One of the late, great Marlon Brando’s most famous runs wasn’t in On the Waterfront or A Streetcar Named Desire. Instead, it came in August 1955, as he eluded paparazzi by slipping out the window of a California traffic court.

The enigmatic actor holed up in a Los Angeles courthouse for nearly an hour, after an appearance to deal with two old traffic tickets that had turned into warrants. The judge passed a suspended sentence of $10 or two days in jail for making an illegal U-turn at the corner of La Brea Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, and ordered Mr. Brando to pay a $40 fine for failing to appear. He apparently had no cash at the time, but an “unidentified woman friend,” of which there were probably many, generously covered him.

Mr. Brando then went into an adjacent and vacant courtroom to hide out from photographers. When another judge inquired as to what was going on, and a bailiff told him that Marlon Brando was in the courthouse, the judge reportedly asked “Who’s he?”

What Can an Attorney Do in Traffic Court?

The rules may have been different at the dawn of “black and white times,” as my kids used to call them, but in most of today’s Mono County courthouses, an attorney can appear on behalf of the defendant. That means no wasted days sitting and waiting for your name to be called, and no running down alleys to avoid celebrity photographers. That latter instance actually happens to me a lot.

Moreover, an experienced attorney can effectively negotiate with prosecutors to reduce the fine and/or the points. In other words, a traffic ticket attorney can save you money regardless of how strong your legal and factual defenses are.

Finally, if the matter goes to trial, an attorney is a great advocate. Even better, attorneys who regularly practice in Tulare County know the arguments that resonate with local judges and, just as importantly, they know which arguments to avoid.

Getting Legal Help

The aggressive lawyers at Bigger & Harman, APC, are committed to giving individuals a voice when dealing with speeding and traffic tickets. Call today at 661-859-1177 or email attorney@markbigger.com to receive the personal professional attention you deserve. En español, llame al 661-376-0214.