The difference between a misdemeanor crime and a petty misdemeanor citation: The Importance of lawyers for school bus stop arm violations

In Minnesota, failing to stop at least 20 feet before a school bus with its stop arm extended can result in a school bus stop arm violation under Minnesota Statute 609.444. Unlike most traffic violations, which are classified as petty misdemeanors and not considered crimes, school bus violations are more serious and are charged as misdemeanors or even gross misdemeanors. Many people do not realize how serious it is. They think that they can just pay the fine and it will be treated like a regular traffic citations. They aren’t.

Case resolved down to from a crime to a petty misdemeanor citation by attorney

A few months ago I was contacted by someone who said that they had tried to pay the fine, but was told by the court that they needed to schedule a court date first. That was very fortunate for them because if the court clerk had allowed them to pay the fine, it would have resulted in a misdemeanor conviction. Instead, they hired me to represent them. And the result ended up being radically different. I was able to negotiate the case down to a petty misdemeanor citation. Instead of a misdemeanor conviction which would have resulted in a criminal record, the case was treated as just being a petty misdemeanor traffic infraction. The college student was able to go on her way without a criminal record impacting her future.

Conclusion

If you or a loved one are being charged with a school bus violation, it’s important to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney to discuss your options first. You don’t want to just pay a fine or plead guilty without advice, because it will result in a conviction on your criminal record. Contact Subzero Criminal Defense for a free consultation. 651-248-5142