Posts by urbanraven16

crimsonsailor7 said:So, if you’re looking to contest the fine amount, just write up an appeal explaining that you’re a college student and that this is your absolute first offense... if it actually is, of course. Honestly, there's a 99% chance they'll knock the price down for you once you lay it out like that.

And whatever you do, don't try to use the excuse that you didn't read the citation because you were in such a rush to get going... seriously, that's some playground level nonsense and it won't hold any water in front of a judge.

Regarding that other hypothetical situation you mentioned—there isn't some automatic rule for that, it really just depends on the specific details of the case, and ultimately, it's up to the judge to decide how it plays out...

You gave some killer advice for just about any other kind of legal trouble, but this specific situation... this whole mess regarding anything under a 0.5 BAC is becoming more of a political circus than a legal one, especially with the elections right around the corner... One party that’s currently leading in the polls is making huge promises about decriminalizing this exact behavior, but even if they actually pull it off, if the legal proceedings haven't reached a final verdict yet, everything still has to grind to a halt... which is exactly why—and honestly, this is the only reason I'm saying it—I think his best move is to just drag every single step of this out as long as humanly possible...

Anthony Jackson3 said:Hello everyone...
I must admit, I have read through this entire thread from the very beginning☕ looking for someone facing a similar issue to mine, but regardless, I will lay out my own situation here in the hope that a kind soul might offer some guidance.🙏

I am currently a college student, and I have never once been cited for any legal violation before now.

A little less than three months ago, I was driving around at about 3:00 AM while heading home after work. Traffic wasn't particularly heavy, so I suppose I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when I was pulled over. The officer’s conduct was quite professional. After I provided my driver's license and registration, and after stating clearly that I had not consumed any alcohol, I agreed to take the breathalyzer test, which yielded a reading of 0.08. The officer then wrote up the citation, and I signed the report where he noted that I had consumed one beer.
Today, I received the notice from the municipal court stating that I am being found liable and will be fined $400 plus $77 (court costs). I have the right to appeal this within 8 days.
Under the law, the fine should range from $167 to $500, so it strikes me as somewhat unusual that I am being penalized—at least for now—with an amount closer to the maximum than the minimum, especially considering that I am a student, that I acted respectfully during the encounter, and that this is my first offense in my entire life...
The legal statute states
"A driver shall be fined between $500.00 and $500 if they have alcohol levels up to 0.50 g/kg, or milligrams per liter of exhaled breath, in their system.
In addition to the fine, a point may be assessed against their license."

I was planning to file an appeal, so I would truly appreciate some help...

Option 1: Not disputing the accuracy of the breathalyzer results, but rather disputing the actual consumption of alcohol. In the appeal, I could argue that the reading was caused by eating some fruit pastries and a headache I was experiencing. Because of the headache, I took some medication (like Aspirin or something similar) and I signed the report without reading it closely because I just wanted to get home and go to bed due to the pain...
Goal: To try and settle for a mere warning... I would value your advice on how realistic it is to expect this and what the potential consequences of such a move might be.

Option 2: Admitting guilt, expressing genuine remorse, and emphasizing my status as a student...
Goal: A minimal fine (and I wonder, is it even possible to receive just a warning with this approach?)

Any advice would be most welcome...

Also, I am curious about this purely hypothetically...
"(9) For a driver of a motor vehicle, streetcar, or driving instructor who, within a 24-month period following the date of the violation, has been legally convicted two or more times for violations under this section, the court may impose a jail sentence of up to 60 days along with a protective measure prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle for one to two years, and assign five penalty points.
" If an individual is convicted twice within a 24-month window for driving under the influence, does the loss of their license for one or two years happen automatically alongside the fine, or does the court decide on that? Furthermore, if someone already had one point on their record from a previous incident and now receives five, bringing the total to six, do they still retain their license?

Of course you’d jump in with an objection—and not even a reasoned one, just a flat-out refusal followed by a demand to be heard.

Regarding that "hypothetical" scenario we were discussing, you played it pretty safe by using the word "could," which is fine, but let's not pretend that implies it actually *has* to happen...

