• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Should I plead guilty or not?

W

welst10

Platinum Member
A cop just pulled me over on my way to lunch. I was doing 38 on a 25 mile road. There was no other car on the road at the time. The problem is that the speed limit sign is on the other side of the road, and of course I couldn't see it. Anway, he wrote me a ticket, NOT for speeding but for failure to exhibit insurance card. There is no points, thankfully.

The insurance card in my car expired on 9/25 (4 days ago) and I forgot to get the new card from my renewal package and replace the old one. I did renew my coverage 10 days ago. So a stupid mistake on my part.

Now I am required to appear in court (this violation requires court appearance in NJ). If I plead guilty, I'll go to court on 10/26 and pay $180. If I plead not guilty, the judge will assess my fine. What's the chance that the judge will reduce my fine given the situation that I did have the valid card but forgot to put it in my car?
 
Go to court and bring your insurance documents showing you were covered at the time of the accident.

I had a ticket for the same thing and that's all I had to do. This was in Cali, though, so I don't know what the difference is in NJ.
 
I've received a few no insurance card tickets, I always just faxed them my insurance card and that was that(I always had insurance just not the new card).
 
Originally posted by: IHYLN
be thankful you didn't get points. Pay the fine and consider yourself lucky.
Click to expand...

Even he gave the ticket for speeding, I can dispute it in court since the only speed limit sign on that 1-mile raod is on the other side. I told the fact to the cop, he kinda smiled and said "on the other side or not, it's the speed limit for this road". But apparently drivers on this side of road cannot see it.
 
There should be a phone number of the ticket for the court house. Speak with the clerk and ask if you can just fax or bring in your insurance to have the ticket dismissed.
 
NJ is very anal about insurance. Here no insurance coverage is taken seriously. Anway I have the coverage just forgot to put new card in the car. I will plead not guilty and see how it will go. **sign** my bad day
 
Originally posted by: CPA
There should be a phone number of the ticket for the court house. Speak with the clerk and ask if you can just fax or bring in your insurance to have the ticket dismissed.
Click to expand...

I already called. He told me I have to be in court, pleading guilty or not. If I plead guilty, it's 180. if not guilty, the fine is "unknown, the judge will assess it".
 
Fight it. Always always make cops work for it. Fight it. Also if you do not and another sitation comes they may see that you had a previous and decide to throw it all at ya (yes it does happen). If a cop wants to be a pita they can. It is not quite dukes of hazard but it can be close especially in No. VA.
 
wow that's a lot of cash for not having an uptodate insurance card. I've driven with an expired one (new one sitting in a package at home) for days on end in the past. Hell I drive without my wallet a lot when I go to my games.

EDIT>>> LOL I just pulled mine out and it expired 8/13/2004.

THANK YOU!
 
Originally posted by: welst10
A cop just pulled me over on my way to lunch. I was doing 38 on a 25 mile road. There was no other car on the road at the time. The problem is that the speed limit sign is on the other side of the road, and of course I couldn't see it. Anway, he wrote me a ticket, NOT for speeding but for failure to exhibit insurance card. There is no points, thankfully.

The insurance card in my car expired on 9/25 (4 days ago) and I forgot to get the new card from my renewal package and replace the old one. I did renew my coverage 10 days ago. So a stupid mistake on my part.

Now I am required to appear in court (this violation requires court appearance in NJ). If I plead guilty, I'll go to court on 10/26 and pay $180. If I plead not guilty, the judge will assess my fine. What's the chance that the judge will reduce my fine given the situation that I did have the valid card but forgot to put it in my car?
Click to expand...

really? this requires you to go t court? the rules must have changed. I got the same ticket 2 years ago (not having an updated insurance card) and i just paid the fine. no court apprerance required

edit: $180 is a lot of money. if you arent guilty, i say plead not guilty
 
I went to court in Bergen County for a traffic violation once. Expect to be there for several hours because they handle all kinds of cases like robbery, assault, etc.

If I remember correctly, several of the traffic cases were for failure to present valid insurance. I believe the fines for all the cases were lowered when they showed up with valid documents.

YMMV
 
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: welst10
A cop just pulled me over on my way to lunch. I was doing 38 on a 25 mile road. There was no other car on the road at the time. The problem is that the speed limit sign is on the other side of the road, and of course I couldn't see it. Anway, he wrote me a ticket, NOT for speeding but for failure to exhibit insurance card. There is no points, thankfully.

The insurance card in my car expired on 9/25 (4 days ago) and I forgot to get the new card from my renewal package and replace the old one. I did renew my coverage 10 days ago. So a stupid mistake on my part.

Now I am required to appear in court (this violation requires court appearance in NJ). If I plead guilty, I'll go to court on 10/26 and pay $180. If I plead not guilty, the judge will assess my fine. What's the chance that the judge will reduce my fine given the situation that I did have the valid card but forgot to put it in my car?
Click to expand...

really? this requires you to go t court? the rules must have changed. I got the same ticket 2 years ago (not having an updated insurance card) and i just paid the fine. no court apprerance required

edit: $180 is a lot of money. if you arent guilty, i say plead not guilty
Click to expand...


Yea, they must have change the rule. Failure to exhibit registration or DL is payable (no court appearance required). But this is different.
 
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I went to court in Bergen County for a traffic violation once. Expect to be there for several hours because they handle all kinds of cases like robbery, assault, etc.

If I remember correctly, several of the traffic cases were for failure to present valid insurance. I believe the fines for all the cases were lowered when they showed up with valid documents.

YMMV
Click to expand...

Thanks! I just called the clerk again asking if I can fax the valid card in. He said that doesn't dismiss the ticket. I have to be in court. Fvck NJ.
 
Originally posted by: welst10
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I went to court in Bergen County for a traffic violation once. Expect to be there for several hours because they handle all kinds of cases like robbery, assault, etc.

If I remember correctly, several of the traffic cases were for failure to present valid insurance. I believe the fines for all the cases were lowered when they showed up with valid documents.

YMMV
Click to expand...

Thanks! I just called the clerk again asking if I can fax the valid card in. He said that doesn't dismiss the ticket. I have to be in court. Fvck NJ.
Click to expand...

I went to court maybe 2 years ago so it might be different but no one that showed up (I was the last case) was found guilty. I believe the fines were around $50 for court fees which needed to be paid on the spot.
 
I had the same thing happen, i went to the court date and showed that i did have insurance card at the time just didnt have it in the car yet. they just said alright fine and threw out the ticket
 
Originally posted by: Glitchny
I had the same thing happen, i went to the court date and showed that i did have insurance card at the time just didnt have it in the car yet. they just said alright fine and threw out the ticket
Click to expand...

I hope this court (parsippany, NJ) will be as nice as yours.
 
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Talk to the DA, DO NOT mention the speeding part. Offer to plead for just court costs if he won't just let it drop.
Click to expand...

DA? not the judge? How can I reach DA?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top