Traffic violation procedures

Look, once the Military Police hands down a decision like that, you’re pretty much stuck—there aren't any more appeals or formal objections left to file. I'm having a little trouble following exactly how the whole situation went down on your end, but either way... there's just no way to challenge that ruling now.

I am actually looking for some similar information myself. 😁

Back in the summer of 2006, I committed a minor infraction—something stupid, like a broken headlight. To make matters worse, the officer also cited me for lacking a specific registration sticker. I ended up with two citations under the $100, totaling $600. Following the instructions provided in the legal guide, I filed an appeal through the Department of Justice within the required timeframe. Since then, there hasn't been a single word or a scrap of paper from anyone.

Then, around October of last year, I received a notice stating a shipment had arrived. I was home sick at the time and didn't feel up to checking it; I had no idea what it could be. About a month later, the police showed up at my house looking for me. I had no clue what they wanted while I was at work, so they returned the next day when I was home. It turns out the mail carrier was playing games, delivering a ruling from the High Misdemeanor Court. This decision was handed down during a session held exactly five days before the statute of limitations expired—yet they didn't even send the notice to me until four months after that session. The court rejected everything, claiming there were no procedural errors or violations of my substantive rights, and noted that I hadn't submitted any evidence that would justify a reduction in the fine. Essentially, they just confirmed the fines as originally stated.

First of all, I never appeared before any judge, nor did I receive a single document over those two years giving me the chance to respond to the case.

How was I supposed to know I needed to provide "evidence regarding material, medical, or similar conditions or other circumstances that would reasonably justify a mitigation of the penalty," when in similar instances, I have always been summoned to appear before a municipal judge to give my statement?

Furthermore, how is it possible for a matter to reach the High Misdemeanor Court without any prior proceedings? And now, I am told I have no right to appeal this.

One more thing: does this mean the police will simply reissue the old fine? I threw the original one away a long time ago since they failed to respond for nearly three years, and I certainly wasn't going to call them myself to pay it. Or should I just ignore it? 🤷

crimsonsailor7 said:Look, once the Military Police hands down a decision like that, you’re pretty much stuck—there aren't any more appeals or formal objections left to file. I'm having a little trouble following exactly how the whole situation went down on your end, but either way... there's just no way to challenge that ruling now.

The police pulled my boyfriend over. He had alcohol in his system, some mechanical issues with the car, and so on... they slapped him with a citation. Fine, points on his license, court costs—the whole nine yards. He sent an objection to the Department of Justice regarding the ticket, filing it promptly and basically arguing he couldn't afford the fine, blah blah blah. Then, an envelope arrives from the Department of Justice labeled "Military Police Ruling." Inside, they reject his objection as baseless because he didn't provide actual proof of financial hardship, and they've ordered him to pay the fine plus costs, and the points are staying on his record. What I don't get is why that objection was automatically routed to the Military Police instead of going straight to the Municipal Court?

Got pulled over for speeding a few days ago. Fine was $167 and I paid it right there on the spot. If you pay immediately, does it get cleared from my record?

Also, quick question. About six months ago, I got caught speeding again ($0.37 + $37). Didn't fight it or anything. Now I just got an enforcement notice from the IRS saying I have 8 days to pay up. What happens if I miss that 8-day window? To make things worse, the notice says they sent a copy to my employer to cover it if I don't pay—but I haven't even worked for that guy for over a year. Looking for some advice. I plan to pay, but I can't swing it for another month or two. I already dropped $37 on court fees...

dustysailor27 said:Got pulled over for speeding a few days ago. Fine was $167 and I paid it right there on the spot. If you pay immediately, does it get cleared from my record?

Also, quick question. About six months ago, I got caught speeding again ($0.37 + $37). Didn't fight it or anything. Now I just got an enforcement notice from the IRS saying I have 8 days to pay up. What happens if I miss that 8-day window? To make things worse, the notice says they sent a copy to my employer to cover it if I don't pay—but I haven't even worked for that guy for over a year. Looking for some advice. I plan to pay, but I can't swing it for another month or two. I already dropped $37 on court fees...