Zachary Collins2 said:It seems like you haven't run into anyone who's actually had to retake the written theory exam. Well, I have! And I'm certainly not just speaking from hearsay, because there are quite a few tricky questions regarding mechanics and physics involved!
It isn't really in their interest to make passing that test easy just to get your license back; they want to make sure it sticks with you forever so you're always thinking about it...

So, who exactly went, and when was this?

As far as I can tell, the only way you end up just retaking the written test is if you're dealing with a specific situation where the court decides to suspend just one specific class of license for a year instead of pulling the whole thing...

Anything else involving hitting those nine points results in losing your entire driving privilege altogether, meaning you lose every single category you hold and have to go through the whole damn process from scratch as if you'd never even held a license in the first place...

Morgan Perez3 said:I got pulled over. I was feeling lightheaded and knew I shouldn't have been behind the wheel. Ended up getting 6 points on my license and they told me I’ll have to retake the exam. If I understood correctly, it doesn't mean I have to enroll in driving school all over again, just something else. If anyone could point me in the right direction regarding what that entails and the cost, I'd appreciate it.

Actually, you need 9, not 6... with just 6, you'll probably just end up in some remedial driving class, so it's not exactly the end of the world...

Timothy Taylor11 said:-Driving the wrong way-
Ugh, just another college kid getting caught red-handed...
So, I was over in the suburbs today—near the local shopping center—trying to find a spot to park where I wouldn't get hit with a fee. While I'm maneuvering into the space, this cop suddenly appears out of nowhere and demands my license and registration. I’m sitting there totally stunned, and he just points to this brand-new one-way sign... He probably had been sitting there waiting for someone to mess up, since they must have changed the street direction just yesterday or last week. I was just driving on autopilot and didn't even notice the change.
Long story short, I drove maybe 20 yards the wrong way down "the street" (it's that big boulevard near the ExxonMobil station, take a right after the station then the first right, if you know what I mean). He told me $667 I'm looking at a heavy fine and a six-month license suspension. He didn't hand me any paperwork on the spot, though. This is my very first offense since I passed my test four years ago. Does anyone have any advice? (If there's even anything I can do?)
Thanks

firstly, just sit tight and wait for someone to actually write something back...

Casey Hughes9 said:yeah, right, they don't give you installments. I got pulled over during a routine stop and it turns out the registration had expired three days ago. Had no clue since the car wasn't mine, but the cops hit me with a fine of $167 which I didn't pay. Now I’ve got a court summons and they're basically telling me to either pick community service or just pay up. Apparently, there's no installment plan, just a one-month extension at most, and if I go the community service route, they might call me sometime in the next year.

so, you tell me...

Well, if you didn't pay it and you didn't contest it, then the judgment is final, plain and simple... you didn't even show up to the court hearing, so there was no way for them to even consider letting you set up a payment plan...

Morgan Perez3 said:Is there any way to defer paying this fine?

Well, if you play your cards right, the court might actually let you work out a payment plan...

driftingstag3 said:So, I ended up crossing against a red light on foot and got flagged down by the police.👎 They handed me a citation right there on the spot, which I signed, along with a payment slip. The fine comes out to $133. I actually told the officer straight up that I’m broke—which isn't an exaggeration—and he just asked if this was my first offense. When I told him it was, he mentioned I could file an appeal within eight days. Now, everything would be a lot simpler if this had happened back home in Washington, D.C., but it went down in some other city way out of my way. So now I'm sitting here wondering: am I actually going to have to trek all the way to a municipal court in that city, or is it honestly just easier to bite the bullet and pay the fine?

For minor offenses under $167, you can actually swap the ticket for some community service, but let's be real, that's definitely not your style...

Jamie Vaughn10 said:I had my ID details taken on an Amtrak train because I didn't have a ticket—well, I actually had a pass that covers me from Washington, D.C. to the suburbs, but I decided to ride just one stop further out to a neighboring town. The price for that single extra stop ends up being more expensive than the pass for the entire stretch from the suburbs back to Washington, D.C.—which, honestly, nobody would ever buy! It seems like every time there’s an inspection on the train, they always show up right on that specific stretch between the suburb and the next town.

Anyway, I’m wondering if anyone here has had any direct experience dealing with Amtrak specifically. Are they actually going to sue me if I don't pay this $30 charge, or $133 issue a fine? Also, is there any chance I could swap that fine for community service?

