It was for a minor offence of drinking alcohol in a public place without disguising it.
I was wondering what happens now?
how does it work with a brit arrested in the usa?
Appear before the judge, pleased guilty, pay a fine and get released from county jail with a promise to go straight to the airport?
or do they hold you in the county jail or process you to the county prison until you can guarantee them when you flight leaves?
be interested if anyone understands the USA system and what is likely to happen to them
Jun 3, 2017 -- 2:21AM, lovegod wrote:
If you plead guilty would that stop you getting in the US again?
I think so.
Also from what I have read, its a catch 22.
If you ask the bail court judge to close your case, you have to plead guilty. You pay any fine and court costs but by pleading guilty you immediately breach the conditions of your visa.
You then get kept in the county jail on hold until US immigration get to work and you with the UK consulate find a removal flight and agree cost of getting you securely to the airport.
You could end up in the county jail for upto 4 weeks, longer if you cant afford to pay the flight and costs.
If you do not wish to settle the case, you are likely to get bailed from anything from released on recognizance (free) to thousands of dollars.
But the cost doesnt seem to be the big issue, the bail court wont let you bail out until you give them an address you will be staying at until your case is heard before a judge.
|This could be long after your holiday has finished and you cant leave the USA.
Be grateful if anyone can confirm what I have written or had any additional info.
Likewise, even if you make it as far as a charge and the bail judge finds 'probable course' to continue your case (they find probable course in 99.9% of cases from what i have read, its rare a public defendant or attorney gets it turned over despite some glaring mistakes from the police on some of the most pettiest of charges), this is recorded on your record and you will need to mention it if you apply for a tourist visa which may result in having to go for a interview (at your cost) at the US embassy before ESTA is provided.
With so many petty laws, its a risky place to visit.
Never seen any of this mentioned on the Disney brochures
doesnt want to discuss what happened but he is back in the Uk, albeit over a week earlier than planned!
