Articles Posted in Desk Appearance Tickets

Every year thousands of people get arrested in New York for crimes and offenses relating to their driving licenses or driving privileges. One of the most common of these offenses is Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree under VTL (Vehicle and Traffic Law) Section 511(1)(a). Sometimes the police will arrest…

We have previously discussed the law on Assault in the Third Degree (Penal Law Section 120.00), but in our experience, these cases often proceed differently and require a different strategy when they are initiated by Desk Appearance Tickets. A Desk Appearance Ticket (or “DAT”) for Assault in the Third Degree is usually only issued when…

In New York, the crime of Public Lewdness (Penal Law Section 245.00) is a class B misdemeanor. People arrested for this crime frequently receive Desk Appearance Tickets (especially if they have no criminal record), but are occasionally forced to spend a night in prison before their arraignment. Individuals arrested for Public Lewdness are also frequently…

Arrested for Possessing a Small Amount of Marijuana This post examines the New York City Desk Appearance Ticket for Marijuana Possession given in cases involving possession of a small amount of marijuana. A typical scenario will involve a group of people gathering somewhere outdoors, outside a bar, or simply walking down the street, passing around…

The short answer to the question above is: probably, but maybe not. If you have been issued a Desk Appearance Ticket in New York City, the chances are that your case is an unusual misdemeanor that required some investigation by the prosecutor, or you are first-time offender charged with shoplifting, theft of services (like jumping…

Departments stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are some of the most common places for petit larceny arrests to occur. Similar arrests are also commonplace in such retailers as Century 21 and Saks Fifth Avenue. Oftentimes a misunderstanding between a customer and overzealous security staff can lead to police involvement — even in cases where customers…

Of those who are arrested in Manhattan for shoplifting and directed to appear in Midtown Community Court in New York City, we often encounter clients who fail to take the situation they are in seriously. These clients are arrested and issued Desk Appearance Tickets (D.A.T.s) and then released without going through the unpleasant experience of…

As former prosecutors who now practice criminal defense, we have collectively dealt with hundreds upon hundreds of drug cases over the years. Throughout these years each of us has seen people from all backgrounds and professions walk through the courtroom doors to face drug charges. Whether the person is arrested and “put through the system,”…

Never mind drug-dealing and violence – it appears the NYPD is cracking down on people who remain in New York City’s parks after closing time, despite the fact that signs which indicate closing times are often small and go unseen. As a result, we have seen an increase in the number of law-abiding citizens (including…

Recently, many protesters in New York City have been arrested and given Desk Appearance Tickets charging them with a violation of Penal Law 195.05, also called Obstructing Governmental Administration. “Obstructing Governmental Administration,” (colloquially referred to as “O.G.A.”) is a very commonly charged crime in New York. While the penal law title is self-explanatory, the application…