Charged and need advise

[1timehatr]

I was chillng at a party at the beach and drank and smoked a little.. i decieded to bail n left with my friend. He happenend to be speeding 15mph over the speed limit and the cops rolled up behind us, we didnt know our rights.. He asked if we had marijuana in the car my friend said no.. the cop told us to get out of the car and they searched it, they found the case and i claimed it as being mine since they would have stuck my friend with it..he gave me a Misdemeanor for possession..(On the ticket the cop wrote "HS 11357 B Poss. less 1 oz of mj")
and didnt give my friend (the Driver) the speeding ticket.
The cops found a tiny case that was mine with a small peice, lighter, clear eyes, and a .6 blunt (the blunt wasnt mine but another friends but since it was in my case the cop wouldnt care)in the car.
I am a senior still in highschool and am going to college next year, i happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time in California. I also have no criminal record. My court date is very soon, I did ask the cop if it would be on my record and he said "No just pay the pay the $100 fine and listen to what the judge says and you will be fine".. I honestly cant say i beleive the cop..

Im planning on showing the judge my report card.. showing him that the principal has recognized me as a honor roll student.. and also showing him that i am attending a cal state University next year. I cant afford to have anything on my record like this..Can anyone give me advise of what i should do and what I should expect to come from the california Court..? If you have knowledge of cali. laws please help..

1timehatr Reviewed by 1timehatr on 05-13-2007. Charged and need advise I was chillng at a party at the beach and drank and smoked a little.. i decieded to bail n left with my friend. He happenend to be speeding 15mph over the speed limit and the cops rolled up behind us, we didnt know our rights.. He asked if we had marijuana in the car my friend said no.. the cop told us to get out of the car and they searched it, they found the case and i claimed it as being mine since they would have stuck my friend with it..he gave me a Misdemeanor for possession..(On the Rating: 5

[onequickmove]

i really wouldn't worry so much; you just got charged with minor possessian right? nothing else? seems to me you got of with no worries; no speeding ticket; no "lying to law enforcement" if there is such a ticket

don't worry, i really don't think you'll have any problems; i'm not sure about getting it expunged from your record but i don't think this is going to hurt you, you're ok

just SHOW UP in court if you have to, or PAY the ticket, and you'll be fine; you're stressing WAY to much about this; cal state won't bump you for a little mary jane otherwise there'd be no students...

don't worry my man

[happiestmferoutthere]

Seriously. Just pay your fine and you should be just fine. I cant even believe you got a ticket! But, I guess because you are minor. Its rather rare in California.My 16 year old daughter had to pay a $ 200.00 fine for a pot pipe, and her charge was " possession of tobacco or marijuana by a minor." Its the same as tobacco. No big deal. Really.:thumbsup:

[1timehatr]

Dang i also forgot to say im 18..

[happiestmferoutthere]

Then it should be even better. :thumbsup: The court just wants extra money, and as you said you were in the wrong place at the wrong time and got pulled over by the WRONG cop. I swear, I have been given my pot back to me and sent on my way by cops here in California at least a dozen times! I dont have a prescription. I'm REALLY surprised you got a ticket! I'm really thinking no big deal. They just want money. Greedy Bastards!:wtf:

[tek(bdm)]

well never trust cops...but u know how u get jobs and they ask u if u have had any narcotic related charges in the past 7 years that might affect u. and also financial aid. but honestly since its ur first they'll go easy and charge u with a small sentence if so. for ex. if u jack a car and its ur first time instead of g.t.a. they give u attempted joyridding. good luck man...

[thedanknshii]

dont worry man just pay the fine and hopefully all will go well

[Aristotle]

A general rule of thumb is that if whatever you got busted for didn't require you to immediately go to jail, it will be a pretty light punishment with no criminal record created. And, if so, it could easily be expunged a couple of years later.

[1timehatr]

so it would be best if i were to just plead guilty? would it be on my record?
Ill be willing to fight it out if it leaves something on my record.. =(

[Aristotle]

In my personal experience, you should definitely not fight it. If you rape and pillage a small village, you plead not guilty to try and dummy down the charges or enter a plea bargain. With pot possession there isn't much you can do, especially since you in no way excercised your rights. I had a friend who got caught and didn't remember granting permission to the park ranger to search him, so he thought about challenging it and saying it was an unlawful search. He decided not too and the judge let him off scot-free after an 8 minute speech.

Just admit it and be apologetic. Depending on your state law, a simple, low-quantity pot citation will not even create a criminal record, since it's a lower class minor misdemeanor in some cases.

I'd get a lawyer, though. NORML has strong roots in California.. you can contact them I suppose to see what they say. A lawyer can help you with the process of requesting no criminal record be made for you or expungement at a later date.