Posts by darkraven17

If you already filed an appeal, don't pay a dime. Honestly, they might just drop the whole thing since you're pregnant and out of work right now. I got hit with those $33 court fees on the spot along with my ticket, so I have no clue why yours hasn't shown up yet. Maybe it won't even matter since it was just a spider.
If only some lawyer on this forum would actually chime in...
I really want to help you out, but I'm stuck... I feel for you, especially being pregnant...😢

Somebody please help her!!! Surely there's someone here who actually knows what they're talking about!!!!

From what I’ve gathered on this forum and my own recent run-in with the law (a fender bender left me with $333 fines + $33 extra fees, so I filed an appeal), once you get hit with a fine, that's it. It won't get any bigger—it can only go down if they actually listen to your appeal and reduce or scrap it. One thing I did notice, though: you always end up stuck with the towing fees. Like, if you got slapped with a $167 tow + $133 ticket, even if they grant your appeal and kill the ticket, you're still on the hook for the tow truck. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one.
There aren't any interest charges on the fine either. Once you file your appeal, the whole thing is basically "frozen" while it waits for a court date.
When I turned in my appeal to the Democratic Party, I asked the clerk if I should at least cough up the $33 for those service fees, but she told me not to pay a dime and just wait for the summons. I asked when that might happen, and she just said she had no clue and that it would take a while. That's just my experience, anyway. Hope this helps someone.😉

Ugh, I honestly don't get how I got hit with a fine from $333 under Article 45, Section 4, when that exact same section says the penalty is $167????? 😕😕😕
Is it actually possible the officer just totally blanked or something?

He was even showing me the Traffic Safety Act, pointing out which article and section I supposedly violated. I read the first paragraph of the article and stopped there because, newsflash, I didn't know the Law inside and out yet—I had no idea the penalties were listed right there. Then, fifteen minutes later, my citation and the payment slip both say the fine is $333. 🤷

Also, does it matter who called the police to the scene? Some friends are telling me that whoever calls the cops ends up paying them. What is that supposed to mean, and how much does it cost? 🤷Because I called them thinking I hadn't done anything wrong, and then... well, this happened.

And here's a little personal observation. I'm a Midwest girl from New Orleans, driving my fiancé's car with plates starting with VK..., the accident happened in San Diego, and honestly, I feel like I got targeted by local bias. 😲It feels like people from San Diego can do whatever they want on the road, while anyone else with out-of-town plates gets picked on. 😠
I’ve noticed the same thing at parking lots, too. The guy checking for parking permits seems to only target cars with out-of-town plates, while he just breezes past the local ones. I actually pulled over once just to watch him work!!! It's unbelievable! 😲Is it like this in other cities too?

Benjamin Wilson7 said:A citation issued by the Municipal Court has to include specific instructions regarding the right to appeal. It needs to state exactly who to contact, how to file the appeal, and the deadline for doing so. It also has to warn you that if you miss that window, the citation becomes final—meaning the fine will be forcibly collected or replaced by community service or jail time, strictly according to the Law. Plus, the notice will remind you that if you’re found guilty, you'll be responsible for covering the legal costs of the proceedings.

(1) Whether it's the defendant, their attorney, a corporate representative, or an authorized agent, anyone can file an appeal with the issuing agency within eight days of receiving the citation. And don't worry—if the appeal is filed on time, it stays the execution of the fine while things are being sorted out.
(4) Your appeal just needs to clearly identify which citation you're contesting, along with your address and signature. You actually don't need to provide a detailed explanation in the appeal itself. However, if you're requesting to present any evidence, you definitely have to explain why those proofs are necessary.

Honestly, it would've been the same deal even if you hadn't signed it, so don't sweat the small stuff. Just get moving on that appeal process.

Once an appeal is filed against a citation, the issuing agency voids the original ticket. After the review is complete, they'll issue a formal decision. In these cases, the agency can't just slap you with another quick citation; instead, the court has to hold a formal hearing, or the administrative body must follow the full procedure mandated by the Law.

p.s. were all four of your brake lights actually working when you were reversing?

Oh right, I just realized—you don't actually file an appeal on the citation itself. You have to lodge a formal protest through this forum instead...
The accident happened three days ago, but I’m already heading out tomorrow to file my appeal against this citation.

