Crack Down on Drunk Driving

This is one of the times of the year when the Drunk Driving crack down start from August 17th to after Labor Day. Expect to see road blocks nationwide. Officers catch more than just drunk drivers with these road stops. So, now is the time to get your tags up today. Renew your insurance policies if you have let them laps. Take the steps to get your license back if you have lost it. Be ready when the police stop you to answer questions and provide proper documentation. Take care of old warrents.

And if you don't follow my advice before you are stopped and the officer writes you a ticket, then don't complain. I know that my attorney fees are higher when you have a ton of tickets, and I am sure that most attorneys do the same thing. I can tell if my client has made the officer mad just by the number of the tickets. Moreover, in Kansas City, Kansas Court the State Troopers must agree to the amendment of the ticket to non-moving ... another good reason to be nice to the officers.

If you get stopped in the Kansas City Area call us! Be safe out there! While I love the extra business this season will bring us, I would rather that everyone be safe.

Our number is (816) 453-2240 and Donna is my traffic assistant.

My New Web Pages

Hello all! I have been working on my web pages for the office. It is up and running -- but I don't think that it will every be finished. Check out the talking people at www.bratcherlaw.biz. I really like it. I hope that you all do too. I have added some links to it and my bankruptcy blog. I will be writing about other areas of law that we practice as well in the next few months. So, check back to get the links.
I am also looking for feed back from my clients if you don't mind letting me know what you think about these blogs. I hope that they have helpful information for my clients.

Bye for now,

Susan

Traffic Warrants

I have been having a lot of calls this week from people with warrants on traffic court cases in more than one court. Each court has their own way of dealing with recalling warrants. In some city courts, we can just call up the court clerk and ask that the warrant be set aside. In other cases, we have to file a Motion with the Court and maybe appear before the Judge. Some courts require us to appear and wait to get the warrant set aside. I understand that it is confusing to lay people.

Here are the keys: The rules continue to change, and they are not the same for every court house.

Additionally, Judges have a lot of freedom to run their court rooms the way that they want to run them. Practicing law is rarely boring because just when you think that everything is under control then all hell brakes out. Maybe it is changed because a law changed, or a change in personnel -- with the key people being the Judge, court clerk and the prosecuting attorney. If any of those people are different then the administration of the court changes.

So, I am on my way to meet with one of my very dear clients at traffic court in Kansas City.

Have a great day.

Susan

Welcome to Traffic and Muni Court Blog

I just started blogging last week with my bankruptcy blog at www.kcattorneyingladstone.com. However, it was clear that I need a different blog for different areas of law. So, this blog is about traffic cases including DUI and DWI and other muni (city) court cases.

I learned to handle traffic cases as an attorney at Legal Aid of the Western District of Missouri. I started working there even before I passed the bar. Of course at first I was working for free because there were not many jobs in 1993, when I passed the Missouri Bar. Working at Legal Aid was wonderful training. After all there is nothing like meeting your client in court for the first time and trying the case. It honed my ability to think on my feet. I had Monday morning domestic violence court. I was appointed to represent about 8 to 12 people before noon.

Kansas City Missouri Muni Court had court rooms A-D on the lower floor and E through H on the upper floor. Because Legal Aid had (and still does) the City's contract to represent indigent clients on jail able offences, two attorney worked the afternoon dockets covering all of the courtrooms. One of the Judges, who is since retired, sent an officer down to another courtroom to arrest me and bring up to their courtroom so that they could finish their docket. The Judge on the bench in the courtroom that I was in was just finishing with my cases. So, I did not get hauled up to the other courtroom. When I got to the second courtroom the Judge was laughing and asked me if I was afraid. I explained that I was not. He never sent an officer for me again. It was just a test. I really enjoyed my job at Legal Aid. The cases were interesting. But I wanted to do more things and I resigned that job after about 1 year.

We want your business, and we will fight hard for you!

Donna in my office is my traffic assistant. Call her today. (816) 453-2240 Kansas and Missouri (Kansas City Area only)