Traffic violation procedures

If you paid through your bank, I’m pretty sure you can just request a receipt after the fact.

It wasn't through my bank, either. I did it via the post office. I actually went ahead and mailed in all those payments dating back to 2005 last summer. And get this—in all that time, they never once sent me a single late notice. To be honest, it feels almost like a curse when they try to come after you for the money twice.

I really need some insight on a situation here.

So, there’s this guy who committed a traffic violation and ended up getting into a heated argument with the police.

The court handed down a fine of 14 $0.00.

And since he just doesn't have the cash to cover it, he's looking at 40 days in jail.

But honestly, I feel like we're supposed to be equal under the law, and it clearly feels like we aren't in cases like this—because if someone actually has the money, they can just pay the $14,000 and walk away without seeing the inside of a cell.

I was wondering if there is any way for someone to avoid jail time for a penalty like this. I mean, at the end of the day, it was just a traffic offense, which isn't exactly a major threat to public safety or anything. Specifically, he was riding a motorcycle without a license. It wasn't even a case where he forgot his physical license; he just hasn't actually taken the driver's exam yet. That doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't know how to drive, nor does it mean he's out there committing other reckless driving offenses.

You can actually get out of jail by just paying a fine, which is wild... I mean, what kind of logic is it to be facing driving charges when you don't even have a license in the first place? 🙄

I mean, if he's going to preach all this stuff about equality and being treated the same, then the law is pretty clear—you need a driver's license, period, and those rules apply to everyone, including him.

Honestly, looking at how massive that penalty is, I've got a feeling there’s way more going on here than just someone getting behind the wheel without a permit...

On paper, the regulations are all there... but in reality? It’s a total ghost town. You can ask for it all you want, but you’ll probably just end up riding a horse back home.

I actually got pulled over for driving without a license recently too. They were talking about a fine somewhere between $2,000 and $5.00... honestly, I managed to smooth things over through a connection.
Look, you can settle it if they haven't logged it into the system yet, but once it's entered, you're pretty much screwed.

Since the court has already handed down a ruling, it means the officer logged the incident into the computer about a month ago. That’s it. He’s officially been cited for a violation and he has to pay up, one way or another. There isn't a lawyer in the country who can wiggle him out of this one. Plus, the guy was actually arguing with the cops...

That figure of $667 usually applies if it's a first-time offense for driving without a permit.
Obviously, the more violations you rack up, the worse the penalties get.
Next time—assuming they don't catch him first—they might ban him from taking the driving test for two years, so we'll see how that goes.

So, last night I ended up at the police station with three buddies because of some alleged "disturbing the peace" nonsense. Basically, my friend pulled the car over, and cops swooped in out of nowhere demanding IDs. My friends had rolled down the back window and were being loud—the music was definitely cranked up—but I was just sitting up front, totally uninvolved. The whole thing lasted maybe a few seconds around 1 AM. Since nobody but the driver had an ID on them, they hauled us all down to the station to run breathalyzers and drug tests. Now they’re hitting me with a charge under Section 13 for disturbing the peace. My BAC came back at 0.08. We admitted we were being loud, and I basically went along with it since I thought they’d just let us go, but this cop started acting like a total jerk, threatening us and being super unprofessional before finally writing everything up. He let us go but told us we'd likely see him in court. What am I looking at here? How long until I actually get the official notice? What kind of penalties are we talking about, and what should my next move be? Any advice helps. I’m 22, a senior in college, and I’ve never even had a brush with the law before. Also, will this mess up my ability to get a clean background check for job applications? Does this specific charge affect that? Thanks in advance.

Hey... just wondering when the summons actually shows up at your door—you know, whether it's for a misdemeanor or a felony charge (for having 4 grams)... and if the paperwork actually spells out exactly what happened (like drug possession), or if they just give some vague legal jargon like "violating Section X of the Penal Code, show up for hearing" etc. Asking because a buddy of mine got busted for the first time and he's low-key panicking that his parents might see the docs and realize what's going on. Thanks.

Hey,

I need some help here.

Back on December 9, 2007, I got into an accident. It was around 2 AM, heading home, when some guy clipped my passenger side. Nothing major, but wouldn't you know it—there was already a police cruiser right there trying to pull him over. Instead of stopping, the guy swerved into me and slammed into a parked car. The cops went after him, he floored it, and I was just left sitting there waiting. When the police finally circled back, they didn't catch him, but they snagged his plate number—turns out it was stolen. They waited for traffic to clear, I took a breathalyzer, clocked a 0.02, and they wrote up the report. That was that.
Fast forward to March 21, 2008, and I get this lovely little "Easter greeting" from the Department of Homeland Security $667+$37 telling me my license is suspended for 3 months. I have 8 days to pay the fine, or I can file an appeal.
So, my questions are:
1. If I file an appeal, do I still have to pay within those 8 days, or do I wait for a ruling before paying anything?
2. How do I actually write an appeal? Do I go off on everything or just target specific points?
3. Is there any chance this could expire under the statute of limitations?