Is there any way I can essentially "intimidate" them into dropping the lawsuit entirely? For instance, if I send a response stating that, should it go to court, I will be requesting to perform community service instead of paying the fine—do you think that would work?

honestly, you aren't going to accomplish anything that way...

Harold Fisher5 said:My sister was deep into her pregnancy when she ended up in a minor fender bender. She was basically racing to the hospital because she was having intense abdominal pains, you know? The police report says she failed to yield and then fled the scene—which is total BS because she actually swapped info with the other driver before rushing off to get medical help. It’s been a year now; she’s flying solo with the baby, unemployed, and has zero childcare options to even make it to a court date. What’s the move here? And what happens with the insurance claim? Thanks

Oh, please, how could she not have someone? She just needs to file a motion with the court using this whole ridiculous explanation, and the state will step in to take custody while the judge decides if a mother who flees the scene of a car accident is even remotely capable of looking after her own child... in the meantime, the kid will be in much safer hands, because I'm sure absolutely nobody is going to put them at risk on the highway...

Harold Fisher5 said:It’s most likely because they're kicking off some kind of misdemeanor proceedings... doesn't really matter if she isn't getting the notices in the mail or whatever... the cop was literally at her front door yesterday.

Look, if they didn't take her into custody then, they’ll be back at her doorstep tomorrow, and once all this legal circus finally wraps up, whoever is found liable—whether it's her or the taxpayers if she walks free—is going to be footing the entire bill.

When you step back and look at the big picture, I honestly think the presiding judge is going to see things my way too... I mean, if a pregnant woman needs medical attention, she knows exactly how to reach 911, so using "alleged labor pains" as an excuse to flee from the police just doesn't hold water... it's like saying you shouldn't even stop at a crosswalk because of some phantom cramps... if a kid runs into traffic because someone thinks they can just ignore the rules, and then a pregnant woman ignores the cops, well, it's all just a slippery slope of negligence under the penal code, and who knows what the kid's father might try to argue in court later on...

1. There won't be any more continuances if you just go ahead and plead guilty...
2. That range hasn't actually expanded; it’s still stuck between $50 and $200. Besides, under the rules of procedure, the court still has the wiggle room to drop below $50 or even just give you a formal warning instead of a fine altogether...
3. As for changing your address, you only need to notify the court if you're moving away from the place where they actually send your paperwork, otherwise there's really no need to bother them...

Anonymous said:😎 Hey everyone, I could really use some help here...

So, I got hit with a $667 ticket today along with $110 in court fees. I actually filed an appeal against the citation, but somehow I ended up getting slapped with a bill for $2,110. I’m honestly panicking—I have no way to pay this much. I'm a full-time student and my bank account is basically non-existent right now. I really don't see a way out of this.

The whole thing started because a speed camera caught me, and they demanded I identify who was behind the wheel—me or my older brother. In my appeal, I basically told them they'd have to decide for themselves since I didn't have any photos to prove who it was...

If anyone has dealt with something like this before or knows what I should do, please reach out or shoot me a DM...

Thanks in advance.

Honestly, instead of acting like a genius, maybe you should just say thanks to the guy who actually gave you the advice to handle it that way in the first place...

Just file an appeal and go beg the judge at the Municipal Court to bring that fine down to something halfway reasonable, especially if the penalty for the actual speeding violation is significantly lower than the massive fine for failing to identify the driver (which, let’s be real, it probably is)

rowdycanyon84 said:Honestly, I have no clue here...
In my appeal, I basically argued that the penalty was way too harsh (or something along those lines).
I haven't seen a single court date—not at the local level or at Verizon—because I never got any notices. They only sent stuff through the mail. The cops didn't even bother showing up at my house.
Is there some kind of criteria for this? Like, do "heavier" cases get fast-tracked?
By heavier, I mean more alcohol involved, actual crashes, or people with a long criminal record?
In my case, it was just 0.12% BAC, and I’ve never even had a ticket before...

The whole legal system is a complete mystery to me. Maybe these questions sound stupid, but...

The whole thing should have wrapped up at the appellate level without ever hitting a lower court or a formal hearing.

It’s entirely possible that what you thought was just some summons you missed was actually a binding ruling from the appellate court regarding your objection...

