Traffic violation procedures

Carl Martin said:Need some help here,

So, I just got hit with a notice from the police saying my driver's license is suspended. It's a Class B restriction, and apparently, the ban kicks in the second I get this notification.

The whole thing happened back in March, and honestly? I haven't filed an appeal or even paid the fine yet.

Is there actually any point in trying to fight this through an appeal, or am I better off just biting the bullet and paying the damn fine?

And what kind of legal mess am I looking at if I just decide not to pay?

thanks

well depends on what you did, but honestly doubt an appeal helps much. i paid my ticket for my bike and they took my license for 3 months... cool...😁...not sure about the rest

Hi there,

Has anyone here dealt with a citation related to fare evasion on the trolley system in Seattle?
I got caught by an inspector on the trolley; I had used a fake pass, but I tried to rub out the mark with an eraser and reuse it, which the lady spotted immediately, and she slapped me with a fine. I received the notice at my home address about a month and a half ago,$33.

Now, my dad mentioned he’d take care of the payment, but it looks like he completely forgot, and today I received a formal notice from the municipal court stating I need to pay $333, unless I decide to file an appeal. So, I was wondering if anyone has actually gone through the process of appealing one of these or ended up appearing in court over something like this?

So, I got pulled over a few days ago and blew a 0.14. The cops actually let me slide down to a 0.94, acting like they were doing me a huge favor lol. Anyway, my license got suspended for 3 days, but I already picked it back up today. I’m wondering—with the $1,000$667 fine and those 2 points on my record, am I looking at being without a license for 3 to 6 months next? This is my first time dealing with this and since I'm a college student, I really need my car for everything. If I write up an appeal explaining the whole situation properly, is there any chance they'd just let me pay the fine and take the points without taking my license away? Or is an appeal just a waste of time? Thanks!

A buddy of mine caused a wreck driving a car with expired registration and ended up blowing
0.58. When he finally stood before the municipal court judge, he actually broke down in tears, begging for some kind of leniency. Since he’s got a perfectly clean record, the judge handed him a one-time reduced fine of $1833.
SO, WOULD IT BE COMPLETELY STUPID TO APPEAL THIS DECISION AND TRY TO PUSH FOR AN EVEN SMALLER FINE??? THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Here’s the situation..
I just got a summons from the municipal court in San Francisco. I'm being called in as the defendant for a preliminary hearing before the main trial on July 15th.
To be honest, I have zero clue what this is even about..
I’ve got two possibilities:
1) About two years ago, I got caught drinking beer around the stadium during a game..😠>
2) Fare evasion on a bus.. I might have an unpaid fine from 5 or 6 years back..

Regarding the first option, I called a buddy who got caught for the exact same thing, but he never received anything in the mail..🤷>

There is no way I can make it to San Francisco by the 15th. I’m studying in Washington, D.C., and that’s the day my mandatory summer internship starts—it's required if I want to enroll for next year. Is there any way to excuse my absence? I technically have a valid reason, but I really don't want them calling the company or, god forbid, my university..

Also.. how am I supposed to find out what this is actually regarding? Should I just call them?
The summons is a total mess (terrible handwriting), so I can't even tell which legal code they're citing..
It says something unreadable like due to a violation of article 17.2OPJRM?????>
I don't even know where to look up what that article means..
Someone please help me out here..

I’m fairly certain that "2OPJRM" is actually just a typo for "ZOPJRM"—you know, those standard public order laws—specifically Article 17:

"Anyone who defaces or insults government agencies or official personnel while they are performing their duties, or in connection with them, or ignores their lawful orders, shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine ranging from $500 to $5,000 or up to 30 days in jail."

Nicholas Turner said:I’m fairly certain that "2OPJRM" is actually just a typo for "ZOPJRM"—you know, those standard public order laws—specifically Article 17:

"Anyone who defaces or insults government agencies or official personnel while they are performing their duties, or in connection with them, or ignores their lawful orders, shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine ranging from $500 to $5,000 or up to 30 days in jail."

Well, obviously... I don't get it then. Insulting them isn't even a thing here..🤷
Does anyone know anything about the failure to appear charge?