P.S.
Don't get me wrong, I know I messed up. I'm not running from the consequences and I'll pay the fine, but I really want to know if there's any way to keep my license.

Thanks in advance.

1. Look, if you just file an appeal, you basically just sit tight and wait to see how the whole thing plays out, and you don't have to cough up any cash upfront...
2. Honestly, everything you're asking has already been covered in this thread, plus it’s pinned right at the top of the FAQ section too...
3. I mean, that option is always on the table, but it's definitely not the most reliable way to handle things...
4. You've got a much better shot at dodging a fine than you do of having them yank your driver's license away...

Hey... anyone got some advice or suggestions on what I should do here? So, I messed up the other day and got pulled over by the cops (they always seem to pop up exactly when you don't want them to =)). The officer had me in their cruiser and told me it was $333, which means two points on my license and a 2-month suspension. Is it even worth appealing this?
They didn't take my license right then and there, but can they still come back later to snatch it or hit me with that 2-month ban????
He gave everything back to me, though he did tell me straight up that it was $100. I tried to play it off, but he just said the notice would be sent to my house

I don't even know where to start with this absolute nonsense. It’s pure garbage. Total trash. Honestly, I’m losing my mind just thinking about how much time people waste on this stuff. It’s a joke. A complete and total circus. Stop believing everything you hear! kaže:
So, I’m looking for some real talk on what to expect here. When am I actually gonna get hit with this official notice? What kind of fines are we talking about, and what should my next move be? Seriously, any advice at all is huge right now. I’m 22, finishing up my senior year of college, and I’ve never even been in a situation like this before. It's a total mess. Also, I need to know if this is gonna screw me over when I try to get a background check—you know, that clean record check you need to show employers before starting a job? Is this whole thing gonna show up on that? Please, let me know. Thanks in advance.

Man, I honestly have no clue what you can even expect. It’s anyone's guess at this point.😁 God knows when it’ll happen. Honestly, it all just depends on how fast the courts can move, and we all know how much of a snail's pace that goes.
Look, I've seen this before. Sometimes those tickets hit my mailbox like two weeks after the fact, but other times? You’re looking at a nine-month delay before they finally come knocking. It happens.
Advice? Look, there’s nothing you can do right now. It is what it is. If you actually feel like fighting it, go ahead and file some kind of formal complaint. Otherwise? Just pay the damn thing and move on. Case closed.

You’re gonna get that background check cleared without any drama. As far as I know, what you did was just a minor misdemeanor, not some actual criminal offense. It's not even a big deal.😉

Ryan Jackson87 said:Hey... just wondering when the summons actually shows up at your door—you know, whether it's for a misdemeanor or a felony charge (for having 4 grams)... and if the paperwork actually spells out exactly what happened (like drug possession), or if they just give some vague legal jargon like "violating Section X of the Penal Code, show up for hearing" etc. Asking because a buddy of mine got busted for the first time and he's low-key panicking that his parents might see the docs and realize what's going on. Thanks.

The folder tells the whole story... I’m talking about the actual article AND all the shady crap they're trying to hide behind it.

I’ve run into a problem. I was in a motorcycle accident with my girlfriend. The bike was a rental and had full coverage, but I was drunk. She ended up with serious injuries. I’m not sure if the policy covers both the rider and the passenger, or just the operator. If both were covered, does she have a claim against the rental company's insurance regardless of my intoxication? Right now, the owner of the rental agency isn't returning my calls, making it impossible to reach him. Meanwhile, the insurance company won't tell me anything—it feels like they're hiding something. I need help, Emergency.🤷🤷🤷🤷

Keith Perez5 said:I’ve run into a problem. I was in a motorcycle accident with my girlfriend. The bike was a rental and had full coverage, but I was drunk. She ended up with serious injuries. I’m not sure if the policy covers both the rider and the passenger, or just the operator. If both were covered, does she have a claim against the rental company's insurance regardless of my intoxication? Right now, the owner of the rental agency isn't returning my calls, making it impossible to reach him. Meanwhile, the insurance company won't tell me anything—it feels like they're hiding something. I need help, Emergency.🤷🤷🤷🤷

If you were drinking, that collision coverage is basically useless. They're probably stalling on mentioning the DUI so the rental shop owner can come after you for the damages later.

