I am on probation for possession, just a mesdiminor offence, and I am almost done in two more months and my probation will be terminated, I just got a ticket for expored tag in another county than my probation is in. should I tell me p.o. or just pay the fine and be on my way. Please let me know. Thanks for the help

Hello miggit:

Well, it depends on how much of a gambler you are. If they find out about it AFTER you're done, it's their bad. But, if they find out about it BEFORE you're done, and you didn't tell them, it's your bad.

I would, at the very least, get the court appearance for the ticket postponed till AFTERWORDS. That should be easy to do.

Do I think they're going to find out about a ticket that hasn't been adjudicated yet? No. But, do you want to bet YOUR butt on MY advice?

excon

What do you think will happen as far as if I do tell me P.O? Jail time? Would that be considered as a violation of my probation. I didn't get in trouble for drugs or alcohol. I was going to try and just pay the ticket off and not go to court about that tag.

If your PO finds out about it, then you are definitely violating probation. Any contact, whether you're in trouble or not has to be reported. I know because I called the police one time when I was being harassed... I didn't tell my PO because I didn't think I had to report that I contacted them for protection but lo and behold, when she found out I got violated.

So if I just tell my p.o the truth then it will be violation or if I don't tell her but she finds out? I just think it would be some b.s if I get jail time because I got a ticket for an expired tag.

Hello again, miggit:

It's a violation whether you tell her or not. But, if you don't tell her, and she finds out, and she violates you, it might be because you DIDN'T tell her. She has the option of filing for a violation or not.

If you've not caused any problems, and you've done the right thing, I doubt very seriously, whether she'd violate you over expired tags. But, PO's hate to be lied to.

Like I said, are you feeling lucky?

excon

I question whether this is a violation of your probation. Probation doesn't necessarily state that you can't have any run-ins with the law. Generally, you can't repeat the same or similar offense.

However, each probation may be different. Do you have a good relationship with your PO? Does your PO think you are doing good? If so, I would tend to be honest. Another factor is how long were the tags expired? If it was just a matter of days or weeks and you had filed for a renewal, it would probably be forgiven. However, if it was months or years, they might go harder on you.

I have done everything right, passed all my drug screens, completed my comm. Service, and working on doing all my drug/alcohol meetings. As far as how long it was expired. It was my fault, but I have a new car I bought in may and they didn't send me my paperwork to get the tag until October, so its been expired for about a month as far as when I really was able to get it so I guess I am just going to tell her the truth and see what happens. I just don't see how this would be a violation.

Generally a ticket for expired tags can be dismissed if you can show it wasn't entirely your fault, which I think you can. So I would just mention it in passing to your PO as if it was no big deal.

Thanks for all your help. I just really hope I don't go to jail because of an expired tag violating my probation

I highly doubt you'll go to jail for it. As in my case in NY, the probation dept wants to know any contact with the law whatsoever. Like I said before, I was violated because I called the police on someone that was harassing me. Go figure.