Going to court tomorrow for a traffic infarction. Update:

[Eli]

I plead not guilty to a ticket I got a while back, like 2 months ago. :Q Almost forgot about it even.

Anyway, I've never been to such a thing before. What should I expect? Any tips/tricks/hints? My only hope is probably only if the officer doesen't show up... lol

I figured it was worth a try.

Update:

Didn't get to talk to an ADA or anything, talked to/made a deal directly with the officer. He dropped the 80 in a 55 and Failure to Yield, if I plead guilty to the Careless Driving.. It was the cheapest option.

I have to go take some drivers class, and go back to court in 90 days.. lol..

Oh well, at least he was nice about it... and I don't have 900$ in tickets anymore.

 

[DainBramaged]

"infarction." lmao.

 

[OS]

you should have waited longer before going to court.

did you get your extension before getting a trial date?

 

[mugs]

If your only hope is that the officer doesn't show up, don't get your hopes up.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
"infarction." lmao.

:Q

 

[potato28]

Wat's the infraction? Driving under the influence?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: OS
you should have waited longer before going to court.

did you get your extension before getting a trial date?

No. I didn't realize you had to ask for a continuance 14 days before, and I missed the date.. lol

 

[Brainonska511]

What was your "infraction?"

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: OS
you should have waited longer before going to court.

did you get your extension before getting a trial date?

No. I didn't realize you had to ask for a continuance 14 days before, and I missed the date.. lol

When I went to court with my then-future wife, the officers were all reading from their notebooks... I don't think time would help you.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: potato28
Wat's the infraction? Driving under the influence?

No.. lol

Failure to Yield because I pulled over to the left roll: the cop was obviously being a dick.. It was my first time being pulled over on the highway.. I was in the left lane, I pulled over to the left.. so sue me.. lol)

80 in a 55 (I was only going 75 damnit)

Careless Driving

As for the careless driving, shrug.. whatever. Maybe in his opinion, but I guess that's all that matters. It was 4am, I was on my way to work and wanted to test the truck out after getting it back from the shop. So I was driving spirited.. just kill me now.

Anyway, I'm not here to defend myself. Just want to know what I should expect at court. Not necessarily in regards to if I'll get off or not, but just.. How does it work?

The cop was on a motorcycle.. It almost seemed like he was off shift, or just getting ready to be. He grabbed my license, scribbled out a ticket and then sped off. Didn't even check registration or proof of insurance.

 

[doze]

Not guilty plea all depends on how your local court system operates. I plead not guilty went to court and talked to the assistant DA who basically said "You haven't got a ticket in a while how about a non-moving violation?" I said ok waited for the judge who approved violation and issued court cost which turned out the exact same cost as the speeding ticket.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: doze
Not guilty plea all depends on how your local court system operates. I plead not guilty went to court and talked to the assistant DA who basically said "You haven't got a ticket in a while how about a non-moving violation?" I said ok waited for the judge who approved violation and issued court cost which turned out the exact same cost as the speeding ticket.

hmmm.... Yeah, this is pretty much what a friend advised me to do.. I called the court and tried to ask about this, but maybe I used the wrong terminology...

Is this something I'll have a chance to do before the court proceedings, or what?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: doze
Not guilty plea all depends on how your local court system operates. I plead not guilty went to court and talked to the assistant DA who basically said "You haven't got a ticket in a while how about a non-moving violation?" I said ok waited for the judge who approved violation and issued court cost which turned out the exact same cost as the speeding ticket.

hmmm.... Yeah, this is pretty much what a friend advised me to do.. I called the court and tried to ask about this, but maybe I used the wrong terminology...

Is this something I'll have a chance to do before the court proceedings, or what?

From what I've heard and read, you could talk to the prosecutor (whoever it might be) before the trial and see if you can get the ticket knocked down to something else.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: doze
Not guilty plea all depends on how your local court system operates. I plead not guilty went to court and talked to the assistant DA who basically said "You haven't got a ticket in a while how about a non-moving violation?" I said ok waited for the judge who approved violation and issued court cost which turned out the exact same cost as the speeding ticket.

hmmm.... Yeah, this is pretty much what a friend advised me to do.. I called the court and tried to ask about this, but maybe I used the wrong terminology...

Is this something I'll have a chance to do before the court proceedings, or what?

You can talk to the prosecutor and ask to plead guilty to a non-moving violation (or no-points violation), or you can see if your state offers a deferred judgement option, or you can see if your state offers traffic school to get the points removed.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I would have plead guilty and had the fine reduced considerably. Now that you've plead not guilty you're obligated to prove to the court that you are indeed innocent. If the officer does show up, you're screwed. It's just about open and shut and you're going to have to pay the full fine. For future reference for speeding tickets: Plead guilty if you are indeed guilty and get the fine reduced. If there's even a glimmer of hope that the cop messed up somewhere you better be damn ready to prove that he messed up. You better have all your ducks in a row and all laws in front of you.

