Traffic ticket advice? (YATTAT)

[Slickone]

I got a ticket for failing to stop at a stop sign. I did slow down but didn't come to a complete stop. Is it worth mentioning to the judge that I did slow, but didn't come to a complete stop, rather than just blowing through it? The ticket says it's on video.

Last time I got a ticket about 3+ years ago, I was able to go to traffic court, pay court costs, and not pay the fine or have it on my record. Is it still this way? I'm in TN.

I've heard if you rechedule your court appearance, the officer might not show up, since they usually schedule all their cases on one day (sometimes their day off), and your ticket will be dismissed. Is this true?

 

[Doggiedog]

Cops get paid overtime rates to go to court.

He'll show up.

 

[Chumpman]

technically the rule is that you have to come to a complete stop, and feel the "roll back." I'd guess it would help to mention you did slow down, but don't act like that should get you out of a ticket, just because you slowed down

 

[Beau]

Suck it up... face it like a man!

Seriously, if you are completely honest with the judge, they're usually lenient in their judgment -- He/She may decide, since you were so honest, and if you "promise" to never do it again, that you should only have to pay the fine, and then the mark will be removed from your record. Though, a failure to stop is not exactly going to kill your record.

 

[edro]

If you do reschedule, it will be on another day that that cop has to show up anyways. The cops come in like once a month or something, so if you reschedule, it will be for like exactly one month away from that day.

In my experience, I have never had a cop no show up.

If you think that you slowed enough to still be safe, I would go to court and tell the judge that. The worst thing that could happen, is wasting your time. The judge won't throw the book at you if you show up.

 

[shimsham]

just pay it and move on. you didnt stop and you should have, so why piss off the judge? he hears so much stupid crap all day anyway, he may throw the book at you.

 

[Hammer]

if the cop does show up, ask for a continuance.

 

[Fiveohhh]

if its on video and you admit yo udidn't stop it would just be up to the leniancy (sp) of the judge.

 

[DrPizza]

Tell the judge that according to your calculations, factoring the rotation of the earth, your latitude, the earth's revolution around the sun, the solar systems trek around the milky way, and the speed of the milky way through the universe that you actually WERE at a complete stop, in regard to your position in the universe.

 

[jessicak]

Pay it...ask for a reduction, the judges sometimes do that around here (in Ca). It's worth a try.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

failure to stop at a stop sign

if you tell the judge that you slowed down for the stop sign he is probably only going to think that you are trying to get out of the ticket some way. you broke the law. it's called a stop sign for a reason and the fact that you didnt stop means you should just pay the fine. that's why we have stop signs, traffic control.

 

[Slickone]

Heh.

I am definately going to court. I think you always have at least a small chance of getting a lesser penalty if you show up in court, rather than just paying it. I've been to traffic court a few times and got the 'go to traffic school, pay court costs, and not showing up on record' thing (over 3 years ago).
I just wondered if it's worth mentioning that I didn't come to a complete stop (ie. if anyone on here had done that). Also wondering about the rescheduling thing. A search on Google groups mentioned the officer not showing up after rescheduling once or twice. I didn't know it'd be on another day that he/she was scheduled to be there anyway.

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: Slickone
Heh.

I am definately going to court. I think you always have at least a small chance of getting a lesser penalty if you show up in court, rather than just paying it. I've been to traffic court a few times and got the 'go to traffic school, pay court costs, and not showing up on record' thing (over 3 years ago).
I just wondered if it's worth mentioning that I didn't come to a complete stop (ie. if anyone on here had done that). Also wondering about the rescheduling thing. A search on Google groups mentioned the officer not showing up after rescheduling once or twice. I didn't know it'd be on another day that he/she was scheduled to be there anyway.

Btting on the officer not showing is a craps game, there are way to many variables. For all yo know the officer lives across the street and will come any day any time. Look at the NMA Site They have some good stuff there. But I wouldn't base your whole case on the officer not showing up.

 

[Savij]

I've gone to 4 diff. traffic courts in TN and gotten driving school every time. It costs just as much as the ticket usually 120-150 after court costs and stuff, but it doesn't affect your insurance and no points on your license. From what I've seen, you're probably best off, putting on a tie, saying "yes, sir, I'm guilty. Please don't hurt me." and getting traffic school. If he asks, let him know that you've only gotten one ticket and it was over three years ago.

For what it's worth, in the last three years i've done the "Alive at twenty-five" traffice school program for young offenders once,and the "First time Offender Training" twice. And just today I got back from traffic court and got my $450 fine reduced to $12 in court costs.

