I was wondering if there are any people (anywhere in the US but especially in California) who have managed to win in the court for a traffic ticket without using a lawyer, even if the officer did showed up.
What's your story?
2006-09-29 22:56:17 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Depends on what you mean by winning. In my case, I got the court to agree to an ajudicated sentence. I paid the fine, but with the condition that if I did not get another ticket in 90 days, the violation would not go on my driving record. That's a victory in that my insurance rates did not increase.
In another situation, I hired an attorney. The case was dismissed, the officer didn't show, but he didn't show at the request of the attorney's paralegal, she was friends with his sister, also a paralegal. After sitting through a half day of traffic court, my observation is that most represented by attorneys have the ticket dismissed. Those without attorneys lose the majority of the time. If youa are well spoken, have some evidence you did not commit the violation, and can defend yourself against the attorney representing the state/city/county, you may do well. At the very least, you may succeed in getting the fine reduced. But, hire the attorney, His fee is a fraction fo the ticket and he may be able to keep the violation off your record, saving you on insurance.
2006-09-29 23:18:45 · answer #1 · answered by jerry f 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I did last year. Got stopped in a drunk driver check - they were stopping everyone, I hadn't had anything alcoholic to drink, but my registration was expired (by several months - I hadn't noticed it). The officer ticketed me but told me I could contest it. I thought (apparently accurately) that he was giving me a hint, so I did, even though I was totally guilty. Went to the magistrate, the cop did show up, the magistrate dismissed the ticket anyway. He asked the cop first if he had any objection, the cop said no he didn't.
Not in California - this was in a rural part of PA.
2006-09-30 04:48:13 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did, but I pled No Lo Contendre (not sure what that means, but I explained situation to the officer at court, and that's what he said to say).
I got a ticket for not having a front license plate. Several months before, I had been in a fender bender and lost the license plate at that time. My dad (who is always tinkering with cars and things with wheels) said I did not need a front license plate. I wanted to be sure, so I asked the guys at the car body shop (where car was being fixed). When I asked them, the folks at the body shop said that I did not need a front license plate if I had a back one.
So, I went about my merry way. When I got my ticket, I told my dad, and he said, "Hm. Oh really?" So then I went to the body shop and told them what happened, and the receptionist said, "Yeah, I know. They were telling people that." They then gave me a copy of the report of work on my car and said they'd back up the fact that they misinformed me.
When I went to court, I had my envelope with the body shop info and went before the judge. I pled "no lo contendre," gave him the body shop envelope, and started with, "Well, I didn't know I needed a front license plate because I was in this fender bender and first my dad said I didn't need a lic-" and the judge interrupted me, banged his gavel, and said, "Dismissed!" Or something like that... it's been ten years.
So... no lawyer... just my own honest-to-goodness ignorance and footwork in following up on my ignorance. :-)
2006-09-30 06:39:37 · answer #3 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You wont need a lawyer, its easy youll sign with a million other people, The judge calls eachperson one at a time, he ask how do you plead? you plead no contest he cuts your fine in half and usually sets a condition to meet and it will not go on record, same as being innocent, I highly recommend going, he might cut your fine more then half, I had 5 tickets he droppped 3 of them I saved hundreds of dollars, now I also have been stupid enuf just to ignore my tickets twice, they put a warrent out for your arrest and its not good.
2006-09-30 01:23:27 · answer #4 · answered by Zane S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a witenss that is not related or a friend to you.
But normally as a officer for many years, without an attorney only a few ever got off, With an attorney the percentage was about 70 percent got off.
2006-09-30 02:48:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on the traffic violation.
I contested a wreckless driving ticket and it was dismissed, also got charges reduced for a speeding ticket. that's in new jersey though
2006-09-29 23:01:57 · answer #6 · answered by zippythewondermutt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