{"product_id":"vragen-47144-op-31-oktober-2014-ben-ik-aangehouden-door-de-politie-wegens-het-vasthebben-van-een-verkeersbord-di","title":"Legal Questions About Traffic Fines?","description":"\u003ch4\u003e Questioner\u003c\/h4\u003e \nOn October 31, 2014 I was arrested by the police for holding a traffic sign. This was of course not smart and not right of me. I then received a fine of €235, sent home half a year (!) after the date. Since I could remember that others who had experienced this had to pay something like €100 less, I (and a friend of mine who also received that fine) sent an objection letter. Now this morning (a year after that objection letter and therefore about 11 months after the confirmation of receipt that the public prosecutor sent me) I received a letter that I have to appear before the subdistrict court. My questions now are: is there a possibility to not have to go? (without hiring an expensive lawyer or something), because for example a term has passed for sending a summons. And if I do have to go, can my fine be higher or that I even end up with a criminal record or something?\n\n Thank you very much in advance for your answer\n\n\u003ch4\u003e Lawyer\u003c\/h4\u003e \nYou have a RIGHT to be present at the hearing in a criminal case, which means that you are not OBLIGED to go. However, if you yourself initiated the case by filing an objection, it would of course be strange if you did not appear to explain why you are filing an objection (unless this was already clearly explained in your letter).\n\n The judge can also impose a higher fine, although this does not often happen in practice.\n\n Penal orders and sentences imposed by the (district) judge will appear on your criminal record. In the event of a new criminal case, however, previous violations will be taken much less seriously than crimes.\n\n","brand":"Rechtswinkel.nl","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55017158082909,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.rechtswinkel.nl\/en\/products\/vragen-47144-op-31-oktober-2014-ben-ik-aangehouden-door-de-politie-wegens-het-vasthebben-van-een-verkeersbord-di","provider":"Rechtswinkel.nl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}