What is a New York City Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT)??

Most violations in New York are treated in a similar manner by the court system. If they are of a certain degree of severity, they result in a traditional arrest and arraignment. Defendants know the severity of charges after an arrest. And this severity pushes them to seek adequate legal representation. Surprisingly, that same level of awareness is not always present with a desk appearance ticket (DAT). These less serious charges often result in a certain level of ignorance and acquiescence. But more importantly, the real-world implications of such charges has been overlooked. DAT tickets must be considered seriously and reviewed/responded to in a timely manner. The consequences of ignoring or downplaying such charges can follow a person for the rest of their life.

What Is a Desk Appearance Ticket?

DATs are the lesser form of summons which a court can issue. In serious cases, a violator is arrested and held at a county jail until arraignment. At arraignment, they have a habeas corpus hearing. This hearing determines whether they are either released or read their charges, along with the setting of bail or release on a person's own recognizance. The violator then has to arrive on the court date for a hearing or trial. In the case of a DAT, the incident is usually a misdemeanor such as a traffic violation or disorderly conduct. The low level of intensity means that the court or the officer has determined that the individual involved is not a flight risk, meaning that they do not have to be held or post bail. A DAT includes the courthouse involved and the date by which an offender must show up for their court date. Many lower-level tickets include the ability to pay a fine in lieu of appearing in court. If a person does show up to a DAT court appearance, the appearance often takes less than an hour. The judge will read the charges and the relevant statute. And they will give time for the defense and the prosecution to state their case. Judges will then decide based off the merits of the case and the defendant's criminal history. And will pass judgment based on these factors.

Why Defendants Underestimate DAT Charges