a court date in October (2009.) Very nervous, but with your story I feel a littler better, though I am worried the judge will not dismiss my misdemeanor…
Charles Did you make it to court? What happend? What court house did you go to? I have a valid Wa drives license as well but i was changer for the same thing. 12500(A). Kind of nervous i have court on the 15 of this month. Any advice will help..
David,
If you have a home/apartment or a job in California you just need to go to the local DMV office to get a California license. That is how I got out of this when I went to court. I only had to pay $10 for court costs and it was dismissed.
You are required to take the written test though - even though your current license is valid. And the test is pretty hard, so be sure to look over the material on the DMV website.
Shawna,
Yeah i got my license after 4 times taking the test. LOL.. My court date was moved to Dec 21.
I got caught driving with an expired licence and got a ticket stating that my charge was for 12500 vc a misdameanor. The very next day I went to the DMV and took my written test and passed, now I have my licence, but Im scared cause my court date is in one month. Im wondering if I need an attorney to reduce the charges. The court that I need to appear is in Pasadena.
Anita,
When you go to court the bailiff can appoint a free attorney to you if you need one. That is the way it was done in Burbank when I had my court date. However, no one that needed an attorney for that vehicle code as everyone had proof of a valid CA license.
Thanks for the information Shawna! It couldn’t have happend at a worse time. The same week I got accepted into a nursing program and the acceptance is contingent upon a clear background check. Do you think that the judge may lower the conviction to an infraction, since I recieved my licence the very next day?
That’s what happened for me! I showed proof of a new valid California driver’s license and just had to pay a $10 court fee. It was intimidating at first as it was my first time in court, but it went smoothly.
I got a ticket for having a valid out-of-state License VC 12500(a). I am nervous as to what may happen as I see that the under this code a person may be fined $1000 and/or 1 year jail. I have my interim CA license with me now. Do I need to hire an attorney for this? Please advice me.
Anthony,
As long as you get your California DL you should be fine. I had the same problem got a a ticket for driving with a valid WA license, went to court on the 21st of last month the judge dismissed the case and all i had to pay was 10.oo dollars. There is nothing to fear and you dont need an attorney.
Anthony,
If you get a California driver’s license you will be fine! When you are at the courthouse the bailiff will ask if you want a free court appointed lawyer. When they see what you are there for they will tell you that you do not need a lawyer - at least that is the way that it worked for my court date. Just have $10 to pay your court costs!
Hi,
David and Shawna thank you both for the replies. I have been to the court today and my case was dismissed with a fine of $25. So everthing went fine. Once again, thanks guys.
hi, I got out-of-state valid license and received misdemeanor ticket for 12500 (a).
I am currently a student in out-of-state college in Los Angeles. So technically a visitor.
The officer told me I was cited for driving my CA registered vehicle without “valid” license. I am really confused what should I do for my case.
I don’t think I can get my CA license for I am leaving town in 2 weeks… and not quite sure if I should visit the clerks anyways to explain the situation… please help me!
Hi i was cited on Thursday 5/13/10 for 12500 a (vc) unlicensed driver MISDEMEANOR and a 22345 a (vc) speeding INFRACTION by The CHP in San Bernardino County. i had a valid Illinois license till 10/17/10. But sense my car was registered in CA on 9/4/09 i got ticketed. I though my license was completely fine. i was never told by the past two cops who gave me fix it tickets for car mods, my job, the DMV when i registered my car or when i got new car insurance that i needed to change it i thought it was good till it expired. I went to the DMV Friday 5/14/10 but they were closed so i went back on Monday 5/17/10 and got a license that test was so easy i got 100%. Now im worried and don’t know what to do. The court tells me one thing CHP another And Police station another, and every attorney says i could face jail time. I’m a CNA im supposed to start my RN 1/2011, and im scared ill lose my job go to jail or not be allowed into the program for having a misdemeanor. Do i need an attorney? By the way my Driving records pretty clean no points i accident 4 years ago and a speeding ticket 3 years ago. Please help my court date isnt till 7/27/10 and don’t wana keep stressing about it till then.
Will,
The 12500 a (vc) unlicensed driver charge is only an actual misdemeanor if you fail to get a Cali license. At least that was my experience. And it seems to be the same from others that have responded here.
As for needing an attorney, when you show up for your court date they will ask you if you want a free court appointed attorney. If you say yes, they will ask what you are there for and then tell you if you actually need an attorney. On my court date, they told everyone that was there for “12500 a (vc) unlicensed driver” that you did not need an attorney.
As long as you have the Cali license, you shouldn’t need to stress.
I got a 12500a Misdermeanor last week. and I have since then got my licence. Mine was 4 mos exp. because I totally forgot to renew my drivers lic back in feb
The officer put the ticket as “M’ and NOT correctable. anyone been though this with the antelope valley court house in lancaster ca??? that is where I have to be.
I feel so sorry that the judge needs our money so much that they put high fines.
That is bullshiiit. I bet you the cop that gives you the ticket gets a share of the fine paid.
It’s so sad.
this tickets not so bad. i went to court yesterday 7/27/10 for 12500 a (vc) unlicensed driver MISDEMEANOR and a 22345 a (vc) speeding Infraction. The judge immediately dismissed the 12500 when i showed him my new California license. He then reduced my speed find from $275 to $110 and I opted to take traffic school as well. which is $54 and so total ticket amount is $164 i owe. I was also given 90 days to pay the $54 and 60 days to pay the $110. I got a nice deal. A lot of people in court were there for license issues, it seams if you get a new license the case will be drooped, if you cant you owe a $300 fine, if you can but weren’t able to get it in the time allowed they will issue you an extension. Just get a new license and you will be good. If you are convicted of the misdemeanor and your a nurse like me or have a job where a misdemeanor will hurt you, don’t worry once you pay the fine you can file to have it expunged from your public record “which roughly takes 30 days from date of filing” When it’s expunged colleges, employers and other public institutes will not have access to it. So you can honestly answer “no” if ever asked by an employer if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor. By the way don’t miss or be late on your court date that just makes thing worse. They had 152 on the docket that day and only about 80 showed and warrants are no joke. As a side note dress to impress. i saw alot of people show up in ripped jeans messed up hair and t-shirts and the judge wasn’t as polite to them as those who showed up dressed as an adult I.E professional. Appearance and conduct will help you out allot.
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