Thread: Real Scared...Court Date 2/9...will I be jailed?

Right now I'm 24. When I was 20 and going to college in central Illinois, I committed a city ordinance violation and was ticketed for unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor. I was issued a fine and never paid it. About 6 months ago, a letter was sent to me telling me that I had a court date in late November. I did not go to this court date. A week ago, I notified the police after I was assaulted at a local YMCA. Believing I had paid the fine, and thinking that the letter I received was a mistake, I didn't think twice about calling the police. After telling the police officer my story, he informed me I had a warrant out for my arrest. After waiting around for half an hour or so, the county where I originally was issued the city ordinance violation ticket contacted the police from the county I currently living in, and told them to jail me until I could be extradited and meet with a judge. Having no money on me to bail myself out, I had to spend 4 hours in jail before my fiance came to bail me out (I've never been arrested before).

Now I am starting to worry. If this county is willing to extradite me from a county 4 hours away for a consumption ticket I received 4 years ago and 3 months before my 21st birthday, what else are they willing to do? I've been a model citizen outside of 1 speeding ticket and my consumption ticket. If I had known how serious this was, paying off my original fine would have been priority number one. I also am broke, as well as my fiance. I have to drive 3 hours, have already spent 4 hours in jail, was humiliated being handcuffed at my YMCA, embarrassed for having to ask to sleep on an old friend's couch from college, and extremely anxious, embarrassed, scared, sad, and somewhat hopeless.

I have a court date this coming Tuesday. Can anyone give me advice? I'm afraid that if I can't pay my original fine they are going to put me in jail and keep me there. I have a job and am a full time student. This could put me back months.

How much is the fine for? It is in your best interest to have the money and any and all paper work on you to show to the judge. If you have the money, your likely hood of being taken into custody goes down incredibly. Is there free legal aide in your area? Talk to them about how you need to prepare for this.