Should I Hire a Lawyer for my
Pink Summons?
Some visitors to New York City find themselves in the awkward position of
being presented with pink tickets or summonses for seemingly minor
infractions. The return dates on the these summonses will typically be weeks
later, after the visitor is scheduled to leave New York City. Frequently, the visitor is
left wondering whether the matter really requires the inconvenience of a
personal appearance or whether it can be dealt with by mail, by counsel, or
what would happen if the matter were simply ignored.
Ignoring the ticket
is not a good idea.
If you ignore a parking ticket, the
consequences are purely monetary. In other words, fines may increase,
penalties may increase, judgments may be entered against you, but your
personal freedom is not likely to be interrupted because you failed to pay a
parking ticket.
On the other hand, if you ignore a pink summons, a Warrant will issue
for your arrest. Now does this mean that the SWAT team will be
blasting down your door in California the next day? Not very likely.
For those who do not live within the reach of the summons warrant squads of
the New York City Police Department, a warrant on a pink summons can haunt
you in a few different ways.
First, if you endure background checks for employment, you may discover that
your boss is told that you have a warrant for some offense in New York City
and that you must clear it up.
Second, if you ever visit New York City, and if you have any interaction
with the police (including traffic ticket) a warrant check will reveal your
warrant and could turn a simple speeding ticket into a night in jail.
Third, if you travel by airplane internationally, it is possible
that the warrant will appear as you attempt to reenter the country and it
could cause you considerable grief, although ultimately it would probably be
resolved.
Therefore, ignoring the ticket is not a good idea. So what are your options?
Click here to review your options when you are given a Pink Summons
in New York City
Hiring a Lawyer from Shalley & Murray
If you are from out of town and want someone to appear for
you, or even if you are from New York City and want someone to appear with
you, we can help.
We charge a flat appearance fee to justify the time for an
attorney from our office making the appearance. This fee covers all
conversations and correspondence with the client, and the appearance in
Court to resolve the matter, if that is your wish. For those non New York
City residents who want us to appear for them, we provide a detailed
affidavit for you to sign providing us the authority to appear on your
behalf, pay fines on your behalf, and obtain a certificate of disposition
(official proof the case was resolved).
Of course if you wish to appear and actually take the matter to trial, that
would require additional preparation and therefore a more comprehensive fee
structure would be required.
