I got pulled over and recieved a citation, but there is no amount I have to pay? Is this a ticket or warning?

Question

I supposedly ran a yellow light that turned red, in reality it was green and turned yellow. Anyway, it was my first offense and my friend [who's been pulled over a few times] told me that her tickets always had an amount to pay. The officer wasn't very clear about anything other than I have to call the Violations Bureau tomorrow before 4pm. It was in the state of Ohio. Does anyone know?

No court date it just says:

You are summoned and ordered to call Violations Bureau by 4pm 04-06-07. If you fail to do so, you may be arrested or your license may be cancelled.

No, didn't speed up, I actually slowed down. The officer also wasn't in a position to see my light as he was at the light running perpendicular to mine.

I live in PA and when I've been with someone before that recieved a ticket, it always had on there that they had to pay a certain amount.

When I went through the light, it was green, I was in the intersection when it turned. I slowed down, but if I would have stopped, I would have been in the middle of the intersection.

Answer 1

Hmm.... I'm not from Ohio, but in NY, there are actual instructions on the back of the ticket telling you to appear in court on an instructed date or to mail it in to a certain address. Mailing it in gives no amount to pay because upon mailing it, you are technically pleading guilty to the charge. Then, once they receive it, they mail you another form that has the amount on it - very much like being sentenced.

So, for you, it may be something very similar. Your calling the Bureau is like your way of pleading. If you plead guilty, they'll either instruct you to pay an amount or send you a form to pay the amount. If you plead not guilty, they'll give you additional options to handle your case from there.

However, if you were handed a piece of paper with all of your driver's information on it, the officer's information, and a description of the offense, then it is Definitely NOT a warning. Heed the Officer and make the call. I'm going to bet it's just your state's way of doing the pleadings portion of the violation process.


---Update---

yeah, in NY, there is no amount on the ticket because the officer cannot assign one. See, the ticket is like an arraignment. You're told that you're being charged with an offense and then you go on your merry little way. Mailing it in or appearing in Court is like the calendar call where you plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead guilty, then the judge takes your statements and history into account and then "sentences" you to a fine. If you plead not-guilty, then you have three choices:
1. Write the DA about why you shouldn't have this ticket
2. Retain a lawyer who will fight against the ticket
3. Go to Trial where the officer who issued the ticket must appear and testify about why they gave you the ticket.
From there, you're either acquitted or condemned, and if condemned, you're "sentenced" to a fine.
The point is..... the "sentence" is a legal matter, not a criminal matter, so cops can't assign the fine - only the judge can. Ohio might be the same way since you don't see a fine on the ticket.

And instead of using the Court over and over again to get through the multiple steps of the traffic violation process, it looks like they simply created their own Traffic Violations Bureau to take care of it for them. Good idea, if you ask me. Why bring people into Court if all they want to do is plead guilty and pay the damn fine? Might as well save everyone's time and just do it over the phone, right?

Answer 2

It may depend on your state. Call up the P.D. and have them give you a straight answer. Your taxes pay for that so put them to work for you. If they are going to enforce the laws they darn well better KNOW the laws quite well. Or, look up your state driving codes online and search for where it talks about what running a red light is and isn't. Print it, and bring it to court. In Colorado for example, if your front tires are past the painted "stopping point" line or crosswalk when it just turns red then it is legal...period. Yellow means nothing..it is only a warning. Only a red light applies and at the aforementioned stopping point. This is clear and simple and no cop should be horsing around with it as this one appears to have. It DOES happen, I have seen it.

Answer 3

if your front tires were over the crosswalk line when the light turned red than no, you did not run a red light. I am sure when you call the violations bureau they will tell you how much of a fine you have to pay. Here in California we get a bill in the mail.

Answer 4

Usually there's a "Bail Forfeit" amount, which means you can pay that amount to not have to show up in court. But you say there's no court date either - but it sounds like a traffic violation ticket , don't know why the info is missing. Best to make that phone call.

Answer 5

Technically it's illegal to drive through a yellow light. Most people don't know that. The only time you can drive through a yellow light legally, is when it's flashing, and then you have to slow down. Call the phone number that was provided. You will receive the correct answer to your questions.

Answer 6

Thats kind of funny... did it happen in Pennsylvania a couple days ago? I might have been the cop! (I know the odds are a million to one.... but still funny) Yes, I can absolutely file OR issue a citation. In this case I was dispatched to a collision after the violator was stopped but before I had a chance to write out the ticket. Its in the mail bud.

Answer 7

Apparently the cop wasn't sure about some things, such as your appearance date. That's probably what you have to call tomorrow to find out. This is unusual, but you're not necessarily off the hook.

Consider hiring an attorney to see whether or not the ticket is so defective it can be dismissed. I doubt the fine or points will be much though.

Answer 8

I also live in Ohio and my husband told me there's a such thing as running a yellow...that's where you speed up (go over the speed limit) to beat the yellow light. Did you speed up?

Just give them a call tomorrow and maybe they'll have the information.

Answer 9

On the back of the citation could be a price list of different traffic offenses and how much you have to pay. If not, call that phone number provided and you should be able to just pay the ticket through the mail!

Answer 10

You only get a court date if you wish to contest the ticket. Call the number on the ticket and they will give you the fine and tell you where to pay it.