Mine showed up a few days ago, and honestly, I had zero clue what was going on until they explained it to me.😁
Basically, the statute of limitations on that is 10 years, and you don't have any right to appeal it. Within that 8-day window, you better try to talk to them and work out a payment plan or something similar. Ignoring it is a total waste of time because they're going to grab that money from you one way or another...

dustysailor27 said:Got pulled over for speeding a few days ago. Fine was $167 and I paid it right there on the spot. If you pay immediately, does it get cleared from my record?

Also, quick question. About six months ago, I got caught speeding again ($0.37 + $37). Didn't fight it or anything. Now I just got an enforcement notice from the IRS saying I have 8 days to pay up. What happens if I miss that 8-day window? To make things worse, the notice says they sent a copy to my employer to cover it if I don't pay—but I haven't even worked for that guy for over a year. Looking for some advice. I plan to pay, but I can't swing it for another month or two. I already dropped $37 on court fees...

If you pay a citation right at the scene, it doesn't go on your official driving record. It's just used internally by the Department of Homeland Security to track collected fines.

dustysailor27 said:Got pulled over for speeding a few days ago. Fine was $167 and I paid it right there on the spot. If you pay immediately, does it get cleared from my record?

Also, quick question. About six months ago, I got caught speeding again ($0.37 + $37). Didn't fight it or anything. Now I just got an enforcement notice from the IRS saying I have 8 days to pay up. What happens if I miss that 8-day window? To make things worse, the notice says they sent a copy to my employer to cover it if I don't pay—but I haven't even worked for that guy for over a year. Looking for some advice. I plan to pay, but I can't swing it for another month or two. I already dropped $37 on court fees...

If you don't pay within eight days, they'll hit you the first time you try to claim a tax refund by deducting the debt from your payout. If you get a direct deposit, they'll garnish your wages. If that doesn't work, they'll come after your assets through a sheriff's levy.

boldhound8 said:Mine showed up a few days ago, and honestly, I had zero clue what was going on until they explained it to me.😁
Basically, the statute of limitations on that is 10 years, and you don't have any right to appeal it. Within that 8-day window, you better try to talk to them and work out a payment plan or something similar. Ignoring it is a total waste of time because they're going to grab that money from you one way or another...

Do I gotta head down to the police station to work it out or what?

dustysailor27 said:Do I gotta head down to the police station to work it out or what?

It’s right there in your letter, man. Pretty sure you're dealing with the IRS.😉

boldhound8 said:It’s right there in your letter, man. Pretty sure you're dealing with the IRS.😉

Yeah, you're right... Thanks.🙂

Back on September 19, 2008, I was out with a buddy celebrating passing an exam. We were heading home around 4:30 AM, and I was sitting at a red light about 100 yards from my place. The light stayed red forever, so I looked left, saw nobody was coming, and decided to just roll through it. It happened at that intersection where Main Street meets Grove Avenue and Francis Joseph I, right by the park near the Edward Hopper statue—if there are any locals here who know the spot.😁

So, I blow through the red light, pull into a parking spot, and suddenly there’s a knock on my car window... it wasn't a traffic cop, but the DHS tactical unit. "Good evening, good evening, you ran a red light, blah blah blah." Then he calls his colleagues over from highway patrol.

One of those colleagues shows up, I take the breathalyzer, and I hit 0.08% (which is over the 0.07% limit). He writes me up for a DUI $233 plus$37 extra fees, and they impounded my license for 24 hours. I paid the fine first thing the next morning. I'm guilty, I get it...🤷

It’s been over six months now, and I still haven't received anything regarding the red light violation... The officer told me it would result in $667 being suspended for three months.

Up until this point, I've had a completely clean record—no criminal history or even minor infractions. This is my first time ever breaking the law.

I'm wondering what the procedure is once I receive the notice from the municipal court. Should I file an appeal so I can actually stand before a judge and ask for leniency? Since I'm a college student with no prior record and I'm generally a model citizen, maybe they'll take that into account. Or will I just be hauled before a judge regardless? What should I even include in an appeal?
Will the red light violation be treated as a separate offense from the DUI I already paid for, or will they bundle them together?