Hey everyone, I’m reaching out because I desperately need some advice and a little help!
I'll try to give you the rundown of what happened, though it's a bit of a mess.
So, back on April 29th last year, I was driving down the main road and decided to pull into a parking lot. I swung wide to the left—not to be reckless, obviously, but just to make sure I didn't scrape the car already parked on my left side. My car was angled, basically mid-maneuver, and I was just trying to straighten up to slide into the spot when this other driver just barreled right into me. They slammed into me so hard they shoved my car about 15 or 20 feet sideways. Their left side absolutely wrecked my passenger side—rear right door, fender, the whole works...
Then things got weird. Two cops showed up to investigate, and get this—one of them was practically neighbors with the guy who hit me! They actually tried to pressure me into just "settling it privately," even though the guy wouldn't even admit he did anything wrong. Since I was bleeding from a head wound, they had to call Emergency services, which meant they had to process the scene. At the hearing, that same cop was incredibly rude and condescending to me; he actually had the nerve to suggest it was my fault just because I decided to get in my car in the first place. Long story short, the report they filed splits the blame. They're pinning it on me for an improper turn, but they completely ignore how the actual collision went down.
I ended up hiring a lawyer, but he doesn't specialize in traffic law, so he hasn't really achieved much. All he found out is that the case was moved to a court in the guy's hometown for the hearing, which feels super sketchy to me. And honestly... 9.3 miles. To make matters worse, his grandfather was also a lawyer, so now I’m terrified there’s some shady backroom dealing going on. Plus, I haven't heard a single word from the municipal court since then. All I have is the police report, which I never signed because I don't agree with a single word in it.
What am I supposed to do? What are my options here? The facts are totally on my side, but everything feels rigged.
One more thing: there's a crosswalk marked near that parking lot, maybe 40 meters away. The speed limit is 25 miles/h (there's a sign clearly posted), but the cops wrote down 31 miles/h, and his skid marks were 24 meters long.
I know I've condensed this quite a bit, but I hope it makes sense. I am seriously desperate for some help here.

I have no clue which court is even handling this case—whether it's going through municipal court or a misdemeanor court.

If they call you in, you'll get to tell your side of the story. If things get messy and you want to contest it, your lawyer can just request a traffic reconstruction expert.

Alright, I’ll toss my own little "drama" into the ring. So, back in February 2003, I got into this fender bender—basically rear-ended some girls driving ahead of me. It wasn't like a total wreck or anything, just smashed headlights and stuff like that. The cops showed up, and yeah... I blew a 0.10% BAC. Naturally, the next day those girls headed to the hospital with all the classic complaints—nausea, whiplash, you know the drill. Fast forward about a year or a year and a half later, and I get hit with a fine of roughly $1000, though I have the right to appeal. Well, I did appeal, and honestly, I haven't heard a peep since, so I’m assuming it just fell through the cracks or hit the statute of limitations. BUT... in the meantime, State Farm is coming after me for about $11667 (covering the car damage and the injuries for those four girls). Here's my question: can they actually pull this off? Since there hasn't been a final, official ruling proving I was at fault or that I was definitely under the influence—meaning nothing is legally binding yet??

I know I’ve probably asked this a dozen times already, but I just can't seem to find the right thread...

So, back in July 2006, I accidentally bumped into someone's car while parked. It was pretty minor damage, honestly, but the other driver was being really difficult about settling it privately, so we ended up having to call the police.

About five months later, I got a notice saying I needed to show up at the municipal court. Since it mentioned I could submit a defense in writing, I went that route and filed a request for a postponement. Then, around March 2008, I received another summons stating that my physical appearance in court was mandatory.

I actually headed down to the courthouse yesterday and laid out my side of the story to the judge. Now I'm sitting here wondering... I'm assuming the old statute of limitations applies to me since the incident happened over a year ago, right? So, if the limit is two years...

Does that two-year clock still run toward my benefit through March 2008, regardless of where the case stands right now? I mean, is there any realistic chance this drags on for another three months? And if they hand down a ruling from the municipal court, will I actually have the right to appeal it, or am I just stuck with whatever they decide?

Yeah, well, the two-year statute of limitations applies here, so I guess you'll have grounds for an appeal.

electricpilot29 said:Yeah, well, the two-year statute of limitations applies here, so I guess you'll have grounds for an appeal.

So, I guess if nothing shows up at my house for another three months, does that mean the statute of limitations kicks in?
And if something actually does arrive, it’ll say I can appeal the ruling, right? But then, how many weeks or days would I have to wait after that?