Disclaimer: I'm no lawyer and anything I say can and will be used against you.

 

[Azraele]

It's a stop sign, not a pause sign. I've seen too many people pull out after just slowing down and not stopping.

 

[boyRacer]

Nope... you have to stop. You can go to court and ask the judge to lower the fine... over here... it would've cost $275 IIRC... + $30 if you want to take traffic school. BTW... its equivalent to running a red light...

 

[Ness]

I was watching at a court for some school project one time when I was like 12. A guy came up and tried to pull the "I slowed down" thing.

The judge, with a smile on his face proceeded to tell a joke.

A man slowed to a stop sign but continued to go on without coming to a stop. He didn't notice the officer behind him. The Officer promptly pulled him over and asked him "Are you in some kind of hurry?" The man replied "No, but I slowed down." The officer looked at him for a moment and asked him to step out of the car for an experiment. The man did. The officer stood behind him, took out his nightstick and showed it to the man. Then he proceeded to start whacking him with it, over and over and over. When the man started screaming "Stop! Stop!" the officer replied... "How about if I just slow down?"


I was shocked to see a judge say this in a court of all places, but there wasn't another peep out of the man and he paid his fine.
I'm sure the point was well taken.

Slowing is not the same as stoping, and the ticket was writen for failure to stop. Might as well mail in the payment and save yourself the hassle of going there.

 

[Slickone]

OK, I won't mention the slowing down bit, maybe unless if the judge asks why I didn't stop.

Originally posted by: ness1469
Might as well mail in the payment and save yourself the hassle of going there.

I guess not being in TN, you that say this don't understand that even if you plan to plead guilty, if you go to court (at least the last time I went), you have the chance of possibly going to traffic school and not having it go on your record.


Savij,
The last time I went, which I believe was about 3 years ago (and also when I went in '88 and '94), I didn't have to pay the fine, only court costs, and watched the film and listened to a lecture (don't remember a test though). Has that changed? Or I guess this could be a city thing.
If I call, will they tell me when my last ticket was? All of the three tickets I've had were in different cities than the current one. All were supposed to not go on my record. Should I mention them if asked (depending on if the last one was < or > 3 years ago)?
This ticket is $131.

In '88, court costs were $35 or so & I think the most recent was about $80. How did you get only $12 in court costs (especially from $450!), after you said it's usually $120-$150. And how did you do a First Time Offender training twice?

 

[Savij]

What county city did you get your ticket in? I haven't had to pay fines, but the cost of traffic school ends up being about the same as the fines and court cost has been about ~35 for me every time (I think it varies with by municipality).

I don't think that I would worry about finding out the exact date of you last ticket, just (respectfully) say to the judge "This is my first ticket in a long time." or "I haven't had a ticket since 1999" and if he asks for more info about your last ticket then give him somethink like "Dec. 1999" or "early 2000"....

Maybe it's easier to explain this way: In my experience, judges like the feeling of power and respect. Be early. Wear a nice shirt and tie to court (I've seen people tossed out for wearing shorts in court). Always refer to the judge as Sir and whatever you do, don't argue with him. Listen to what the judge says to other people and see if he wants a short quick reply or if he's looking for explanations then try to give the judge what he wants.

I would just plead guilty unless you really feel like you were innocent. Don't try to fudge the truth or anything like that. I've found that most of the time if you plead guilty they'll give you traffic school or reduce the charge.


As far as my tickets go, first FTO was two years ago. I pleaded guilty and the judge asked if it was my first ticket. I said it was my first ticket in the state and he told me to go to FTO. Next ticket (just under a year later) Pleaded guilty and when he asked if I had gotten any other tickets, I followed the example of an old guy and said "Not recently". The judge never asked how long ago my last one was or anything. He just gave me FTO.
The most recent one was $30 for not having the registration sticker on my license plate $50 for not having a TN drivers license (college student from FL so I have a FL license...) and $370 for missing my first court date. I filed for a dismissal hearing about 3 days after my first court date ( i was going to show proof of registration and pay the fine for the license). All the judge asked about was the if I had gotten a TN driver's license. When he asked why, i told him that I thought college students were exempt from that rule. He asked if I am a student, and I told him that I had just graduated in May and that I won't be staying in TN for grad school next year so I wasn't sure. He said "you're a student...dismissed" and dismissed all of the charges. $12 was the court dismissal fee.

Disclaimer: I'm no lawyer and anything I say can and will be used against you.