appeals

Traffic court can be confusing and overwhelming. Discussions with officers in the hallway outside court can persuade self-represented accused person who believe they have a defence to plead guilty. They are told that their defence may be taken into account on sentencing. For most people, they think this will help with the points. But the power of the court on a guilty plea in traffic court can be limited.

The recent British Columbia Supreme Court case of R. v. Hessabi, 2024 BCSC 1572, sheds light on some of these complexities in traffic court proceedings, particularly when a defendant attempts to argue that their actions were justified by necessity.

This case, which involved an appeal of a guilty plea to a charge of changing lanes unsafely, demonstrates the importance of understanding legal defences and the court process.

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Navigating Traffic Court: Guilty Pleas, Defences, and AppealsRead More »