[lola555]

If I wrote checks on closed account (my dog was very sick and I could not afford to pay $600.00 to vet clinic operation services and $200 for her medication , but I had to save her life) What is the punishment for this in Washington state

Yes. I wrote a few checks to the Veterinary clinic from the closed account and the manager called the police. The police officer came to my place with those checks and made the report. He gave me a case #. What kind of charges should I expect? Can they put warrant to my arrest (before the court day) if amount is about one thousand dollars?
What is the worst the punishment can be in Washington state?

If my friend wrote checks from the closed account for total amount of 3,000.00 or more can he be arrested before the court date (in and be bailed)? Wll it be helpful if all the money is paid back before the court?Sorry for possible mistakes . English is my second language

[JudyKayTee]

Civil - Lesser of amount of check or interest at 12%, and cost of collection not to exceed $40. If court action necessary after 15 days, lesser of reasonable attorneys' fees and treble face of check or $100.
Criminal - Misdemeanor - full restitution; the defendant need not be imprisoned, but the court shall impose a minimum fine of $500. Of the fine imposed, at least $50 shall not be suspended or deferred. Upon conviction for a second offense within any twelve-month period, the court may suspend or defer only that portion of the fine which is in excess of $500. Felony - Up to one year in jail or up to $1,000 fine, or both.

Bad Check Laws by States-Civil & Criminal Penalties

[joypulv]

It depends on how the vet wants to charge you and how the judge feels about your willingness to make amends.
I'm sorry that you feel you have a right to defraud a vet to save your pet. A loving pet owner has a cushion of savings for emergencies, and lives on bread and water if it gets used to pay for another vital necessity. Of which there are 2, housing and heat.
Of course you have contacted the vet about working out a payment plan, right?

[JudyKayTee]

It depends on how the vet wants to charge you and how the judge feels about your willingness to make amends.
I'm sorry that you feel you have a right to defraud a vet to save your pet. A loving pet owner has a cushion of savings for emergencies, and lives on bread and water if it gets used to pay for another vital necessity. Of which there are 2, housing and heat.
Of course you have contacted the vet about working out a payment plan, right?

One slight correction, Joy - the Vet doesn't decide how she will be charged. The DA (or Assistant DA) makes that decision. The Vet reports it, the Police take the report, the "system" steps in.

The law is what it is. I don't see that the judge has a lot of leaway. (Of course, I've seen strange decisions handed down from the bench - so who knows!)

And wonderful points about being a pet owner. I once BEGGED a Vet to allow me to make payments and then got a second job typing transcripts in order to pay him back. Dog lived for another 10 years.

[Fr_Chuck]

If you do not make some agreement that they accept they can sue you in civil court. But they may also turn it into the police or the DA to press criminal charges.

And the court will even look at this harder than just a nomal "bad" check since it was not a matter of a mistake on how much money was in the account, but an issue that you knew there was no money and there was not even an account.

[JudyKayTee]

Did you read what I posted? I covered this.

No, there will be no warrant unless/until you don't show up for Court. You were given a ticket instead of being taken off to jail. The ticket is your promise that you will appear in Court.

[Fr_Chuck]

No you will have to appear in court, there should not be a warrant ( unless you don't appear)

You can end up gong to jail if you get a max. Most likely you will get a large fine, be put on probation and required pay back all the money. You may also have other requirements such as no checking accout or other issue

[JudyKayTee]

It's a felony in Washington when the amount is $750 and above: "Felony - Up to one year in jail or up to $1,000 fine, or both."

[RickJ]

Has a court date been set? If so, is it civil or criminal?

Your friend certainly has the option of offering the victims restitution prior to a court date. Your friend should do that to avoid a criminal record, additional costs and additional heartache.

Hopefully you will share this information with your friend, and also remind him that stealing from people by writing checks on a closed account is a crime that is punishable by time in prison.

[RickJ]

Lola, your 3 questions have been merged into this one thread. I was not aware of the fact that you posted your question 3 times before I gave my response.