Thanks for any help...

Honestly, we've already gone over all of this several times on here 🙂

Sorry if I'm slow responding, my Wi-Fi is being super flaky and won't let me load everything properly 😢

So, here's the deal—I parked on the sidewalk back on January 30th, 2008.--- The local parking authority towed the car. They actually cleared it with me later, but NOW (well over a year after the fact) a fine for $133 just showed up from the police. The notice is dated January 5th of this year... which is wild because that would mean they took two whole months just to mail a notice down the street...
It says we have to hand over the driver's info (it actually went to my dad since it was his car), pay the fine, and do it all within 8 days of getting the letter...
What do I even do? Can I push back on this, and does it matter that they're over a year late?? 🤷

So, back in 2007—which was, like, just under two years ago for me—I got pulled over by a cop while I was riding a motorcycle. The thing was, I hadn't actually passed my tests for an A or even an A1 license yet.

I didn't get slapped with a ticket right then and there, but he did take down all my info and told me a fine would be mailed to my house at $667... plus, I was looking at a two-year ban from even trying to get my A or A1 licenses.

But, uh, since I was pretty much dodging my mailbox to avoid any fines or court summons, I went ahead and signed up for driving school in May 2008. I passed both the A and A1 tests, and everything was officially added to my driver's license!

Anyway, what I'm wondering is... if that fine or the ban on getting my A/A1 licenses (which I already have!) actually shows up at my door, does that mean my current license is suddenly invalid or something...?

Also, since it’s been almost two years now—and I think the statute of limitations for traffic violations ended on January 1st, 2008—would anything happen after that period passes?

And, like, what happens if I actually have to go to court and tell the judge, "Hey, look, I already have my A and A1 licenses in the US now"? 😉

Back on February 26, 2008, a judge handed down a ruling in a misdemeanor case, suspending my driver's license for three months. I didn't file an appeal against the decision... so now, seeing as it's been over a year since that ruling went down, I was wondering if anyone knows what the statute of limitations is for enforcing a measure like that? Thanks in advance for any insight...

I racked up two violations in just one week. Using my phone while driving and parking in a restricted zone. Each fine is $167. 😢 Since I haven’t had any tickets in the last year, someone suggested I file an appeal to get them waived. How should this appeal be structured? What kind of excuse actually works? Thanks in advance! 🙂

Brenda Thomas5 said:I racked up two violations in just one week. Using my phone while driving and parking in a restricted zone. Each fine is $167. 😢 Since I haven’t had any tickets in the last year, someone suggested I file an appeal to get them waived. How should this appeal be structured? What kind of excuse actually works? Thanks in advance! 🙂

Honestly, if you’d only had one violation, an appeal might have actually worked—you probably would've just walked away with a warning. But two within a single week? Yeah, that's a tough sell. It's almost impossible to fight once they stack them like that.

Here is the situation...
A colleague of mine was driving a government vehicle when he was pulled over by the police for a routine equipment inspection.
Since we were completely unaware that a fire extinguisher was mandatory—which is a pretty ridiculous oversight considering it only costs about $33—the officer started lecturing him on various statutes and how much the fine would be.
In the end, though, he didn't actually issue a formal citation; he just scribbled some notes in his little notebook, so my colleague didn't sign anything.
I suppose the question is: can they still issue a fine based solely on those handwritten notes?
By the way, the fine is somewhere between $10,000 and $15 $0.00.

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

Seeking advice from anyone with legal expertise.
In June 2006, I was pulled over and clocked at 0.7 blood alcohol content.
By September 2006, I received a court summons, which I attended.
Around early 2007, a penalty notice arrived. I filed an appeal, and then silence. Nothing.
Now, a package arrives via USPS from the same city where the incident occurred.
The question is: should I pick it up?
Has the statute of limitations expired?
What do the legal experts here think?
Thanks.

Look, you aren't going to know for sure until you actually try to spin up the instance, because we aren't psychics or anything... 😉 It’s most likely just an expiration issue, honestly, since it’s been way too long even by VPS standards...