NEED HELP QUICK: Speeding ticket in NY... wtf?

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urameatball

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2001
2,770
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I received a speeding ticket doing 86 in 55 zone on Aug.12/02.

When the officer (NY state trooper) handed me the ticket, he only informed me to pay it by Sept.1/02 and left immediately afterwards. I ignored the ticket until yesterday when I picked it up and saw that if I wanted to fight it, I needed to mail it back within 48hrs and they will assign me a court date afterwards. But in the front of the ticket, it already lists a time and place that I "am hereby directed to appear in".

if you're wondering why I was doing 86 on a 55, I WASN'T!!! I have 4 witnesses in the car behind me willing to testify that they were pacing me at ~65 (which was slower than the speed of traffic!!!). I think this officer screwed me seeing I had an ontario plate and I told him I didn't know how fast I was going.
 
S

Spooner

Lifer
Jan 16, 2000
12,025
1
76
4 witnesses willing to testify that you were doing less than 65? What were you in a funeral procession or something?
 
N

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
If I lived out of the country, I'd probably just throw the ticket away....

But, it's not the officer's fault it took you weeks or months to actually READ the ticket that you signed.
 
C

csiro

Golden Member
May 31, 2001
1,261
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Did the ticket include a reckless driving charge? Not sure what the laws are in New York, but usually if there's a reckless charge, you have to show up in court. Most of the time, if you're 20 over, they'll add that charge in. I think in New York, it's 30 over...
 
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urameatball

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2001
2,770
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4 witnesses because I had 4 friends pacing right behind me.

No, I did not sign the ticket nor was I asked the sign the ticket, and my friends convinced me to hand him the ticket and forget about it until our vacation was over (got the ticket back from my friend Aug.19).

I don't see any mention of reckless driving on the ticket.



ANYWAY...
in the front of the ticket, it says:
YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO APPEAR IN THE
Town COURT Tn OF Romulus
Address.....
City...., State.... Zip......
ON 09/02 Year 02 at 7pm.

but on the back of the ticket it says:
NOTE: Mail to the court specified on the reverse by Registered or Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, or by First Calss Mail, within 48hours. The Court shall then advice the violator by First Class Mail of the trial date.


clearly this is contradicting information shown on the ticket. I don't even have a phone number to call to clear something like this up... the officer who pulled me over was less then helpful as well.
 
guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
Originally posted by: urameatball
But in the front of the ticket, it already lists a time and place that I "am hereby directed to appear in"
Click to expand...

as someone who lives in NY, and has received A SPEEDING TICKET (30 in a 20!! WTF!!) i can tell you that is your court date. You go to traffic court to see the assistant DA, who allows you to plea. If you plead not guilty, they give you a follow up date. If you plea bargain... i went from 30 in a 20, to failing to yield.... they give you your penalty and you wait for the judge. then 10 of you are brought before the judge... he asks how do you plea.... guilty.... ok... penalties as assessed... see the clerk.

all in all... plan on a FULL 8 hour day in court :(



 
guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
Originally posted by: urameatball

ANYWAY...
in the front of the ticket, it says:
YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO APPEAR IN THE
Town COURT Tn OF Romulus
Address.....
City...., State.... Zip......
ON 09/02 Year 02 at 7pm.

but on the back of the ticket it says:
NOTE: Mail to the court specified on the reverse by Registered or Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, or by First Calss Mail, within 48hours. The Court shall then advice the violator by First Class Mail of the trial date.
Click to expand...
you can mail your plea in... but its better to do it in person... you can plea by mail... usually gets denied... or you can "pay" by mail.. but then you cant bargain.

better to go in person on your scheduled date.


 
U

urameatball

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2001
2,770
0
0
so you're saying the date and time shown on the front of the ticket is if I wanted to plea in person (but not the real trial date where I must appear)?.

If that's the case, then I would choose to plea by mail because I live in TORONTO and driving 5hrs to romulus NY to plea not guilty, and then driving back 5hrs in the dark isn't exactly a field day.
 
M

MacBaine

Banned
Aug 23, 2001
9,999
0
0
Originally posted by: urameatball
4 witnesses because I had 4 friends pacing right behind me.

No, I did not sign the ticket nor was I asked the sign the ticket, and my friends convinced me to hand him the ticket and forget about it until our vacation was over (got the ticket back from my friend Aug.19).

