i got a speeding ticket in georgia for going 76 in a 55. i was only in georgia for a few hours and i live in illinois. so that was october 2006 and i filled the form on the back of the ticket that said a not guilty plea. well now i have my license suspended, and unknownst to me i've missed my court date, also it's impossible for me to go all the way to georgia. what should i do now?
2007-02-23 16:01:18 · 7 answers · asked by alondra_froggie 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
i was going to pay the ticket but they said i HAD to appear in court and i couldn't mail in the money.
2007-02-23 16:08:49 · update #1
You need to get a hold of the department or probate court that is over your citation (the phone number should be on your copy of the citation - normally on the back). They can advise you on how much it will cost in order to settle your bench warrant. Once you send in the payment, they will send you a receipt. You will then need to take the receipt showing that you have taken care of the outstanding fine to the DMV and get your license reinstated.
You do not have to appear in court now on a bench warrant. Just take care of the fine. Georgia will not extradite you on a bench warrant for speeding. Most departments will not travel over 150 miles on any misdemeanor bench/probation warrant.
Illinois is one of the compact states and will honor the suspension on your license until you have cleared it up. You may also need to contact the DMV in Georgia. If the person does not have a Georgia driver's license and the person is going to be suspended, the state will issue a license in that person's name and have it be suspended. You might be able to take care of that through the mail as well. Just make sure that you do send your payments certified mail. It's better to be safe than sorry in the long run. I also suggest keeping a copy of the letter/money order/etc that you send.
In Georgia, failure to appear in court is an automatic license suspension.
2007-02-23 16:28:54 · answer #1 · answered by bluelights 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you can make it to Georgia, do the following:
File a motion to vacate judgment. Although you are filing beyond the 30-day appeal period, you can file a motion to vacate asking the court to "go back in time and get rid of the default or 'ex parte' judgment against you".
It may be different procedure in Georgia, but in Illinois, it's up to the state to waive the 30-day appeal period and allow you to reopen your case. If the state agrees, and the judge allows your motion, then simply plead guilty after that and pay the fine. Then, go to that county's traffic clerk and ask them to lift the hold off your license.
If you can't get to Georgia, then just send payment for the ticket. Call down there and ask what you owe, then send proper payment and follow-up with the secretary of state of Illinois. Georgia is part of the non-resident violator compact and if you get a ticket there and not pay, they will notify Illinois telling Illinois SOS that you have failed to pay or appear for your ticket and Illinois SOS will suspend your driving privileges until you resolve the ticket in Georgia.
2007-02-25 03:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by jeffreyrh80 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got a ticket in Colorado and I live in Utah. The cop just said to mail the fine in. As soon as I got to Utah I mailed a check. No biggie. When you plead not guilty you were given a court date to plead your case. If you don't show then yes you are going to be found not only guilty but in contempt. This is why you got your license suspended. Should have showed up or just paid the damn fine! Live and learn.
2007-02-23 16:16:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you pled not guilty on the ticket, that means you are requesting a hearing date with the officer that wrote you the ticket being present. Since you did not show up, the Judge probably found you responsible, charged you fines and costs and probably issued a bench warrant for your failure to appear. I would suggest that you contact the court ASAP and ask them what you can do to rectify the problem without going to Georgia. If they keep insisting that you need to appear, ask to speak with the Chief Deputy Clerk and pled your case to that person. If you get no where with that person, ask to speak with the Judge or at least his secretary and explain to them what is going on. I wish you luck.
2007-02-23 16:23:01 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hope you dont get picked up for something else and the cops find out you have a warrant for failure to appear. I doubt they would extradite you to GA for that, but you need to clear it up or it will always haunt you. When you plead Not Guilty you must appear to defend yourself. You should have just paid the fine if you didn't intend to do that. Now it gets a lot tougher and more expensive.
2007-02-23 16:06:53 · answer #5 · answered by meathookcook 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi, the present state whilst renewal of drivers license comes up can pull up your mind-blowing value ticket from the different state via the national information base. Your ultimate guess is to call the courts clarify your concern and notice in the event that they provide a fee plan. remember additionally your insurance may additionally see the think approximately your license then you certainly're observing the upward thrust. each in specific situations the courts internet site might provide you some strategies additionally ~ultimate of great fortune
2016-10-16 09:04:19 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU NEED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT YOU I GA AND SETTLE THIS MATTER.
AN ATTORNEY IN IL CAN PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH ONE..
WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR CHEAPER TO HAVE PAID THAT TICKET..
IL WILL SOCK IT TO YOU BEFORE YOU CAN GET YOU LICENSE RE-INSTATED....
2007-02-23 16:06:04 · answer #7 · answered by cork 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