Traffic violation procedures

I mean, look, you either pay up or you do the work. You can't really get hit twice for the same thing, right? How does that even make sense?

Hey everyone, I could really use some advice here. So, back on August 9th, I was involved in a fender bender—totally my fault. I was stuck in traffic and rear-ended someone because I didn't realize they were slamming on their brakes. My insurance covered all the damages, but yesterday I got a notice from the DMV $333 citing me for following too closely and causing a hazard. Here’s the thing: my car actually hydroplaned a bit since I was just in first or second gear, and when I tried to brake, the clutch slipped and I lost control. Now I'm wondering, what should I actually put in my appeal? I'm drawing a blank, unless I claim the brake lights on the car in front of me were out, which meant I couldn't react in time—especially since we were barely moving, probably around 20 mph at most.

Feel free to shoot me a DM! Thanks so much!

Look, it’s simple: you either pay the fine or you do the community service. You don't get hit twice. How exactly do you think that works?

I just got a court summons giving me the choice between community service or jail time. Is there any way to dodge this if I just show up to court with a receipt showing I already paid the fine?

Morgan Wilson7 said:

Look, it’s simple: you either pay the fine or you do the community service. You don't get hit twice. How exactly do you think that works?

I just got a court summons giving me the choice between community service or jail time. Is there any way to dodge this if I just show up to court with a receipt showing I already paid the fine?

Yeah, absolutely. At the end of the day, those guys care way more about the cash hitting their accounts than they do about you doing community service for the public good...

Yeah, obviously. To them, money always trumps anything you do for the public good.

Ugh, thanks, I was thinking the exact same thing 😁
I totally blanked on paying that fine and that whole summons for community service
I'll just pay them that $67 and bring the receipt and everything 😁

Hey everyone,

Something went sideways and now I’ve been summoned to court... I’m asking you all to share your experiences because, honestly, I’m a bit rattled 🙂 if nothing else, just so I know what I'm walking into. 🙂

Here’s the deal: I’m being charged with speeding in a residential zone. I cut someone off in their lane, and he claimed—his words, not mine—that he had to swerve into a ditch to avoid hitting me.

The fine is $167... plus court costs and whatever other nonsense they tack on.

Now, here is the kicker: when the summons arrived, it stated that the driver was going 31 miles/h over the limit in a residential area. Logically, this implies I was passing him, meaning I was traveling even faster than he was. Will the court try to charge me for that extra speed too, or am I strictly stuck with what’s written in the formal indictment?

Has anyone dealt with anything similar? What should I expect? Please help! 🙂

I mean, I don't think they can come after you if they haven't actually filed formal charges yet... though, then again, maybe they can? Like, just expand the existing indictment or something. I honestly have no clue. Someone who actually knows their way around a courtroom should probably weigh in here...

Sorry for going off-topic, but I gotta say something.
What were you guys even doing, waiting in line at the DMV or what? Like, don't they already have his exact speed on record from the moment the crash happened?

You can clearly see his skid marks... 🙂

So some neighbor actually reported me for letting air out of tires in a parking lot where those cars were illegally parked anyway.

Am I looking at a criminal charge here or just a misdemeanor?

Given how this went down, what kind of excuse could I actually pitch to a judge that might fly?

Just because someone else messed up doesn't give you a free pass to do the same thing...

mistyseal11 said:So some neighbor actually reported me for letting air out of tires in a parking lot where those cars were illegally parked anyway.

Am I looking at a criminal charge here or just a misdemeanor?

Given how this went down, what kind of excuse could I actually pitch to a judge that might fly?

A violation? Seriously?

mistyseal11 said:So some neighbor actually reported me for letting air out of tires in a parking lot where those cars were illegally parked anyway.

Am I looking at a criminal charge here or just a misdemeanor?

Given how this went down, what kind of excuse could I actually pitch to a judge that might fly?

Trying to act like some big shot in front of a girl? Well, looks like you already went and insulted a high-end professional carpet cleaner.

mistyseal11 said:So some neighbor actually reported me for letting air out of tires in a parking lot where those cars were illegally parked anyway.

Am I looking at a criminal charge here or just a misdemeanor?

Given how this went down, what kind of excuse could I actually pitch to a judge that might fly?

