On July 4th, 2009.. me and some friends were lighting a few illegal fireworks (roman candles that shoot in the air and pop)... and police show up but just wrote me a ticket for 200 dollar fine and said I had to appear in court for a misdemeanor of using prohibited fireworks... out of everyone he just took me without saying a word and I wasn't even the one who used it!. the thing is I'm on probation, going on 3rd year, haven't had a single problem or needed to see my PO the entire time... but I'm worried if they will find out if I go to court?. but its in two different counties... and I'm surprised the police didn't even find that I had a record or on probation from back then when they checked my drivers license?

Any thoughts? I didn't know that they would make me go to court... I hope my po will not be notified? Like I've mentioned I never see my po... they don't require me to. And this was not such a big deal, on top of that I wasn't the one who lit the fireworks but the police just picked one person because no one said anything... help please.. thank you in advance

The best thing you can do is tell your PO asap because if they find out and you haven't said anything you will be in worse trouble.
Tell them and they will see you are owning up to things and not trying to hide things.

But I don't ever see my PO... I'm not required to call them for check-ins... the last time I talked to her was maybe over 2 yrs ago... I was NOT arrested tonight for using the illegal fireworks, they cited me with a $200 fine... and told me I have to go to court "on, or before the assigned date" (similar to traffic court?)... I was wondering maybe I can go to court and have my paid lawyer to push back the court date until my probation ends or have them fight it down to an infraction?

I know of course its always better to contact the PO regarding ANY contact with law enforcement... but I've never done so even with other infractions and stuff (speeding tix etc) for the passed two yrs...

Please help, I'm a college student at the moment and have a job.. I don't want to lose all of that for some stupid fireworks that I wasn't even lighting!! Thank you all in advance for your helpful information

And on top of that, its July 4th today... its not like I had explosives or even a lot of "illegal" fireworks.. it was just a few sticks

and on top of that, its July 4th today... its not like I had explosives or even a lot of "illegal" fireworks.. it was just a few sticks

Well, trying to justify breaking the law is about the worst thing you can do.


said I had to appear in court for a misdemeanor of using prohibited fireworks

Just because they don't haul you into the police station does not mean charges are not going to be filed against you on misdemeanor charges.

Like NoHelp said... call your PO and tell him. Like now.

The ticket was INSTEAD of dragging you off to jail.

In your original post you say "me and some friends were lighting a few illegal fireworks." Now you say "for some stupid fireworks that i wasnt even lighting." Which is it?

If they are against the Law it doesn't matter if you had 1 or 100.

And no matter how often you see your PO, you MUST report this to him/her. Read over the conditions of your probation -