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Your
decision concerning which plea to enter is very important. You
should read the following explanation of all three types of pleas
and think carefully before making your decision. If you plead guilty
or nolo contendere; you should be prepared to pay the fine. You
should contact the court regarding how to make payment.
Plea of Guilty -- By a plea of guilty, you admit that the act is
prohibited by law and that you committed the act charged. Before
entering your plea of guilty, however, you should understand the
following:
(1) The State has the burden of proving that you violated the law
(the law does not require that you prove you did not violate the
law);
(2) You have the right to hear the State's evidence and to require
the State to prove you violated the law; and
(3) A plea of guilty may be used against you later in a civil suit
if there was a traffic accident (another party can say you were at
fault or responsible for the accident because you pled guilty to the
traffic charge).
Plea of Nolo Contendere (no contest) -- A plea of nolo contendere
means that you do not contest the State's charge against you. You
will almost certainly be found guilty, unless you are eligible and
successfully complete a driving safety course and/or court ordered
probation. Also, a plea of nolo contendere may not be used against
you in a subsequent civil suit for damages.
Plea of Not Guilty -- A plea of not guilty means that you deny
guilt, and that the State must prove the charge that it filed
against you. If you plead not guilty, you need to decide whether to
hire an attorney to represent you. If you represent yourself, the
following section on The Trial may help you to understand your
rights and trial procedure.
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