Need advice to fight ticket or night - Page 3 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

c-dub · 11-01-2010, 07:19 AM

cops rarely ever "don't show up to court". At least here in VA every cop schedules all the people he gives tickets to for one day and he just sits there all day as the people he ticketed come in a single file line waiting for the judge to take points and pass fines...lol gotta love the pigs.

FRANK121 · 11-01-2010, 10:09 AM

It is a small enough ticket that you could do it yourself without having to pay the Lawyer fees.

Years ago I got nailed for 91 in a 55. Hired a Lawyer, paid him $300, had to do 20 hours community service and still had to pay a $400 ticket the day of court.
So I paid a total of $700 with a Lawyer but kept it off my record.

Not so long ago I got clocked at 104 in a 70. I called the prosecuting attorney and met with him. We agreed after an extremely long lecture that If I did 40 hours of community service He would knock it down to a loud muffler to keep it off My record. Did my service and appeared in court. I got fined $470 and wrote them a check.

So I saved money avoiding the Lawyer fees. And I have slowed down after the last one. Its just not worth it.

And yes, the cop was not at court on either time. I will say that you better have everything worked out with whomever before you appear before the Judge. The last case He wanted to throw me in jail but He said because I had done the community service He would let it slide?

*TAG UR IT* · 11-01-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaylorAirForce

Well it sucks I was coming back from the Sealy Camaro event here in Texas which was about 2.5 hour drive from where I am. I was about 15 mins from my house and I got nailed by a cop. I was on a highway I've never been before and I had no idea what the speed limit was (it was about 12:30AM and I was the only person on the highway), similar high ways in the area are usually 70mph and sometimes 65 at night. I was going 74 in what apparently was a 60. I've never fought a speeding ticket before so I don't really know if I should do it or not. All I know is that if the cop doesn't show up they'll waive the ticket, but I don't know what else there is that goes into fighting a ticket. If anyone has advice please let me know.

Forgive me for not reading everyone else's posts first. But, if I may.

1. I'm an officer. No, I didn't write you the ticket (nor do I like to write tickets).
2. You can request a trial by Judge or jury and set a date. If the officer does not show, your ticket is dismissed. This happens every once in a while. But...not often. If the officer has to go in to court during his off time, he'll get paid extra. So, unlikely he'll miss it.
3. Fighting the ticket out right won't work. This is not meant to be disrespectful, but the Judge will say, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." In other words, "I didn't know it was 60mph" won't fly in court. Just because it's not posted doesn't mean you can go 100mph either. So, ... that's what they will say.

Or you can do a drivers safety course or ask for probation.

I hope that helps you (from someone who has probably gotten more tickets that given.

Duper · 11-01-2010, 01:22 PM

My 2 cents based on experience: if you have the time to burn and it's not going to cost you a vacation day from work, go to court and hope the cop doesn't show up. If he does, tell the judge you were hoping the cop wouldn't show up because you're in a tough financial position right now and really can't afford a ticket. Politely ask if he'll reduce the fine and let you go to traffic school so it doesn't show up on your record. That's probably all you can do at that point.

One last thing - make sure he filled out the ticket correctly. If he made any mistakes (e.g. wrong highway number, color of the car wrong, etc) the ticket is invalid - at least that's how it works in CA.

Good luck.

*TAG UR IT* · 11-01-2010, 01:23 PM

^True

BaylorCamaro · 11-01-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duper

One last thing - make sure he filled out the ticket correctly. If he made any mistakes (e.g. wrong highway number, color of the car wrong, etc) the ticket is invalid - at least that's how it works in CA.

Good luck.

I'm looking at my ticket and it doesn't have my vehicle's license plate written on it anywhere.

In the vehicle license section it says:
Year-2010
State-TX
Number- and it's blank..

That's the only possible mistake on the ticket. I feel like he should have written my license plate number on it, right?