Better yet, ask DA

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: doze
Not guilty plea all depends on how your local court system operates. I plead not guilty went to court and talked to the assistant DA who basically said "You haven't got a ticket in a while how about a non-moving violation?" I said ok waited for the judge who approved violation and issued court cost which turned out the exact same cost as the speeding ticket.

hmmm.... Yeah, this is pretty much what a friend advised me to do.. I called the court and tried to ask about this, but maybe I used the wrong terminology...

Is this something I'll have a chance to do before the court proceedings, or what?

From what I've heard and read, you could talk to the prosecutor (whoever it might be) before the trial and see if you can get the ticket knocked down to something else.

That's what I tried to do. I called the court clerk and said that I'd like to get in touch with the prosecutor, but she said there is no prosecutor and the cop that issued the ticket represents the state.

 

[tfinch2]

So you farc'ed up huh?

 

[state 08]

Plead Not Guilty, and lie your ass off. Worked for me!

What happened: Made a right turn, accelerated hard to about 50 mph. Real speed limit: 30 MPH.

What "happened": Oncoming traffic was going to fast for me to stay at 30, so unfortunately, after waiting a long time to turn, I took the risk of making a turn when the oppurtunity presented itself, and accelerated just to keep up with traffic. Sorry judge, had no intention of speeding, just wanted to avoid an accident. Also, my first infraction, just lette me go, k? thx!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: state 08
Plead Not Guilty, and lie your ass off. Worked for me!

What can I say though? It's just my word against his?

"He was doing 80.."

"No, I was only going 75"? That's still 20 over..

As for the Failure to Yield.. I don't think playing ignorant works, does it? My only thought was pullin over ASAP, I wasn't thinking about the side of the highway I was pulling over on.

Careless Driving..? Well, it's my opinion that it wasn't careless. IT was 4am, there were barely any cars on the street, it was dry and I was in control of my vehicle.

Shrug.

lol

 

[potato28]

Ask DA.

 

[state 08]

Another traffic ticket tip:

Most likely, the dude that gave you a ticket will be there, cuz he handed out a buncha them on that same day. SOOOO, reschedule your court date as MANY times as you possibly can. Better chance of him not showing since. No gauruntees though.

 

[doze]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: doze
Not guilty plea all depends on how your local court system operates. I plead not guilty went to court and talked to the assistant DA who basically said "You haven't got a ticket in a while how about a non-moving violation?" I said ok waited for the judge who approved violation and issued court cost which turned out the exact same cost as the speeding ticket.

hmmm.... Yeah, this is pretty much what a friend advised me to do.. I called the court and tried to ask about this, but maybe I used the wrong terminology...

Is this something I'll have a chance to do before the court proceedings, or what?

From what I've heard and read, you could talk to the prosecutor (whoever it might be) before the trial and see if you can get the ticket knocked down to something else.

That's what I tried to do. I called the court clerk and said that I'd like to get in touch with the prosecutor, but she said there is no prosecutor and the cop that issued the ticket represents the state.

Show up an hour or two before and dress normal. It's not a criminal offense so there is no prosecutor pretty much just you and the judge. You usually talk to the DA first who prepares the case files before giving them to the judge, other places you just stand in front of the judge. Don't make excuses just say you plead not guilty.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: state 08
Plead Not Guilty, and lie your ass off. Worked for me!

What can I say though? It's just my word against his?

"He was doing 80.."

"No, I was only going 75"? That's still 20 over..

As for the Failure to Yield.. I don't think playing ignorant works, does it? My only thought was pullin over ASAP, I wasn't thinking about the side of the highway I was pulling over on.

Careless Driving..? Well, it's my opinion that it wasn't careless. IT was 4am, there were barely any cars on the street, it was dry and I was in control of my vehicle.

Shrug.

lol

Sounds like you are fully prepared to make a convincing case on you being not guilty!! Attaboy!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: state 08
Plead Not Guilty, and lie your ass off. Worked for me!

What can I say though? It's just my word against his?

"He was doing 80.."

"No, I was only going 75"? That's still 20 over..

As for the Failure to Yield.. I don't think playing ignorant works, does it? My only thought was pullin over ASAP, I wasn't thinking about the side of the highway I was pulling over on.

Careless Driving..? Well, it's my opinion that it wasn't careless. IT was 4am, there were barely any cars on the street, it was dry and I was in control of my vehicle.

Shrug.

lol

Sounds like you are fully prepared to make a convincing case on you being not guilty!! Attaboy!

rawr

Maybe I'm 100% guilty, but there's room for mistakes. The Failure to Yield is at best an honest mistake. I won't make it again, there's no need to charge me a ridiculous sum of money for making a simple mistake.

 

[mugs]

They ticketed you for THREE offenses? Youch. And you pulled over on the left side?