14 hour log book ticket

Looks to me like just too many excuses. Pay the fine, take your lumps and learn from it.

Knowledge talks, BS walks.

 

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It's 14 hours within a 24 hour period...NOT a day.

 

First thing the judge would say is "Ignorantia juris non excusat" which means, ignorance of the law does not excuse.

From Wiki:

Pay the fine.. Then educate yourself on the safe and legal operation of your rig.

 

OK, first things first, you can never plead ignorant due to the fact you are suppose to be a professional truck driver. Not being pissey just the way they see it.

Next thing is do a search on the 11 hour the 14 hour rules and read up on it, there are a ton of excellent post explaining it.

Best deal on the Judge, if you have to see him/her, is to just say I screwed up and leave it at that and hope they reduce the fine. Or just pay the ticket and leave it as an expensive learning experience.

 

Something you'll have to live with. As I stated above, you have to know the rules when operating under a commercial license. Holding a CDL places you under a completely different set of rules and we have to abide by them.

 

Like it or not. You already have a "criminal" mark on your record. If you have been involved with the law in any way over the past 20 years.

As a driver. You are responsible for knowing and following the law.

A criminal charge, is one that requires you to go to court. To answer the charges. Typically, the fines and penalties are higher.

Attending the Court hearing, is the only difference in a civil vs criminal charge (in the state of Florida) other than the penalties.

Based on that info, a Judge will decide whether you should be penalized at a higher rate IE you're a repeat offender.

You could be given a reduced fine, and placed on probation. Or ordered to take classes for instructions about filling out a log book.

Criminal charges are just BS...and a fact of life now in the US. I have 3 on my record, even though I have never been convicted of anything.

 

It's there, get over it.

 

Hey Darrin, I want to apologize for this answer, sort of. This came off the top of my head when reading your op. And it DOES sort of look like too many excuses. I've just seen so many excuses and alibis in my life that I get a little cynical sometimes.

However, I've looked at a the rest of your posts, and believe I may have jumped to the wrong conclusion. From your other posts, it appears that you are serious about being a trucker, and doing it right.

I don't believe there is much you can do here, other than trying to fight the ticket. Which will be an uphill battle. Of course, you can always hire a lawyer and pay real big bucks to have him fight it. And likely still have the criminal record that you are worried about.