I need some info here before going to court guys:

I bought a 98 mustang about a month ago down in indiana, I was driving it home to Allen Park, MI to store it until the title was sent to me by previous owner (he had to pay off the lien and wait for the bank to release it). On the way home I got a ticket for driving without plates, which is a misdemeanor. I had insurance on the car already and proof of ownership with my bill of sale. My question is, does anyone have an idea of how much this is going to cost me, and if its points? It was in Monroe County, MI if that helps. Thanks for any info you have.
-John

 

Well this is a grey area.. In MI you are allowed to drive the vehicle from the sellers location directly to your house, provided however that you possess a valid title that shows the sale date and your information filled out in the buyers section. You did not have the title on hand, so therefore you were in the wrong. Not to say that a judge won't understand when you tell him/her that you did have a valid bill of sale and insurance on the vehicle.

If the judge is cool you might get off with a small court costs deal, if not it could be a few hundred dollars.

 

Maybe you shouldn't have bought a Mustang... That's why he got you

 

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7...5470--,00.html

Straight from the horses mouth.

 

Go to court, logically and calmly explain the situation to the magistrate and hopefully they will take the circumstances into consideration and kill the ticket.

Personally, though, I would never give an individual my money and leave without the title to said vehicle. That is just begging to get ripped off. I have always gone with them to the bank to get the bank to sign the release of lien on the title. I hand my check to them at the bank while we are meeting with the loan person that can sign the release of lien. Of course, i'm paranoid and trust nobody.

 

I recommend you hire an attorney. Since it is a misdemeanor they will usually schedule you to appear before an actual judge and not a magistrate. The judge can only take a guilty plea or a not guilty plea and set it for trial, if you plead your circumstances and tell the judge you are guilty then that is what will be on your record. If you plan to negotiate the case you need to do that with the City attorney who is prosecuting you and amend the charge prior to pleading your case to the judge. I see too many people try and plea their case to the judge and end up with a criminal record because they don't know what they are doing. The judge will also advise you that you have the right to an attorney for the misdemeanor charge.

Driving with no plates is only a civil infraction unless its a commercial vehicle HOWEVER, failing to transfer the registration or failing to obtain michigan plates is a misdemeanor. Double check the statute that your ticket is written under. There aren't any points with either violation.

If you have anymore questions let me know, I deal with this kind of stuff all the time.

 

but your expecting someone to trust you with a check aren't ya?



that's a raw deal indeed. the dates should all add up. another suggestion would be to visit a free consultation lawyer and see if they can't work a deal out of court for a very small fee.

 

Not at all. If they are comfortable with a personal check (especially since I'm usually going to go to the bank with them), then fine. If not, I can do cash, provided I'm not purchasing the car via a loan, in which case you are stuck doing a cashiers check because that is all the lending institution will give you.