Westport Evading Responsibility Penalties

In Greenwich, evading responsibility is a crime. Even though it comes up as a motor vehicle crime, it is a crime, which could be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on how much damage is alleged to have been caused by the person. An evading responsibility charge would be considered a misdemeanor if the person caused property damage but no one was injured. The severity of Westport evading responsibility penalties vary accordingly, which is why it is important to work with a seasoned evading responsibility lawyer. A capable attorney could fight on an individual’s behalf, in order to ensure a positive outcome for those who have been accused of evading responsibility.

Minimum Penalties for Evading Responsibility

If the evading responsibility charge is determined to be a misdemeanor, then the maximum penalty would be one year and the minimum penalty would be a guilty plea and a permanent criminal record. It is possible that the only penalty would be that someone pleads guilty and would have a permanent criminal record and or if they are tried and found guilty. An experienced criminal defense attorney would try to work out a resolution that did not involve a conviction, but if there was a conviction, the conviction itself would be the minimum penalty.

Maximum Penalties

The maximum Westport evading responsibility penalties for a misdemeanor charge would be up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, and probation of up to two years. That would be the absolute maximum for an evading responsibility conviction. Whether someone is convicted of an evading responsibility or pleads guilty, they are going to face a 90-day license suspension from the DMV which is actually separate from the court punishment. An attorney could attempt to mitigate the penalties that an individual may face.

Felony Evading Responsibility Charges

Evading responsibility could be considered a felony if an individual sustained a physical injury or died as a result. The minimum penalty for an injury evading responsibility charge would be a permanent criminal felony record. It is possible that their lawyer can work a deal that if there is going to be a guilty plea, that the only punishment would be a guilty plea and a permanent criminal felony record. The maximum penalty for an evading responsibility felony charge would be up to five years in prison with a maximum fine of up to $1,000, and a period of probation.

Time Constraints When Facing Evading Responsibility Charges

When facing an evading responsibility charge in Greenwich, the police department has to arrest the person within a specific period of time. If it is a misdemeanor evading responsibility charge (property damage only) the Greenwich Police Department will have to arrest the person within one year of the incident date. If it is a felony evading responsibility charge (there are injuries to another person or a death) then the Greenwich Police Department has five years to make that arrest. Once the time limit has passed (the Statute of Limitations), they are not allowed to bring the case against the person. If an individual wants to know more about time restraints and Westport evading responsibility penalties in evading responsibility cases, they should speak with a knowledgeable defense attorney that could answer their questions.