First we believe it is important to sit down with our client to explain the charges against them. We break down the charges to ensure that clients understand exactly what they are being charged with, the elements that need to be proved to be convicted of each charge, and the minimum and maximum sentence of each charge. Additionally, we provide our clients with a “road map” of what to expect in the coming weeks or months whatever the case may be. Together you and your New York criminal defense attorney will discuss and put together a plan for your case.
Most importantly we take the time to listen to our clients. Although legal aid or the public defender are well intentioned and good attorneys they often cannot dedicate the time that a private attorney can dedicate to you and your case. By listening closely to our clients we are able to fight for them and present their case to the district attorney, judge, and if need be, the jury.
Our criminal defense attorneys service Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Stanton Island, and Yonkers.
]]>Generally, a pink summons for marijuana possession means that you must appear in court to hear the charges against you and enter a plea to those charges.
In New York, marijuana possession can be charged as either 1. felony; 2. misdemeanor; 3. violation. Jail can be potentially imposed for all three levels of marijuana possession.
No two cases are exactly alike. The likely outcome and consequences will depend on the facts and circumstances of your particular case. An experienced marijuana possession attorney can educate you to your rights and thoroughly explain the possible outcomes given your particular situation.
Marijuana possession is a drug charge which means it can potentially have serious consequences pertaining to your employment or even your immigration status. The criminal court system can be confusing and an attorney can assist you in navigating through the system.
1. An attorney can explain the charges you are facing and possible sentences. In addition, an experienced marijuana lawyer can explain what needs to be proved by the prosecutor in order to be convicted.
2. Generally, the District Attorney will not answer calls or discuss the case with a defendant. They will only discuss the case with an attorney. A New York marijuana possession attorney can assist you in negotiating with the prosecutor to secure the best possible negotiated plea.
3. An experienced attorney is familiar with the criminal law and procedure allowing them to help you build a case in the event that you choose to take your case to trial.
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In most cases a New York City Summons, normally a pink ticket, can be issued for offenses ranging from disorderly conduct and drinking alcohol from an open container in public, public urination to more serious offenses such as unlawful possession of marijuana. This ticket requires you to appear in criminal court on a specified date to answer for a criminal offense.
Am I being charged with a misdemeanor or a violation? What is the difference?
In my experience, you will initially be charged with a misdemeanor. However, in most cases your attorney should be able to negotiate this initial charge down to a violation and a fine or in the best case scenario have it dropped completely. Misdemeanors can carry jail time and will go on your criminal record. In contrast, violations are not crimes so they will not add to nor create a criminal record. In the end, with the help of a New York City Summons Attorney you are likely to end up with a violation or for the offense to be dropped.
How can this charge affect my future?
If you receive a New York City summons you might think that it is nothing more than a minor ticket and mistakenly ignore it, but as stated above you may initially be charged with a misdemeanor, a crime that could add to or result in a criminal record. As you may know a criminal record can impede your chances of obtaining student loans, affect your immigration status, it may negatively impact your ability to get or keep a job. Notably, if you intend to or do possess a professional license of any kind such as a Doctor, Dentist, CPA, or even if you work in a school, pleading guilty to a summons could put your employment or prospective employment in jeopardy.
If you receive a New York City summons it is important to contact a New York City Summons Attorney who can help you resolve this problem quickly and in the best manner possible so as to protect your livelihood and future.
What if I can’t be in court that day?
The ONLY way to avoid going to court yourself it to hire a New York City Summons Attorney to appear for you. We understand there are many reasons why you may not be able to appear in court, you might have to be at work, you might live outside of New York City or you might simply wish to avoid the anxiety and long wait times that often accompany a trip to court. If you hire a New York City Summons Attorney, he or she can appear on your behalf to resolve the matter.
Do I have to hire a New York City Summons Attorney?
If you are a business and you receive a summons you MUST hire an attorney whether you are going to appear in court that day or not.
However, if you are personally given a pink ticket it is in your best interest to hire a New York City Summons attorney. An experienced New York City Summons Attorney can help you avoid potential pitfalls. Although it may appear to be a trivial problem, you want to get your New York City summons taken care of to avoid potential serious and unwanted legal consequences for you and your future.
What happens if I ignore a New York City summons?
It is imperative that you do not ignore a summons. If you receive a New York City summons and ignore it an arrest warrant will be issued for you. You can be arrested at any time or anywhere which can be a hassle, embarrassing and potentially costly. This warrant will show up if a potential employer runs a background check on you and can be a major inconvenience if you try to travel by airplane. Therefore, it is extremely important to appear in court or alternatively for you to hire a New York City Summons Attorney to appear on your behalf.
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Yes, reckless driving is a criminal charge in New York and is a very serious offense. Under the Vehicle and Traffic Law §1212, persons convicted of reckless driving are guilty of a misdemeanor.
You will have to appear in court on a specified date to defend against the reckless driving charge. An attorney can appear with you and work to lessen the charge.
A reckless driving offense can severely impact your future in numerous ways. The offense alone can invoke penalties including possible jail time, fees, 5 points to your New York license, a permanent criminal record, possible license suspension, and a substantial increase in your insurance rates. In addition, a permanent criminal record will have a long term negative affect on your future employment opportunities.
Typically, a reckless driving charge comes in conjunction with another charge, such as speeding or running a red light. These additional charges quickly raise your points, other fees, and the possibility of license suspension.
An attorney can greatly aid in getting your life back to normal after a reckless driving ticket. In most cases, an attorney can negotiate the charges down, lessen the fees, decrease your points, and keep your insurance rates from increasing substantially. If there are any defects in the original ticket, a knowledgeable attorney can even get the charge dismissed. In the case of reckless driving, an attorney can save you time and money.
