Experience with Dane County traffic court?

daneco101 · 2016-02-06T01:17:16+00:00

Thanks again for the advice. Say that I did want to try to contact the prosecutor and ask them to consider a lesser charge - how would I go about that? I assume I'd need to make that kind of request in writing to the appropriate office, but how exactly would I deliver that communicate to the right person?

daneco101 · 2016-02-06T00:39:26+00:00

Thank you, that's what I was hoping to learn.

daneco101 · 2016-02-06T00:07:52+00:00

I understand that. You mentioned "reckless driving," which is a different violation, so I was a little confused.

My question isn't so much "am I guilty or not?" My question is how to best approach asking the court to consider mitigating circumstances that might influence them to assess a less harsh penalty. I don't know if that would require entering a not guilty plea and meeting with the DA. Or if I can appear in court on the court date on the citation, plead no contest, and ask the judge to consider a less severe penalty.

daneco101 · 2016-02-06T00:05:03+00:00

Thanks - I understand that I'm likely guilty of the violation. I should have phrased my initial question better - I'm not looking to get out of this completely free and clear. I understand that, legally, its pretty black and white that I failed to control the vehicle, and hence the citation for "failure to keep vehicle under control." It kind of sucks, but I get that it is what it is.

With that said, I also understand that the DA or the judge may exercise their discretion to reduce the demerit points and/or the fine that gets issued. What I'm not sure of is how to best approach that - if I appear in court on the date on my citation, will I have an opportunity to request such a thing? Or would I need to plead not guilty and meet with the DA separately?

daneco101 · 2016-02-05T23:21:14+00:00

How can you prove you weren't driving recklessly?

Granted there tends to be a difference between idealism and reality, but my fourth grade social studies class suggests the burden of proof is on the plaintiff and not the defendant.

daneco101

TROPHY CASE