Traffic violation procedures

restlessdriver87 · 2005-07-06T11:54:47+00:00

I suspect this topic might have already been covered, but I haven't been able to locate any previous discussions on it. If anyone happens to be knowledgeable o…

boldhound8 Regular

437 messages
joined Oct 2007

#941 · Apr 25, 2008

vividsailor92 said:So I guess I just have to pray a cop doesn't roll up on me...
That’s gotta be in my favor, right? But even so, four years of these tickets piling up... it's gonna be a mess.

But seriously, I wasn't even in the wrong this time. From where they were sitting, there was no way they could see what was happening 500 yards back when they caught me on camera. I was stuck behind two pickups, seventy cars deep, and once the guys in the right lane sped past, I swerved to pass them and immediately merged back left... Barely made it back into my lane before this guy starts waving his baton at me, and he actually let the first car from the right lane go!!!! Now if I try to explain that in court? Who’s actually going to believe me? 😢

Yeah, it's in your favor if they don't show up, because if they do, there's a 99% chance you're getting hit with a fine.🙂
And if they don't show up, maybe you've got a 70% shot, damn it.😁

The story sounds fine, but you'd actually have to prove it, and I highly doubt you've got video footage or witnesses lying around...
Better off just going with the "I can't afford it, I'm unemployed, blah blah blah" routine... if the judge buys it and cuts the fine by like 50%, just pay it and call it a day.

vividsailor92 Member

13 messages
joined Apr 2008

#942 · Apr 26, 2008

boldhound8 said:Yeah, it's in your favor if they don't show up, because if they do, there's a 99% chance you're getting hit with a fine.🙂
And if they don't show up, maybe you've got a 70% shot, damn it.😁

The story sounds fine, but you'd actually have to prove it, and I highly doubt you've got video footage or witnesses lying around...
Better off just going with the "I can't afford it, I'm unemployed, blah blah blah" routine... if the judge buys it and cuts the fine by like 50%, just pay it and call it a day.

A friend of mine went through this... She couldn't believe they even pulled her over in the first place...
The issue is, she already has a warning on her record from a similar situation (cutting in from the right behind a taxi that was speeding). The cop believed him. He claimed the taxi was ahead, but she was driving too fast. She laughed about it in court, but the judge just called her an idiot. Just an idiot... and then stopped, because she was trying to explain she physically couldn't have been going faster than the car in front of her. Didn't matter. He was right, she got the warning since it was her first offense...

Might be better to just pay the $167 now and save myself the extra legal fees... 😢

Laura Davis62 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Apr 2008

#943 · Apr 26, 2008

vividsailor92 said:A friend of mine went through this... She couldn't believe they even pulled her over in the first place...
The issue is, she already has a warning on her record from a similar situation (cutting in from the right behind a taxi that was speeding). The cop believed him. He claimed the taxi was ahead, but she was driving too fast. She laughed about it in court, but the judge just called her an idiot. Just an idiot... and then stopped, because she was trying to explain she physically couldn't have been going faster than the car in front of her. Didn't matter. He was right, she got the warning since it was her first offense...

Might be better to just pay the $167 now and save myself the extra legal fees... 😢

Or maybe you should start mastering the art of stalling. Honestly, I'm thinking about it. Here's a link showing how only the cheapskates actually pay their bills on time:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/newsroom/news...68188/index.do
True, this is minor—just sales tax—but whether you were "speeding" or not could be interpreted by all sorts of different criteria.

vividsailor92 Member

13 messages
joined Apr 2008

#944 · Apr 26, 2008

I get the gist of it—it's all about who's footing the bill and who gets a free pass...
But I'm just looking at my own mess right now. There's basically zero chance I'll make it through the four-year statute of limitations, so I'll end up stuck paying $37 legal fees and dragging myself through court for nothing...

What they’re saying there isn't anything new for this country, nor did it surprise me. Judges are the biggest scammers of them all. Honestly, I won't even dignify what I really think of them with words...

vividsailor92 Member

13 messages
joined Apr 2008

#945 · Apr 26, 2008

Laura Davis62 said:Or maybe you should start mastering the art of stalling. Honestly, I'm thinking about it. Here's a link showing how only the cheapskates actually pay their bills on time:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/newsroom/news...68188/index.do
True, this is minor—just sales tax—but whether you were "speeding" or not could be interpreted by all sorts of different criteria.

Not sure I follow what you're getting at here...

rustycanyon57 Newcomer

1 message
joined Apr 2008

#946 · Apr 28, 2008

So, I parked my car in Santa Barbara this past Sunday and completely blanked on paying... since there's no charge in Providence on Sundays, it honestly didn't even cross my mind. Fast forward two hours and—boom—a ticket! The fine alone is $33! WTF?!?! The local transit authority issues fines of $5.00...
Well, that's not even the biggest issue. The enforcement officer who wrote the citation shoved those two slips wrapped in a plastic bag right under my windshield wiper and actually bent the blade. I sent them an email explaining the situation, and they just shot me back saying they contacted the officers and that they deny any responsibility for the damage!!