Basically, if some officer at the precinct messed up and sent the case to the Municipal Court by mistake, then the statute of limitations has already run out—since you mentioned this all went down back in September 2005. But if they didn't screw up and sent it straight to the appellate level, playing hide-and-seek with the mail isn't going to get you anywhere...

Next time, just take the papers so you can finally move on with your life...

analogwolf2 said:How many times can I dodge the mail before two cops show up at my mom's door at 6 AM asking where I am? ...My legal address is actually outside the jurisdiction of the local municipal court where this happened... Does a fine this small (max $167 plus court costs) really warrant a SWAT team knocking on my door to check if I'm still breathing?

usually once, or maybe not at all... if they can't get something delivered through the standard channels, they just bring in the local PD regardless of how small the fine is, or if everything checks out, they just post it on a public notice board...

Thomas Miller80 said:Getting flagged just because you didn't read the instructions—it’s clearly stated right at the top of the PDF: READ THIS FIRST!!!

What kind of UPS talk is that? From what I can tell, you don't even have an actual court ruling yet 😕
Keep dreaming about being some righteous hero while everything spins out of control—total case closed 🙂

If they filed an objection specifically targeting just the penalty itself, then sure, that would head straight to the Verizon appellate level without needing to go through the first instance trial...

velvetseal9 said:Listen, I’m going to give a little unsolicited advice to any legal professionals lurking here!!!

now lara35 is gonna step in...

come on lara, why don't you tell this guy how it really is?

mistyranger said:Here’s a similar situation I dealt with myself.
Got hit with a speeding ticket in a residential zone, which carries a 31 miles three-month license suspension. Problem is, I have zero memory of when this supposedly happened, nor do I have any clue they even caught me on camera. Whatever, I just showed up to court to figure out what was going on and asked to face off against the cop who allegedly snapped the photo.
Since then, there have been six scheduled hearings. I showed up to every single one, and the cop? Nowhere to be found. Not once.
Honestly, I lost my patience. Told the judge I’m done playing these games and won't be showing up anymore.
So, yeah. That's where things stand.

Let it stay right where it is, honestly, because it actually works in your favor...

Michael Perez5 said:No installment plan available... I checked earlier, and now that I'm back home, I just saw the order...
A three-month driver's license suspension under Section 137, Subsection 2??? Why on earth is it three months? Does anyone have access to that statute or know where I can look it up?

I honestly thought it was only going to be one month 😢

That's what happens when you fail to stop at a railroad crossing after a whistle, light, or signal goes off...

The minimum is $333, and the max is 3 months without a license, plus a fixed 2 points on your record.

The police are technically limited by the warrant to give you the smallest penalty allowed, which is what they gave you, $333, but they aren't restricted within the range of protective measures—meaning they handed you the absolute maximum possible...

Honestly, the local police department did everything strictly by the book, so there’s really no way to overturn this now... if you had just protested like crazy while it was happening, maybe you could argue the protective measure was too harsh... but instead, you were probably busy arguing with some officer about nothing... or whatever...

The only thing you can do, assuming you have some income, is not pay those $333 immediately; just wait until the police forward it to the court for forced collection, then to the IRS, and by the time the IRS tries to garnish you, you'll have bought yourself a few months of breathing room...

Similarly, if the IRS can't collect within six months, the court might try to substitute that with jail time, but they have to send you an official notice with the right to appeal first, so once you get that, you pay and mail (absolutely!) the receipt to the court... also, don't even think about trying to dodge being served that notice... meanwhile, you can keep stacking up those $333...

Unfortunately, that’s pretty much all there is left to do...

Charles Patel62 said:Well, I think I read somewhere in one of the threads that the statute of limitations for enforcement is a year... maybe do a little digging on that. This whole thing sounds incredibly shady to me—and you said this happened at the border??

don't worry, Lara will pull him out of this mess just fine...

yeah, right at the border, why are you even surprised? if he had been properly ID'd and vetted somewhere before hitting the border, he would have been caught there too.

the statute of limitations on enforcing sanctions is one year relatively, and two years absolutely... now, Lara can explain exactly what interrupts that clock and when it doesn't run at all, much like how an impartial witness statement works—you know, that classic "he said, she said" situation—and just how many facts actually matter when physical evidence is non-existent under those circumstances...