Benjamin Wilson7 said:A citation issued by the Municipal Court has to include specific instructions regarding the right to appeal. It needs to state exactly who to contact, how to file the appeal, and the deadline for doing so. It also has to warn you that if you miss that window, the citation becomes final—meaning the fine will be forcibly collected or replaced by community service or jail time, strictly according to the Law. Plus, the notice will remind you that if you’re found guilty, you'll be responsible for covering the legal costs of the proceedings.

(1) Whether it's the defendant, their attorney, a corporate representative, or an authorized agent, anyone can file an appeal with the issuing agency within eight days of receiving the citation. And don't worry—if the appeal is filed on time, it stays the execution of the fine while things are being sorted out.
(4) Your appeal just needs to clearly identify which citation you're contesting, along with your address and signature. You actually don't need to provide a detailed explanation in the appeal itself. However, if you're requesting to present any evidence, you definitely have to explain why those proofs are necessary.

Honestly, it would've been the same deal even if you hadn't signed it, so don't sweat the small stuff. Just get moving on that appeal process.

Once an appeal is filed against a citation, the issuing agency voids the original ticket. After the review is complete, they'll issue a formal decision. In these cases, the agency can't just slap you with another quick citation; instead, the court has to hold a formal hearing, or the administrative body must follow the full procedure mandated by the Law.

p.s. were all four of your brake lights actually working when you were reversing?

So, let me get this straight—I don't actually have to justify myself in the appeal? I don't need to list out all the specific sections of the Traffic Safety Act that prove the other driver was in the wrong? I went through the entire Law and found five different clauses that pin the blame on him. He shouldn't have even been in that position if he’d just bothered to follow the basic rules, signs, and markings. They're trying to pin it on me based on one single point, but honestly, he's the one who messed up. I let every vehicle move through properly, following every rule in the book. I definitely wasn't expecting this guy to just dive into my blind spot like that.

Benjamin Wilson7 said:A citation issued by the Municipal Court has to include specific instructions regarding the right to appeal. It needs to state exactly who to contact, how to file the appeal, and the deadline for doing so. It also has to warn you that if you miss that window, the citation becomes final—meaning the fine will be forcibly collected or replaced by community service or jail time, strictly according to the Law. Plus, the notice will remind you that if you’re found guilty, you'll be responsible for covering the legal costs of the proceedings.

(1) Whether it's the defendant, their attorney, a corporate representative, or an authorized agent, anyone can file an appeal with the issuing agency within eight days of receiving the citation. And don't worry—if the appeal is filed on time, it stays the execution of the fine while things are being sorted out.
(4) Your appeal just needs to clearly identify which citation you're contesting, along with your address and signature. You actually don't need to provide a detailed explanation in the appeal itself. However, if you're requesting to present any evidence, you definitely have to explain why those proofs are necessary.

Honestly, it would've been the same deal even if you hadn't signed it, so don't sweat the small stuff. Just get moving on that appeal process.

Once an appeal is filed against a citation, the issuing agency voids the original ticket. After the review is complete, they'll issue a formal decision. In these cases, the agency can't just slap you with another quick citation; instead, the court has to hold a formal hearing, or the administrative body must follow the full procedure mandated by the Law.

p.s. were all four of your brake lights actually working when you were reversing?

I don't get what this sentence is trying to say. 😕🤷 Where? In the appeal? Isn't it already stated above what goes into an appeal? What kind of suggestion? Can someone give me an actual example?

So, the signing is done... finally. But like I said at the start, after scrolling through half this forum, I’ve realized it doesn't really matter if I sign or not. Honestly? It feels like the cops didn't even bother to look at the actual facts on the scene. Since his statement carries more weight than mine, I'm actually more terrified of the cops than the guy driving the other car.

Benjamin Wilson7 said:A citation issued by the Municipal Court has to include specific instructions regarding the right to appeal. It needs to state exactly who to contact, how to file the appeal, and the deadline for doing so. It also has to warn you that if you miss that window, the citation becomes final—meaning the fine will be forcibly collected or replaced by community service or jail time, strictly according to the Law. Plus, the notice will remind you that if you’re found guilty, you'll be responsible for covering the legal costs of the proceedings.

(1) Whether it's the defendant, their attorney, a corporate representative, or an authorized agent, anyone can file an appeal with the issuing agency within eight days of receiving the citation. And don't worry—if the appeal is filed on time, it stays the execution of the fine while things are being sorted out.
(4) Your appeal just needs to clearly identify which citation you're contesting, along with your address and signature. You actually don't need to provide a detailed explanation in the appeal itself. However, if you're requesting to present any evidence, you definitely have to explain why those proofs are necessary.