Has anyone dealt with something like this before? I really don't feel like shelling out $33 for the fine plus $97 just to replace a wiper blade! Sure, there are cheaper shady ways to handle things, but if they can charge $100 instead of $2.75, then I guess I'll stick to their pricing too! ))
How am I supposed to prove it now? I could just claim I displayed my parking permit and the guy missed it, but I doubt he took a photo of the car to prove it wasn't there!!!

How have you guys managed to get out of similar situations? Cheers

granitepanther18 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Apr 2008

#947 · Apr 30, 2008

..I honestly just have the worst luck!
I was rushing to a lecture today and hunting for a spot. My luck hit rock bottom when I spotted an open space in a regular lot—not on the street, where it’s always sketchy—so I scrambled to grab a ticket, paid for the hour I thought I'd be there, tossed it in the car, and bolted toward my class since I was already running late. I get back a little later than planned, and what do you know? My car is gone.
Towed by the city!
Once I actually took a good look around, I realized it was a handicap spot.
But the yellow paint on the ground was so faded that from my driver's side, there was zero chance I would've noticed it. There were two other cars parked in similar spots nearby, so I didn't see anything unusual there either. Since my spot was all the way on the left and I was in such a rush, I didn't look back much and completely missed the sign on the far right with the big "P" and the tiny wheelchair icon.
I paid the tow fee, but now $167...I really want to contest this, because... there is absolutely no way I intended to park in a handicap zone. I wouldn't dream of doing that!
The markings were just so poor that I'm not going to be a fool and just eat this fine... it makes no sense!
If I had seen it and ignored it, that would be one thing, but this? What am I supposed to do!?!?
What should I put in my appeal!?!
Please help me!!!😢

boldhound8 Regular

437 messages
joined Oct 2007

#948 · Apr 30, 2008

granitepanther18 said:..I honestly just have the worst luck!
I was rushing to a lecture today and hunting for a spot. My luck hit rock bottom when I spotted an open space in a regular lot—not on the street, where it’s always sketchy—so I scrambled to grab a ticket, paid for the hour I thought I'd be there, tossed it in the car, and bolted toward my class since I was already running late. I get back a little later than planned, and what do you know? My car is gone.
Towed by the city!
Once I actually took a good look around, I realized it was a handicap spot.
But the yellow paint on the ground was so faded that from my driver's side, there was zero chance I would've noticed it. There were two other cars parked in similar spots nearby, so I didn't see anything unusual there either. Since my spot was all the way on the left and I was in such a rush, I didn't look back much and completely missed the sign on the far right with the big "P" and the tiny wheelchair icon.
I paid the tow fee, but now $167...I really want to contest this, because... there is absolutely no way I intended to park in a handicap zone. I wouldn't dream of doing that!
The markings were just so poor that I'm not going to be a fool and just eat this fine... it makes no sense!
If I had seen it and ignored it, that would be one thing, but this? What am I supposed to do!?!?
What should I put in my appeal!?!
Please help me!!!😢

You called it. You predicted the sign, you saw that yellow-marked spot coming, and you even nailed that massive yellow "P" painted on the ground. And now? Now you’re too stubborn to just be smart about it and actually pay up!😁

If you actually send in a complaint like that, they’ll probably just go ahead and revoke your license too.😁
Just get the lipo and call it a day. Honestly, the chances of this actually working are zero. Period.😉

Steven Kim84 Member

14 messages
joined Apr 2013

#949 · Apr 30, 2008

So, I’ve got this scooter that’s been sitting dead in my garage for two years because it was totaled, and obviously, the registration expired ages ago. I finally got it back on its feet, fixed everything up, and headed down to the inspection station today thinking I was ready to go. Well, big mistake. The place was absolutely slammed, and before I could even get near the front of the line, they just shut the doors for the day. So, there I am, heading home empty-handed, when the police pull me over and slap me with a ticket since the bike isn't legal. Since tomorrow is a holiday and I can't get back to the station until Friday anyway, does anyone think it’s worth filing an appeal? Would explaining the whole "I tried to register it today but the shop closed due to the crowd" situation actually work if I promise to have it registered by the next business day?

granitepanther18 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Apr 2008

#950 · May 1, 2008

Mr.Ex.President;13845784 said:You called the sign, you called the yellow markings, you even called that massive yellow P on the ground, and you're still not going to be an idiot and pay.😁

Look, I already told you, there wasn't some giant yellow P on the ground. You could barely see anything, if that. Zane was way too far away, and I was in a rush... it seriously wasn't obvious at all!
I'll head back to that parking lot later and take some decent photos of the spot.

Noah Kelly4 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Mar 2004

#951 · May 1, 2008

Back in February 2003, I got pulled over for a DUI, but I never actually received any official notice about my license being suspended. Then, just two months later, I got caught driving drunk again, and this time I was handed a final decision stating my license was revoked for six months starting later that same year. In the chaos of everything, I actually lost my physical license and failed to report it missing. Is there any chance of the statute of limitations kicking in here, and how long does it take for these points to finally clear from my record?

placidowl24 Member

11 messages
joined Nov 2007

#952 · May 4, 2008

Hello,

I’ll get straight to the point. I followed the advice from this thread and filed an objection, but I never received the paperwork that requires a signature...

