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[texasmr2]

I don't think they put out arrest warrants for traffic tickets.

If OZ is anything like the US or perhaps other countries a 'fairlure to appear' gives one an immediate arrest warrant unless the violator has his attorney appear for them on their behalf. Lewis should be fine and not have to appear and just pay a fine and possibly have certain driving restrictions imposed. The judge will have the final say so though so its a waiting game for now.

[madbrad]

I don't think they go that far whre I live. I would get a series of letters and maybe they'll set a trial date and in that trial I'll be convicted since I didn't show up, and the only thing I'd be responsible for is a fine, and there's be another series of letters, ultimately leading to a licence suspension at the most, also communicated with a letter. The ministry will refuse to sell me the annual registration sticker too. Once the licence is suspended, and assuming I'm still ignoring everything, I'd have to be careful not to get caught driving or I'll get another ticket.


Another thing Lewis could do, and this is merely acedemic because I doubt he cares enough, is use the legal system to bog the prosecutor down with disclosure requests. They usually do not provide all the disclosure the first time and you ask again for the ones you asked for. If they don't do it in time, and they never do, your case will be dismissed. In the commonwealth it's impossible for your trial to be fair if you're prevented from defending yourself. The case cannot proceed. He has the money to set the lawyer to this task. There's a lot of legwork involved and different departments to get notarization from, etc. It almost always works anywhere there's British Common law, becaue the prosecutor is not a lawyer, and also does not have the time and resources to pay so much attention to one traffic case(though if it's Lewis Hamilton he might), and wants easy slam dunk convictions.

[Dj_polly12]

Most police wouldn't know car control if it slapped them in the face.

He's an F1 driver if he was out of control there would be a firey mess, there wasn't thefore the charge is stupid.

Although I see your point, it's kind of irrelevant. If so, all racing car drivers would be able to act how they want on our roads. Highly dangerous. Hamilton has done the wrong thing. The stupid part of this story is him having to appear in court. It's not just stupid because it happened to Lewis, it's stupid because no matter who you are the same consequence applies. In this case the logistics is absoloutely uncalled for by police..

[bmwpower]

I don't see what the big deal is, this is just making headline because it happened to be LH. The law is the law, here in the States, I got TWO "exposition of speed" tickets. One was I was a "little" heavy foot leaving a stoplight and another was when I was leaving a parking lot and getting the car sideways. Then again I am drivng a 550RWHP mustang, it does get loose really easy.

[racechick]

But its ridiculous to expect someone (famous racing driver or not) to fly right round the world to attend court over this.

[bud]

He doesn't have to attend if he has a lawyer attend on his behalf.

[Frosty]

He doesn't have to attend if he has a lawyer attend on his behalf.

bloody hope so

[racechick]

He doesn't have to attend if he has a lawyer attend on his behalf.

That's not quite so bad then, but still a bit tough if you're not a rich racing driver.

[bmwpower]

But its ridiculous to expect someone (famous racing driver or not) to fly right round the world to attend court over this.

If he has time every Monday and Tuesday nights sitting in the front watching Nicole dance on Dancing with the Stars, then he has time. BTW, saw him again in the front row last night.

[bud]

But its ridiculous to expect someone (famous racing driver or not) to fly right round the world to attend court over this.

If he has time every Monday and Tuesday nights sitting in the front watching Nicole dance on Dancing with the Stars, then he has time. BTW, saw him again in the front row last night.

do you realise the clash of the court date with the Belgian GP?

[bmwpower]

But its ridiculous to expect someone (famous racing driver or not) to fly right round the world to attend court over this.

If he has time every Monday and Tuesday nights sitting in the front watching Nicole dance on Dancing with the Stars, then he has time. BTW, saw him again in the front row last night.

do you realise the clash of the court date with the Belgian GP?

So then should Australian pass a special legistration and change the law for one special person? BTW, people are still making a big deal because he doesn't have to be there, is lawyer will represent him and most likely they will pay a fine, end of story.

[racechick]

But its ridiculous to expect someone (famous racing driver or not) to fly right round the world to attend court over this.

If he has time every Monday and Tuesday nights sitting in the front watching Nicole dance on Dancing with the Stars, then he has time. BTW, saw him again in the front row last night.

I think you're missing the point here.

[bud]

But its ridiculous to expect someone (famous racing driver or not) to fly right round the world to attend court over this.

If he has time every Monday and Tuesday nights sitting in the front watching Nicole dance on Dancing with the Stars, then he has time. BTW, saw him again in the front row last night.

do you realise the clash of the court date with the Belgian GP?

So then should Australian pass a special legistration and change the law for one special person? BTW, people are still making a big deal because he doesn't have to be there, is lawyer will represent him and most likely they will pay a fine, end of story.

I said that in relation to your comment about him having spare time Mondays and Tuesdays! Clearly having a GP in Europe does not mean he has spare time to attend a court case 24 hours flying time away! And you've already answered yourself he legally is allowed to have a legal representative take the hearing on his behalf. Which would take a mere 5 minutes! If Lewis were there he would just have to stand up in the gallery (not in the dock) listen to the charge and then accept the fine!

[The Ram]

I hope they are happy when they get their money or whatever it is they want. Hamilton won't even go there to deal with that anyway; somebody will do it for him.