My mom’s husband actually received a summons for a disorderly conduct law violation recently too, and he isn't planning on showing up in person because it's just not feasible; he's out working twelve-hour shifts far outside our home city. That said, he intends to send a formal letter explaining the circumstances behind his absence, as I believe you can't simply ignore the situation without providing some sort of explanation or reaching out. I mean, technically you could skip it, but...🤷

It’s been two years now—two full years—since I received that court order regarding a fine I failed to pay. Because I didn't settle it, the whole thing spiraled; it turned into jail time and an order to suspend my driver's license for six months. However—and this is the part where things get a bit messy—since my license had already expired by the time they caught up with me, they couldn't actually record the suspension in the system. So, I guess the question is... now that the statute of limitations has passed, if I go ahead and get my medical exam done, can I just apply for a brand new license without having to serve that six-month ban? I really hope I explained myself clearly enough here—the original violation was a DUI.

I really need some advice here
- So, after I already filed my formal protest against that mandatory citation, I just got hit with a summons to appear before a judge a few months later. Apparently, it’s to give me the chance to submit my written defense in person... this is all regarding a $500 fine for improper parking and an illegal lane change that resulted in a collision.
- What on earth am I supposed to do now????
- Should I actually show up to talk to the judge, or should I just focus on writing an appeal? And if I go the appeal route—can I even do that yet, or am I stuck waiting for a final ruling before I can officially contest anything???????
- THANKS SO MUCH............

Hi everyone. I’m not sure if anyone else has dealt with this before, but I really need some help.

Back in 2007, I got caught with marijuana. It turned into a whole legal ordeal involving social services and everything else...
Since I was just barely an adult and had a clean record, I had two choices: fight it and risk a massive fine or jail time, OR plead guilty, complete 3-6 months of counseling at a rehab center, and submit weekly drug tests to have the charges dropped. Naturally, I took the second option.
On March 4, 2008, I signed my plea in court, and the prosecutor told me that once I finished my requirements, the case against me would be dismissed. I did everything I was supposed to do and honestly just put it behind me.
Then, out of nowhere, I get a notice at my house with bills for $1733 because I've been declared guilty 😳
When I reached out to the judge who handled the case, she said she never received any paperwork to dismiss the proceedings.
My deadline to appeal is this coming Monday. To prove anything, I need to find a copy of my original plea agreement.
The social worker assigned to my case isn't even working there anymore. Plus, I can't get a replacement contact until late next week.
The prosecutor I signed everything with is on vacation, and nobody else will give me any information.
I can't even get a hold of the counselor I saw back then...

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW???

Sorry if this is a long post or if I'm in the wrong sub, but I am seriously frustrated.
It's not even about the money; I just don't want a criminal record for something I've already paid for and finished...

Something about this feels a little off...

Is the prosecutor really promising that they'll drop the charges under the disorderly conduct law???

No. From what they explained to me (and I’m definitely no expert here), they’re staying the criminal proceedings, so instead of jail time, my penalty is just counseling. Plus, if the criminal case wraps up before the misdemeanor one, then the misdemeanor charge gets dropped too...
Like I said, I'm totally out of my element here.
But when I called the judge from the misdemeanor court yesterday, she thought the whole thing sounded perfectly reasonable (so I guess it's possible), but the issue is she never actually received the official paperwork or notice.

So, I have a few questions regarding an appeal I’m planning to put together. Earlier today, I hopped on a scooter without wearing a helmet—just for a quick bit, really—and after maybe a couple of blocks, my friend pulled over to drop me off so we could chat for a minute. Well, wouldn't you know it, about thirty seconds later, a police officer rolls up and hands me a citation for $333. I actually refused to sign the ticket they handed me... which, looking back, might have been a bit much. Anyway, just for context, I’m a full-time student paying my own way through school—no scholarships or anything—and I’ve honestly never even had a run-in with the law before this.
Now, what do you all think? Should I try to use those facts as a sort of plea, or would it be better to just claim I wasn't actually riding the scooter at the time (or perhaps that I *was* wearing a helmet and just took it off right before the officer arrived)? Or maybe a little bit of everything... a hybrid approach? 😁 Or am I just dreaming if I think any of this will actually work? 😕 Thanks in advance...

