After being arrested and charged with any drinking and driving charge like impaired driving or drive over 80 mgs it is likely that you will have been released from the police station and given a “Promise to Appear Notice”.
The promise to appear document is your release paper and it has some important information on it including the first court date.
The police released you from custody because you agreed to do two things.
- you agreed that you would appear and have your fingerprints and photograph taken
- you agreed to appear in court for your trial
If you do not appear the police can issue a warrant for your arrest. Once arrested you would be charged with Fail to Appear, held for a Bail Hearing and may be held in custody until the trial date.
If you do not appear this will make your problems even worse. There would be more charges against and the judge might conclude that you are not responsible and form a negative impression about you.
The court date on the Promise to Appear notice is not the trial date. The first court date is a date to enter a plea to the charges of guilty or not guilty. On that date the crown attorney should provide a copy of the disclosure including the police officers notes.