Honestly, it would've been the same deal even if you hadn't signed it, so don't sweat the small stuff. Just get moving on that appeal process.

Once an appeal is filed against a citation, the issuing agency voids the original ticket. After the review is complete, they'll issue a formal decision. In these cases, the agency can't just slap you with another quick citation; instead, the court has to hold a formal hearing, or the administrative body must follow the full procedure mandated by the Law.

p.s. were all four of your brake lights actually working when you were reversing?

Of course, I always have my hazard lights on whenever I'm backing up. I even tell my boyfriend he needs to flip them on every single time he's reversing on a street or pulling out of a parking spot.☕

Hoping for a quick reply because I'm planning on filing an appeal first thing tomorrow morning!
Thanks a million!🙏

Hey everyone!
I see this thread is already 47 pages deep, so I figured I’d just jump in and ask: does anyone know where I can find a template for contesting a traffic citation? I got slapped with a ticket claiming I violated Section 45, Paragraph 1. Here’s the deal: I hit a car that pulled illegally into my street from the left side of the road, right where there's a solid white line. In my opinion, that guy is 100% at fault, not me. We called the Highway Patrol because this "victim" guy was acting like such a jerk, basically telling me it was my fault because I "wasn't looking back" (I was actually backing into a spot). Anyway, the officer wrote me up on the scene, and I signed it. I asked what the paperwork actually said, and they were just like, "Oh, just what you told us." So I signed, thinking it was fine since I knew I wasn't in the wrong. It wasn't until I got the bills—one for the violation sent to $333 and another one for some fees to $33—that I realized I was screwed. Once I got home and actually read the paperwork, it clearly states I'm the one at fault and my fine is $333. This is my first accident ever, so I honestly didn't know what I was supposed to be looking for or reading. Please don't laugh at me for sounding so naive.
I could really use some advice or opinions on how to handle an appeal, if anyone even bothers to read this long-winded post...

P.S. That guy ended up getting $167 in fines, and now he’s threatening to sue me for repair costs (he said he’d be calling me). All he has is a tiny dent, maybe 10 square cm, on the front passenger side above the wheel. His headlights are perfectly fine.

Thanks in advance, you guys!

Joshua Brown2 said:darkraven17, they were handing out sunflower bouquets at the rally in Washington, D.C. yesterday. You can probably grab some in September, but you’ll have to look for imports since our local harvest is already wrapped up by then.

so I figured it was kind of like that... 😢 well... I'll just ask my mom to harvest the whole field later than everyone else so they're actually ready by September.😁

rustybison19 said:Not exactly my favorite look, but why not? You can definitely get sunflowers then; actually, that's peak season for them (more like September than October). I did a sunflower wedding for my cousin once. And just this past Saturday in Chicago, I actually saw a bride carrying a sunflower bouquet 😉. Plus, I just got back from a big flower wholesaler in D.C. and they had plenty of imports in stock. No clue what the price tag was, though. 😉

Honestly, roses just don't do it for me anymore... everyone uses them in one way or another, so I wanted something a little different.
Sunflowers are just so unique and gorgeous; that bright yellow totally hooked me.
I remember seeing fields of them by the highway back in May. I was feeling a little mischievous, so I actually plucked a few... so now I guess we'll see if there are any left this fall. If not, I'll just plant an entire field in the spring and hope they make it to autumn, haha...

Hey everyone!
I’m curious if anyone here has actually used sunflowers as the main centerpiece for their wedding...
My bridal party is obsessed with this gold-yellow vibe that reminds me of the Midwest... Since we’re planning an autumn wedding—probably sometime in September or October—I’m wondering is it even possible to get my hands on enough sunflowers then? I’m going to need them in massive quantities, so if anyone has any tips, hacks, or solid ideas regarding this, please hit me up!
On top of that, I want to lean hard into those rustic, autumnal vibes with things like zucchini, pomegranates, corn, wheat stalks, quince, pumpkins, apples, dried leaves, wildflowers... but the sunflower would be the star of the show...
The bouquet would be all sunflowers too... plus the invites, thank-you notes, confetti, and boutonnieres will all follow that gold-yellow theme using tiny artificial sunflowers and sprigs of wheat...
What do you guys think? Thoughts?