Schmitt waives arraignment in 2009 traffic charge

Eagles fullback Owen Schmitt waived an arraignment on Wednesday for a year-old charge that he was driving with a suspended license in Seattle, a charge his attorney expects to be dismissed because of a paperwork error.

The next arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16, according to Schmitt's attorney, Diego Vargas. Because Schmitt is currently living in Philadelphia, Vargas does not expect the court to require him to appear.

The violation occurred on Oct. 5, 2009, not earlier this month as was reported in Friday's Inquirer. Schmitt was pulled over for a moving violation, a charge that was eventually dismissed.

He was also cited for driving with a suspended license, but only, Vargas said, because Schmitt had initially failed to file the necessary paperwork for reinstatement. The case has dragged on for more than a year, according to Vargas, because the violation is considered minor and the state of Washington has two years to file a charge.

"He made a very minor mistake, and we're confident we'll get this resolved," Vargas said Friday. "Once he realized what had happened, he paid the $150 to get his license back and has been driving with a valid one since."

Schmitt's license had been suspended for 30 days in July 2009 after he pleaded guilty to a reckless-driving charge in Washington.