]]>A Brooklyn DUI/DWI attorney can help guide you through the legal process. It is important to hire a Brooklyn DUI/DWI attorney who has effective communication skills to tell your side of the story and inform you as to your rights in a manner you can understand. Having a Brooklyn DUI/DWI lawyer licensed in New York state is vital to ensure that your rights are protected.
A well thought out legal strategy may result in your case being dismissed or charges reduced. You should take action and speak with a New York DUI/DWI attorney as soon as possible to guarantee there is adequate time to plan your most effective strategy in legal proceedings.
]]>The New York City cigarette tax is $1.50 and the New York State cigarette tax is $2.75 for a combined tax of $4.25.
If you receive a summons you are likely being charged with either a misdemeanor or felony under New York Tax – Part 3 – § 1814 Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax for cigarette tax evasion or fraud. A summons is the pink ticket you receive from either the New York City Department of Finance and/or the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
Often times, sellers will receive a summons because the cigarette carton is not stamped by the Department of Finance and Taxation, or the stamp has been counterfeited.
A cigarette tax lawyer understands the process when you are being charged with evading the cigarette tax or fraud. The lawyer will be able to clearly explain to you your options so that you are not confused and will not make a mistake in handling your case. If you have questions about your rights, a lawyer can provide the answers rather than you spending time and money trying to figure out the answer and then not knowing if your sources are reliable.
In addition, an attorney will use his knowledge and experience to handle your case in front of the judge and make the best argument possible to defend you.
In New York corporations must hire an attorney when appearing in summons/criminal court. Our New York cigarette tax attorneys have years of experience in dealing with the state and city tax authorities.
By having an attorney represent you in court you can keep your business running smoothly. With an attorney appearing in court on your behalf, you and your employees can devote their time and energy to the business instead of sitting in court.
]]>Our attorneys can appear for you in court if you were visiting NYC from out of town when you received the violation. If you are applying for immigration or citizenship status or in the process of being approved for a green card you should contact our law offices to best avoid potential problems with your application. If background checks are commonly conducted in your line of work we strongly suggest you call our law offices. Having an attorney appear for you in court will allow you to not miss a day of work.
Some violations are accompanied by charges of trespass. Other violators are charged with breaking the penal code. If tickets go unpaid you may face additional penalties and even a warrant could be issued for your arrest. Avoid the potential ramifications of the summons by calling our law offices and having one of our skilled lawyers advise you.
Your dispute will be handled by a qualified criminal defense lawyer whose knowledge of the system and the charges will allow him to take advantage of any legal means to resolve the dispute in your favor.
Fare Evasion
Our office handles NYC fare evasion cases on trains as well as buses.
]]>Most often, if you are issued a summons for public urination in New York you are being charged with a misdemeanor. Generally, the charge can be dismissed in exchange for a plea to a violation and the payment of a fine.
In New York, there are three classification of crimes 1. felony, 2. misdemeanor, 3. violation. A misdemeanor is an offense punishable by up to 1 year in imprisonment. A violation is an offense punishable by not more than 15 days imprisonment.
Generally, a conviction for a misdemeanor will become part of your criminal record. Violations do not become a part of your criminal record. However, see below for other possible negative consequences that should be considered.
Even where no criminal record results, a public urination may result in adverse consequences to your business or career. In particular, those who hold professional licenses or aspire to hold professional licenses should be fully informed as to the possible ramifications of pubic urination.
You will generally be issued a pink public urination ticket which provides you with a court date. If you fail to appear in court a warrant will be issued for your arrest unless an attorney appears on your behalf. This is the only way to resolve the situation. If you have already missed your court date, it is of the utmost importance that you contact an attorney immediately.
While public urination may seem like a minor charge, it has potentially serious consequences. The criminal court system can be complex with many pitfalls for those not familiar with the system. A public urination attorney understands the legal process and can explain to you all of your options and all the issues you should consider.
A public urination lawyer can assist you in appearing in court, in negotiating with the prosecutor, and in entering a negotiated plea.
]]>The purpose of filing a lawsuit against the NYPD for misconduct is to recover money damages in order to compensate you for your injury. Filing a suit against the City and NYPD is different than reporting a complaint to the NYC civilian complaint review board (which serves to discipline the officers for misconduct). Filing a suit for excessive force and related misconduct can be confusing, therefore a police brutality attorney who specializes in protecting your civil rights can help you file your suit and guide you through the process.
Wrongful arrest or false arrest is where someone is arrested or held in custody without probable cause. When dealing with your criminal case, keep in mind that if you accept a plea or an ACD you lose the right to bring a false arrest claim. A wrongful arrest claim can only be made if your criminal case results in an outright dismissal.
If you have been unjustly injured or abused by the NYPD you should seriously consider a lawsuit. The NYPD is only permitted to use reasonable force. Excessive force is using more force than reasonable given the circumstances. Your right to be free from excessive force exists no matter the result of your criminal case. Thus, unlike a claim for false arrest you may make a claim for excessive force even where you accept a plea, ACD, or are found guilty.
In general, a notice of claim must be filed with the city within 90 days otherwise it is barred by the statute of limitations. There are however exceptions which allow the time for filing to be extended.
Filing a suit against the City of New York and the NYPD is significantly different than most lawsuits. First your attorney will file a notice of claim within the time limit as mentioned above. Next your police brutality attorney will be notified of a hearing date. Your attorney will accompany you to this hearing. Generally, after the hearing a settlement offer will be extended. Overall the entire process takes a couple of months.
You attorney can provide you advice and guidance on testifying at your hearing. In particular, a police brutality attorney can help you determine whether it is beneficial to testify if your criminal case is still open.
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