If my 17 year old needs to appear in court for a negligent operation of a motor vehicle violation, what does this mean and what should I do to prepare?
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If my 17 year old needs to appear in court for a negligent operation of a motor vehicle violation, what does this mean and what should I do to prepare?
Asked on May 10, 2012 under Accident Law, Massachusetts
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You should prepare by getting ana ttorney and telling your parents to get you an attorney. Was this as a result of a traffic infraction? If convicted then you could face serious penalties AND a record (which at 17 may or may not matter; you are technically a minor and those records are generally sealed at majority). There are various defense to the charge and factors what the Commonweath has to prove. The elements of the charge are you were operating the vehicle, on a public way and did so negligently you were 1) Operating the Vehicle, 2) On a public way, and 3) Did so negligently, or so as to endanger. Get help. Now.
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