Trespassing ticket

[trncelica]

So about a month ago about 30 people got the 2nd degree Trespasses for hanging out in an Eckerd parking lot here in NC. Me and my buddies went to court on Monday and the Judge appointed each one of us to do 50 hours of community services and a hundred dollars fine, paid to the Community Service Program!!!! We are not happy at all. Sufficient to say we will not do anything like hanging out at parking lots anymore.

[Raw Iron 1]

Hello.

You going to appeal the decision/sentence? Usually you have a certain period of time to file for an appeal. Also, most states require that you be forwarned before being ticketed. A warning could include a sign or a verbal warning. I would check it out. Here in Virginia they can NOT pop you for tresspassing unless you have been forwarned by a sign, judge, cop, landowner, etc. When I was a deputy sheriff here we had to make sure that certain requirments were met before popping someone for tresspassing. A person had to be tresspassing in our presense, they had to be warned that they were tresspassing, and they had to be refusing to leave before we could pop them for the violation.

I would try to set up a "cruise night" type of thing with a local land owner at a shopping mall or restaraunt. You just set up a time, place, some ground rules, and promise to go to their businesses and spend a few bucks. That's what we do here where I live. We just go to a local Burger King or something and set a "cruise night" with management. And we make sure to by some food there to make it worth their while.

Jason

[trncelica]

Well, there were four signs, about 3 by 5 hanging about 7 feet from the ground in the parking lot. We did not notice the signs, appearently they were put up the night before we got the tickets. The cops just popped in and blocked us and gave us the tickets without warning. Oh well. I bet the fast food businesses and gas stations down there will be losing some customers because of this. I do think your ideas were good though, but me and my buddies will stay away from the cruising scene for a while.

[CL MaNTis 21]

thats horse-sh!t

"Officer... we were just waiting for the Eckerd's to open! HUGE SALE!!" :rolleyes:

[Raw Iron 1]

hehe

When the coppers rolled up you should have said...

"hey officers, we ain't got no donuts"

or...

"hey, the pizza delivery guys are here"

or...

"hey officers, yeah, we'll take three Happy Meals to go with an order of large chocolate shakes"

Shoot, if they had signs up then you are screwed. No get'n out of that.

Jason

[RACERGTS2000]

trncelica
it was more like 1 by 2 and 15 feet off the ground.