Judge amends driving-license charge to infraction; $387 penalty imposed

On Jan. 7 at Lake Forest Park Municipal Court, the prosecutor moved to amend a driving-license-suspended third-degree criminal charge to a second-degree no valid operator’s license infraction after the defendant informed the court she had reinstated her license on Dec. 22. Judge Grant granted the amendment and imposed a $387 penalty. The court offered the defendant the option to pay immediately or arrange a payment plan.

The record uses two similar name forms for the defendant in this matter: the court identified the matter as involving "Dominique Rosella Bircher" (docket read aloud by the judge) and elsewhere the docket or clerk reference appeared as "Dominique Berger." The court’s action and the license reinstatement were the central bases for converting the criminal charge to an infraction and resolving the case.

Judge Grant told the defendant she was pleased they had reinstated the license and confirmed the amendment to an infraction with the $387 fine. The court noted that, with the amendment and payment, the case would be resolved without further criminal penalties for the driving-license matter.