I don't see any mention of reckless driving on the ticket.



ANYWAY...
in the front of the ticket, it says:
YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO APPEAR IN THE
Town COURT Tn OF Romulus
Address.....
City...., State.... Zip......
ON 09/02 Year 02 at 7pm.

but on the back of the ticket it says:
NOTE: Mail to the court specified on the reverse by Registered or Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, or by First Calss Mail, within 48hours. The Court shall then advice the violator by First Class Mail of the trial date.


clearly this is contradicting information shown on the ticket. I don't even have a phone number to call to clear something like this up... the officer who pulled me over was less then helpful as well.
Click to expand...

Damn you gotta go to Romulus? You must have been doing like Warp 7 or something!

 
U

urameatball

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2001
2,770
0
0
Originally posted by: res1bhmg
You live in Canada. Shred the ticket and have a nice day.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I've heard that if you ignore the ticket, they will put you in jail the next time they see your vehicle in NY. And I also heard that I can't renew my vehicle registration either.

both rumors, but if any of them are true, I'm pretty much screwed.
 
K

KokomoGST

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2001
3,758
0
0
Originally posted by: res1bhmg
You live in Canada. Shred the ticket and have a nice day.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised he even gave you a ticket after he saw your Canadian plates... some cops in NYC metro are dumb bastards... they give the good ones a bad rap.
 
guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
Originally posted by: urameatball
If that's the case, then I would choose to plea by mail because I live in TORONTO and driving 5hrs to romulus NY to plea not guilty, and then driving back 5hrs in the dark isn't exactly a field day.
Click to expand...

your choice... just keep in mind that usually when you plead by mail... they do your trial in absentia.

also.... if you "shred the ticket" like others are suggesting, since you live in canada.... you may find an arrest warrent issued for your arrest if you choose to return to the US.

keep in mind ALL THE CONSEQUENCES.

if you haven't done so.. i would suggest contacting a lawyer... they can plea for you and represent you at trial... you dont have to be present if your proxy is.



 
U

urameatball

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2001
2,770
0
0
so what you guys are saying is that I HAVE TO GO BACK TO ROMULUS AND PLEAD NOT GUILTY OR ELSE THEY'LL MAKE ME BEND OVER AND TAKE IT IN THE A$$???

that's messed up! oh well, time for another road trip!
 
guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
Originally posted by: urameatball
so what you guys are saying is that I HAVE TO GO BACK TO ROMULUS AND PLEAD NOT GUILTY OR ELSE THEY'LL MAKE ME BEND OVER AND TAKE IT IN THE A$$???

that's messed up! oh well, time for another road trip!
Click to expand...

pretty much.

but that's what happens when you speed.

rolleye.gif
 
U

urameatball

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2001
2,770
0
0
Originally posted by: guyver01
Originally posted by: urameatball
so what you guys are saying is that I HAVE TO GO BACK TO ROMULUS AND PLEAD NOT GUILTY OR ELSE THEY'LL MAKE ME BEND OVER AND TAKE IT IN THE A$$???

that's messed up! oh well, time for another road trip!
Click to expand...

pretty much.

but that's what happens when you speed.

rolleye.gif
Click to expand...
just to clarify, I was going slower than the speed of traffic already (but I was still slightly above the speed limit)! The officer probably pulled me over because 1) I had an ontario plate and most people will just pay for the ticket to avoid the hassles of having to travel 5hrs to trial. 2) I was on a motorcycle and there are cops out there who have a particular dislike for motorcyclists.

so instead of "that's what happens when you speed", I see it more as "that's what happens when you're from out of town and riding a flashy bike"

 
D

Doodoo

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2000
1,423
0
76
The court date on the front is jus a date for u to go in and plea guilty or not guilty to the judge...dont bother going unless you're pleaing guilty. If you plea not guilty the judge is just gonna give you another court date because the officer isnt gonna be there that day. So fill out the back of the ticket and plea not guilty then they'll mail you another court date. Go to that court date...the trooper will be there...he'll call ur name and you'll go talk to him...he'll reduce the charge a little bit...you wait a half hour or an hour...go up to the judge...you plea guilty to the new charge....pay the fine....a waste of about 2 hours.
 
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