I was told it is better to contest your traffic ticket by mail and not court that way they don't charge you court costs and you are more likely to win ,so first question who here had their case dropped and which method did you use?
My seconed question is if I send the ticket amount for $242.00 with the 3rd option of not guilty and marking the fourth option of trail by Written Declaration and they drop the ticket will they pay me back or do I wait and pay it?
Thank you for your time
2007-01-26 07:31:52 · 9 answers · asked by destineypyle 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I have beaten two traffic tickets, both in court.
First time was for an illegal left turn, in CA. I went to court, explained that yes, the turn was illegal but it was safe - I didn't cut anyone off or driver over any barriers. The judge saw that I had one other ticket on my record and was not eligible for traffic school again, so he dismissed the ticket. He asked me to say "thank you", and I did!
The second time was in MA for failure to pull over - yes, I got pulled over for failing to pull over! This was a bogus ticket, I thought - the cop was just upset. Anyway, I went to court and explained the situation - the cop came up from way behind, clearly not tailing me particularly, with the lights blazing. Instead of passing me in the left lane (I was in the right lane on a two-lane road), he just came up right behind me and almost ran me off the road! Finally I did pull over and he went on by. Later, he was parked by the side of the road, waiting for me, and when I went by he pulled me over. He was rude. Read me the riot act, etc. Turns out there was a (false, it turns out) report of a wrong-way driver, that's why he didn't want to get into the left lane. Anyway, the judge immediately agreed the whole thing was bogus and dismissed it.
I did not pay anything like court costs in either case, nor any fines. No costs at all.
2007-01-26 07:42:37 · answer #1 · answered by Steven D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from NC and the rules are different everywhere BUT...
I don't know that you can contest your ticket through the mail. But anyway, I'm sure you have to pay the court cost. If you just paid the ticket without going to court, you still have to pay the court cost.
I think all states have a "driving school" usually at the community colleges. If you go to the school, the ticket will be dropped and the points won't go on your liscense or your insurance. That might be your best option.
I did contest a ticket one time in court. The ticket was for running a red light, but I had sat at the light and my left turn lane didn't turn green through 3 cycles, so I went ahead and made the turn. I told the cop that I didn't WANT to run the light, I didn't know what else to do. He gave the ticket anyway. I told the court the same thing and all they said was "Did you run the light?" They did NOT throw out the ticket... :(
2007-01-26 07:43:50 · answer #2 · answered by Nasubi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whether you contest it by mail or not you still will have a court date set and (when you do), they will asses court charges anyway. If you win your case then all court cost are dismissed with the case. If you lose you will wind up paying for everything, fines, court costs, clerical fees, etc. .. When I sent my ticket in marked not guilty, the court set me for a preliminary hearing. On that date I went in to court and made a formal plea to the Judge and He reset the case for 2 weeks. I went back to court and the officer didn't show up so the judge dismissed the ticket and cleared my record. Also, If you go for trial by declaration, your case is heard by the Judge ONLY and if you check the statistics, almost always a finding of guilty is found and an additional fee is assesed. In most cases if you send in the money for the fine the judge takes that as an addmission of guilt and will find accordingly. I would suggest that if your not guilty, and can produce evidence to that fact, then don't plead guilty just because it's convienient, you have to remember that this goes against your record and alot of people rarely recall even getting a ticket and all it takes is so many points against your drivers license and you get suspended. Keep that in mind.
2007-01-26 07:58:52 · answer #3 · answered by Chuck-the-Duck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once contested a ticket by mail, the response was, I got mailed back a court date. It was actually just a meeting with the judge and police officer in the judge's chambers. There were no court costs involved and I got the ticket significantly reduced, and the officer got a reprimand from the judge for her poor conduct during the traffic stop. That was worth the time and effort!
2007-01-26 07:41:21 · answer #4 · answered by dancin thru life 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a little known fact that you can request a "trial by mail". Even if you lose that one, you still have the option of a trial in person so you have two chances to be found "not guilty". If you mail in the money, good luck EVER getting it back so don't do that unless you just want to pay the ticket and be done with it. Good Luck.
2007-01-26 07:43:27 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In NY you have to fill the back of the ticket out and send it in whether you think you are guilty or not. Then the court will send you a statement as to how much you owe. I did this.
2007-01-26 07:42:03 · answer #6 · answered by ruth4526 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would just take it to court. Lots of times the cop doesn't even show up and then the whole thing is dismissed.
2007-01-26 07:42:06 · answer #7 · answered by Sweet Tooth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't count on them sending your $money$ back. Once they have it do ya think they are going to take the time to send it back ? Cynical maybe, but prolly the truth..
2007-01-26 07:41:05 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sorry cant help
2007-01-26 07:38:26 · answer #9 · answered by Catie Batie 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