Also the only traffic lawyer cost $175 and that's just to get a plea bargin. Advice? Thoughts? I'm thinking of going to the court house tomorrow and seeing what my options are.

CamaroSkooter · 11-01-2010, 04:42 PM

It can't hurt to know your options. Good luck

*TAG UR IT* · 11-01-2010, 05:29 PM

Go into the court and show the prosecutor the missing plate. Be nice. Be respectful. Let them know that you've been informed that incomplete tickets have been dismissed due to failing to prove all the elements. That you were driving...on this day...in THIS VEHICLE...at this location...at these speeds. If you are missing THIS vehicle, how can they prove it? I might be off here, but this stuff happens all the time. In my area, I can fix my hard copy of the ticket before turning it in. That is the copy that matters. But, you can give it a shot.

11-01-2010, 07:19 AM	#29
c-dub It's that guy Drives: 2011 SIM SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hopewell VA Posts: 673 View My Garage	cops rarely ever "don't show up to court". At least here in VA every cop schedules all the people he gives tickets to for one day and he just sits there all day as the people he ticketed come in a single file line waiting for the judge to take points and pass fines...lol gotta love the pigs. __________________ We mortals are but shadows and dust.

11-01-2010, 10:09 AM	#30
FRANK121 Drives: 2022 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sullivan, Missouri Posts: 653 View My Garage	You should be fine It is a small enough ticket that you could do it yourself without having to pay the Lawyer fees. Years ago I got nailed for 91 in a 55. Hired a Lawyer, paid him $300, had to do 20 hours community service and still had to pay a $400 ticket the day of court. So I paid a total of $700 with a Lawyer but kept it off my record. Not so long ago I got clocked at 104 in a 70. I called the prosecuting attorney and met with him. We agreed after an extremely long lecture that If I did 40 hours of community service He would knock it down to a loud muffler to keep it off My record. Did my service and appeared in court. I got fined $470 and wrote them a check. So I saved money avoiding the Lawyer fees. And I have slowed down after the last one. Its just not worth it. And yes, the cop was not at court on either time. I will say that you better have everything worked out with whomever before you appear before the Judge. The last case He wanted to throw me in jail but He said because I had done the community service He would let it slide? __________________ 2022 Black ZL1 RotoFab CAI, AWE Touring Edition Cat Back Exhaust. 665 Crank hp. est. and 660 Crank ft. lbs. est. Never been Dynoed

11-01-2010, 04:42 PM	#35
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	It can't hurt to know your options. Good luck __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

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11-01-2010, 01:22 PM	#32
Duper Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS / RS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 299	My 2 cents based on experience: if you have the time to burn and it's not going to cost you a vacation day from work, go to court and hope the cop doesn't show up. If he does, tell the judge you were hoping the cop wouldn't show up because you're in a tough financial position right now and really can't afford a ticket. Politely ask if he'll reduce the fine and let you go to traffic school so it doesn't show up on your record. That's probably all you can do at that point. One last thing - make sure he filled out the ticket correctly. If he made any mistakes (e.g. wrong highway number, color of the car wrong, etc) the ticket is invalid - at least that's how it works in CA. Good luck.

11-01-2010, 01:23 PM	#33
TAG UR IT www.Camaro5store.com Drives: 2014 ZL1 #705 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SA, Texas Posts: 26,558 View My Garage	^True

11-01-2010, 05:29 PM	#36
TAG UR IT www.Camaro5store.com Drives: 2014 ZL1 #705 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SA, Texas Posts: 26,558 View My Garage	Go into the court and show the prosecutor the missing plate. Be nice. Be respectful. Let them know that you've been informed that incomplete tickets have been dismissed due to failing to prove all the elements. That you were driving...on this day...in THIS VEHICLE...at this location...at these speeds. If you are missing THIS vehicle, how can they prove it? I might be off here, but this stuff happens all the time. In my area, I can fix my hard copy of the ticket before turning it in. That is the copy that matters. But, you can give it a shot.