My boyfriend got pulled over in a school zone and got a $300 speeding ticket, but he swears the school zone light was not flashing. He made a court date to fight the ticket, but my brother in law said it will be his word over the cops and the judge will most likely side w/ the cop. So he said that my bf should plead "no contest", as it's kind of a loop hole and if the judge is nice he'll say, "no points, pay the ticket". so my first question is: can you even plead no contest for a ticket you, yourself elected to take to court? and my second question is: wouldnt it be easier to just take the online traffic school for $20 so he doesnt get any points, and just pay the ticket? because i told him he should just cancel the court date and do it that way, but he seems to think court is better. any advice?
2007-03-27 21:35:37 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
A "No Contest" plea is a fancy way of saying, "you have overwhelming evidence of my guilt so I won't fight the charge." The No Contest plea has the same consequences of a guilty plea or a finding of guilty. In addition to the fine, he will also get hit with court costs. The judge will also be annoyed that a court date was set for him, the prosecutor was there and the officer was also in court only to hear him say, O.K., I'm guilty. Pull that stunt and the judge will have no pity at all. If he is serious about going to court then he had better plead not guilty and actually have something to fight the citation with.
He will need to know when the school zone lights come on and turn off. He will need to somehow convince the judge that the cititation was written in error.
One person answered that the time on the ticket could be offered as proof that the light was off if the time on the ticket was after the light was off. Not necessarily, the time on the ticket may just be the time the ticket was issued. By the way, the proof offered about the time the lights are on an off must be from some official source. Such as a letter from the highway department or school board or who ever set the school zone light timers. Simply telling the court that he timed the lights with his trusty Timex watch will not be accepted as proof.
I think your boyfriend is probably toast. And the court will burn him some more.
Cancel the court, pay the fine, take the online traffic school, and move on. . .
2007-03-27 22:24:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get a lawyer or bend over and grab your ankles and sing moon river. Seriously, the Judge will more than likely stick it to him regardless of what his plea is because of the "school zone". Nolo is only really good with drugs or alcohol charges. Take the course and pay the ticket.
2007-03-27 21:44:00 · answer #2 · answered by haterade 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unless he can somehow prove that the School Zone Light was off, he's lost. Pay the ticket and try to minimize the damage to himself. If he doesn't have proof, he's not going to win.
2007-03-27 21:39:58 · answer #3 · answered by AxMan_12 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the only way to find out if the school zone lights were on or off is to find out what time those lights come on and look at the time the ticket was issued.
2007-03-27 22:01:18 · answer #4 · answered by joe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the traffic class is an option, take it! They only let you take the course once every 4 years here, so sometimes you have to gamble that you won't be caught doing something worse.
2007-03-27 21:48:27 · answer #5 · answered by Kevin k 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
plead no contest they may reduce the fine and no points will be added to your driving record.
2007-03-27 21:44:51 · answer #6 · answered by Pacman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A withdrawal, preferably from a checking account.
2007-03-28 00:03:00 · answer #7 · answered by kitty fresh & hissin' crew 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