Can a Greensboro traffic attorney explain raise the age? Yes!
A Greensboro traffic lawyer is in a unique position regarding the raise the age law. The law takes place starting December 1, 2019. The raise the age law makes criminal law apply to individuals 18 and older, meaning now, 16 and 17 years old’s are considered juveniles in the criminal court system.
Specifically exempted from the raise the age law, are the very traffic cases that Greensboro traffic ticket lawyers will represent a person on. All traffic cases are still, for 16 and 17 year old’s, fully in the jurisdiction of adult court.
So what happens when a young person is pulled over for speeding, and then also charged with marijuana? The cases will be split between adult court (the speeding charge) and juvenile court (the misdemeanor drug charge). So, the client may end up with two different court dates, two different lawyers, and two different outcomes.
This is fundamentally dangerous, as the general public will not understand this, and therefore court dates may be missed, and orders for arrest issued.
Previous convictions of a DWI by a 16 or 17 year old, may actually exclude the person from juvenile court for all misdemeanors. So hiring a Greensboro traffic ticket attorney for a DWI may be even more important in preventing future criminal adult records. Young people charged with DWIs should be aggressively defended for this reason.
If you are 16 or 17, or your child is, then make sure you contact a Greensboro traffic lawyer if any misdemeanor, felony or traffic charge is pending. These cases are newly complex, and having an attorney on your side who understands the law and the way the court system works. Call the attorneys at Garrett Walker Aycoth and Olson at 336-379-0539 today!