So, two days ago I was cruising through some tiny little town out in rural Ohio on this dead-straight stretch of road around 94-52 miles PM, according to the paperwork they handed me.
The cops weren't even right by the camera—I read somewhere that they’re supposed to be stationed near a visible patrol car—but the camera was just sitting there about half a mile to a mile away from any police presence, and I didn't see a thing. I was keeping pace with traffic at about 30-31 miles mph the whole way until I hit that spot where I had to pass a van that was actually speeding up right as I pulled out to overtake.
It felt like a total setup. They picked a ghost town with zero soul, the only place where you can actually pass someone, far from any patrol cars, just a lone camera waiting to catch you for going a few seconds over the limit through an empty village.
Honestly, they could've just cruised through there in thirty minutes, pocketed 10 $0.00, filled their pockets to the brim, and called it a day,
but instead, the real speeders are still tearing up the roads, and justice isn't being served.
If they'd just given me a heads-up, I would've slowed down, or if they'd just slapped me with a standard $100-$233 fine, that would've been enough of a warning since everyone flies through that stretch. This feels totally unfair and I'm pretty annoyed.
I didn't want to beg the officer to drop the fine because he was being a total jerk, and I wasn't about to start arguing on the side of the road.
They handed me a citation on the spot for $667 for speeding in a residential area (even though there wasn't a single soul on the road, and it's a straight, clear shot), plus two points on my license. I've got eight days to pay up or contest it.
Now I'm crunching the numbers. If the statute of limitations for my old DUI case (which was 1.46 BAC) holds true, it expires on July 27, 2009.
I've got a totally clean record otherwise.

Is it smart to fight this? Since my alcohol charge hasn't timed out yet, and considering I've only had to show up to municipal court once in two years with this same department, should I go for it?
Or should I just bite the bullet, pay the $667, and take those two points? I really don't want to deal with the points for this reason.

Hi there.
I have a bit of a complicated situation on my hands, so I’ll try to lay it out as clearly as I can. If anyone can make sense of this, I would truly appreciate the help.

About a year ago, without any provocation at all, my father's sisters—with whom he has been locked in a legal dispute over property for about 15 years now—showed up in the yard of the house currently undergoing partition, where my grandmother and father live. Things escalated incredibly quickly; they started hurling insults, and it turned violent. One of them actually tried to hit my father in the head with a rock, while another kicked my grandmother—their own sister—right in the backside. A similar confrontation happened the very next day, though this time my father struck back by slapping one of them.
The following day, my father reported the entire incident to the local police. When the officers arrived at our door, the aunts actually turned the tables and reported us for the alleged verbal abuse and fighting.
A few days ago, we received a summons from the municipal court for a hearing where my father is listed as the 'defendant.' Since he is currently working out at sea and cannot physically attend the hearing, he submitted a written response to the court. However, just this morning, a new notice arrived for a date that again clashes with his work schedule, making it impossible for him to be present. This latest notice even makes mention of potential jail time. 😕

Specifically, I am wondering about a few things: why is he being labeled as the 'defendant' when they were the ones who trespassed onto our property and instigated the entire altercation? Furthermore, what happens if he continues to respond only in writing rather than appearing in person? Is it actually possible for him to face prison time, and what other types of penalties might be on the table?

Thank you all.

I just got hit with a $2,000 fine and a one-month driver's license suspension. Since I work as a professional driver, this is a huge deal for me. Now I’m trying to figure out my next move—should I file an appeal, a formal petition, or just a general objection?
I'm also wondering if filing a petition works the same way as an appeal when it comes to pausing the sentence from taking effect?
Thanks!

So, I’ve got a bit of a question about how statutes of limitations work. I committed a violation under the disorderly conduct law way back in October 2007. I actually got some court summonses sent my way after that, but I totally ghosted them because I wasn't even living in the area at the time. Anyway, I'm finally back in town, and I was wondering—will the statute of limitations hit this October? Like, if I end up dragging out the whole court process—say I get a judgment and then file an appeal, and nothing is officially settled by October—would that trigger the absolute statute of limitations for my offense, since it'll have been two years since the actual incident?

Got a question here....

So, I ended up dinging some guy's car in a parking lot...

He called the cops, and now I’m stuck with a fine of $333...

Is there any actual chance that if I file an appeal, they'll lower it? I'm just a high schooler—I don't have any income to my name.

I have a question for you all... is it actually possible to file an appeal several months down the line? Specifically, if I just received some kind of formal notice at home regarding the collection of other public fees following requests from various government agencies and whatnot...