Just try the "I'm a fool" defense like that guy who got caught drunk driving. Just tell the judge you messed up and offer to stand in that parking lot for a few days holding a sign that says: I'm an idiot!!!🤣

About 1.5 years ago, the cops pulled me over and claimed I was doing 46 miles mph--way over the limit. I didn't admit to anything, and I definitely didn't sign a thing. Today, I picked up a court summons stating that my final traffic citation is already official, which means I either have to pay the fine or sign up for some kind of community service. To make matters worse, the notice showed up in my mailbox four days ago saying I was supposed to show up the day before yesterday! I picked up the mail within seven days like I always do, so technically I'm "late."

1) How can they claim this is already final?
2) How can they send a summons with a deadline that passes before the mail even gets delivered?
3) What exactly does "community service" entail?

So, I just picked up a parking ticket from $167 (based on Section 12/4—you know, that little rule stating road users have to actually follow the signs and restrictions posted on the street). I was considering filing an appeal, but then I stumbled upon some older threads claiming the statute of limitations kicks in after two years?! As if that helps. To make matters even more complicated, the car isn't even registered in my name.

My question is this: if I decide to file an official dispute, am I required to list the person whose name is on the vehicle registration rather than myself as the driver? And if so, do I need their actual signature on the paperwork?
Basically, is there any way to handle this without the owner ever finding out about the fine? Should I just bite the bullet and PAY, or is an APPEAL worth the headache?

THANKS for any insight you can provide.

Carol Foster7 said:So, I just picked up a parking ticket from $167 (based on Section 12/4—you know, that little rule stating road users have to actually follow the signs and restrictions posted on the street). I was considering filing an appeal, but then I stumbled upon some older threads claiming the statute of limitations kicks in after two years?! As if that helps. To make matters even more complicated, the car isn't even registered in my name.

My question is this: if I decide to file an official dispute, am I required to list the person whose name is on the vehicle registration rather than myself as the driver? And if so, do I need their actual signature on the paperwork?
Basically, is there any way to handle this without the owner ever finding out about the fine? Should I just bite the bullet and PAY, or is an APPEAL worth the headache?

THANKS for any insight you can provide.

It used to be 2 years, now it's 4.🤣
From what I remember, you have to give the FBI the driver's name, and then the ticket goes straight to them regardless of who owns the car. If you don't speak up, the owner is the one who gets screwed.

My advice? Just pay it. Your chances of hitting a statute of limitations or actually winning an appeal are less than 1%. Speaking from experience here, 😁 (and sorry if anything has changed in the last few months)

Jason Reed4, they clearly know exactly what they're doing—I just received my payment slip, so does that mean I pay at a local Post Office or somewhere else? And do I still need to physically show up at the Department of Homeland Security station once the fine is settled?
This is my first actual citation, and honestly, the whole process feels unnecessarily convoluted!

Carol Foster7 said:Jason Reed4, they clearly know exactly what they're doing—I just received my payment slip, so does that mean I pay at a local Post Office or somewhere else? And do I still need to physically show up at the Department of Homeland Security station once the fine is settled?
This is my first actual citation, and honestly, the whole process feels unnecessarily convoluted!

I don't really get how you even ended up with a payment slip in the first place?😁

The paperwork from the Department of Homeland Security came straight to my house addressed to the car owner.
Unless they just tucked it under your windshield wiper? Whatever, if you've got the slip, just pay it wherever—post office, bank, doesn't matter. Just make sure you keep that receipt safe!😉

I found her tucked right under my windshield wiper—just one more thing to clarify: am I actually required to head down to the local police station with this scrap of paper and "provide details regarding who I handed the keys to"—basically turning myself in by documenting my name as the driver during that disastrous night—while I sit there staring at this ridiculous piece of paper?

Thanks so much for all the help😉

Carol Foster7 said:I found her tucked right under my windshield wiper—just one more thing to clarify: am I actually required to head down to the local police station with this scrap of paper and "provide details regarding who I handed the keys to"—basically turning myself in by documenting my name as the driver during that disastrous night—while I sit there staring at this ridiculous piece of paper?

Thanks so much for all the help😉

Yeah, you probably have to.
And honestly, if you haven't had any tickets on your record for a full year, you might even be able to get the whole thing tossed out through some kind of formal appeal process.

But look, I'm not 100% certain here, so just grab that paperwork and head down there to see how they want to handle it.😉