However, I just found a blue envelope in my mailbox stating:

SUMMONS TO DEFENDANT FOR MAIN HEARING

xy is hereby summoned to appear in person for a main hearing regarding examination in the capacity of a defendant...

WARNING:
I have the right to retain legal counsel
I am required to notify the court of any change of address or face a fine of up to $750 (how am I supposed to report a change if I'm not receiving any mail???)

In the event of failure to appear, a bench warrant will be issued and executed at the defendant's expense (Section 130)

Should you fail to appear, the hearing will proceed and evidence will be presented in your absence (Section 189)

Judge: [Name]

Certified for delivery: Signature and Seal

I should note that the statute of limitations expires on January 26, 2009—in nine months—and the first hearing hasn't even happened yet.

My questions:
1. How can I prepare two different explanations for failing to appear? Should I focus only on the specific reasons they highlighted and underlined?
2. Is there any reason to respond to this mail since it wasn't personally served to me?
3. Can I show up and request a continuance because I haven't had enough time to consult with an attorney? Since I work out in the field, I could honestly say I only received this "last night."
4. If I can't do option 3, is it game over? Will I just receive a judgment, and what happens then?

Please help.

Thank you.

silversurfer12 Member

10 messages
joined May 2008

#953 · May 5, 2008

I ended up getting a written warning instead of an actual fine since it was my first offense, so I’m wondering if this will still be flagged as a violation when I get pulled over next time? Also, does a warning like this have an expiration date, or does it just stay on my record indefinitely?

Keith Nguyen7 Member

40 messages
joined Nov 2007

#954 · May 5, 2008

Basically, it just means you don't get a warning anymore (it used to be a two-year window under the old laws), so now they just slap you with the fine automatically. Other than that, there’s nothing else to see.

silversurfer12 Member

10 messages
joined May 2008

#955 · May 5, 2008

So, just to be crystal clear here: for the next two years when they run my background check, is it actually going to show up that I have this warning on my record along with the fine they’re slapping me with?! Thanks for clarifying!

Keith Nguyen7 Member

40 messages
joined Nov 2007

#956 · May 5, 2008

Yeah. That's really it.

velvettiger10 Member

41 messages
joined May 2008

#957 · May 5, 2008

I have a few questions for the experts here, provided anyone actually has the time or inclination to answer them. 😉

Here is the situation:

Back in August 2007, my father-in-law was driving a car registered in my name.
A few days later, I received a notice from the local police department demanding that I either identify the driver or face paying the fine myself $667.😁
The letter claimed he committed two violations: driving without headlights and running a red light at a specific intersection. It’s a small town, and they really only have that one single traffic light.
The only "evidence" they cited in their correspondence was that the violation was "unquestionably established".
I didn't bother filling out their little questionnaire; instead, I sent back a brief explanation of why they were wrong.
About a month later, I got another letter from the county police, so I filed an appeal and requested that the matter be moved to the municipal court.
Following that, I received a summons from the court in that small town.
I asked them to transfer the hearing to the court in my own city so I wouldn't have to travel.
Well, today I finally got the notice for a hearing in my local court.
It’s scheduled for this Friday. 😁

So, my questions are these:
1. Can I demand that the court produce actual evidence, like photos, proving these violations occurred?
2. Am I allowed to request that the officer who supposedly "unquestionably" witnessed these infractions testify?
3. If we are talking about running a red light—which is a serious offense—shouldn't the police have reacted immediately by pulling the vehicle over on the spot? Or at least following the car down to issue the citation right then and there?

The thing is... my father-in-law insists he didn't run a red light.
As for the lights, he’s certain they weren't on because he simply forgot to turn them on, though honestly, he might not even know where the switch is. 🤷

Keith Nguyen7 Member

40 messages
joined Nov 2007

#958 · May 5, 2008

Why are you even messing around with this? Just let whoever was actually driving take the hit.

Roger Evans Member

22 messages
joined May 2008

#959 · May 5, 2008

So, the violation happened back in late July 2006—I'd slightly puffed up my 🙈.... I filed an appeal within the 8-day legal window, and since then, I haven't heard a peep from the court. I've moved twice in the meantime, changing my address both times.

Now, the cops have already shown up at my current address twice—I'm assuming they were trying to serve me a summons, but I didn't get it.

Since the statute of limitations is only about two and a half months away, I’m wondering what the move is here. Should I just take the summons, head to court, and fight the ruling? Or should I just stay under the radar for another two months? Honestly, I'm a little worried they might issue a warrant and catch me off guard somewhere.

Thanks. 🙂

velvettiger10 Member

41 messages
joined May 2008

#960 · May 5, 2008

Keith Nguyen7 said:Why are you even messing around with this? Just let whoever was actually driving take the hit.

Just let it go and have some peace. 😁

The real issue here is that he doesn't even live in this country, so nothing sticks anyway. 😉

Traffic violation procedures

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