So, I ran a red light trying to get away from a car following me and an officer stopped me two blocks later. I explained the situation and the Officer told me all he could do was write me a ticket that I could mail in instead of appearing in court. I was really hurting for cash and the ticket needed to be responded to and paid for within 7 days otherwise a hearing had to be requested. I requested a hearing since I was so low on cash and it isn't til 3 months from now. I'm riding around using this yellow ticket as my license and really just want to get rid of it by paying for iot and get my license back. They sent me a card for the hearing date...what can i do? please help :(
2007-09-14 18:41:26 · 6 answers · asked by Dave 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
I left out that this is my first ticket i have been driving for about 5 years now and haven't had any prior driving offenses
2007-09-15 06:06:38 · update #1
Go to court, if the officer doesn't show up, you automatically win by dismissal... He may deliberatly not show up after hearing your explanation, but may have been in a crunch to fulfill the quota that he has that every dept denies but is there...
Your record and your circumstances should if heard, at least warrant leniency from the judge such as driver improvment course and he may strike the points and or reduce the fine, no way to know until you go...
Your first appearance may very well be just an arraignment where you plead not guilty and have it set for trial... If you plead guilty you can have it disposed of immediatly right there by the judge on a statement of fact, however you will proceed without the officer present...
My advice at this point is to go all the way with it...
Plead not guilty and schedule for a hearing...
Good Luck
2007-09-21 03:14:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you have the court date, go ahead and go. Explain what happened and that you were worried about your safety. If you have a clean record, you could and most likely get traffic school. That will keep the offense off of your driving record and will not be reported to your insurance company. If it does get reported, and it will if you just pay the fine and admit guilt, then your insurance rates will go up quite a bit
It is best to go to court, and even get a lawyer. There will be plenty of lawyers standing around the court house, trust me on that one.
I had a court date, and if you go and plead innocent, the judge will give you another court date and this time the police officer will have to be there for the judge to hear both sides of the case. The lawyer will be able to talk to the judge and have the ticket taken care of. The lawyer cost me $50 and he normally charges $75 but I have done some work on a Corvette for another lawyer that he is friends with, so he cut me a price.
good luck
Do go to court on this, it will be cheaper in the long run.
2007-09-14 19:03:48 · answer #2 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just call and ask. But, if you have a good record, and it is your first ticket, and go to court, and explain what you were doing, explain it is your first ticket, and ask for probation--if the judge grants probation, you get to pay the ticket out in payments AND it doesn't go on your insurance. (At least that's what happens in Arkansas).
2007-09-14 18:51:36 · answer #3 · answered by angel_nurse82 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the court and ask. You requested a hearing so you will probably get it, and the court costs will be added if you don't win.
2007-09-14 18:47:12 · answer #4 · answered by johnny b good 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to court and be very very polite and respectful to the judge. and try to be as honest as you can about what happened and good luck. that is all you can do.
2007-09-20 08:41:13 · answer #5 · answered by Aloha_Ann 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you ran the red. end of story. excuses mean nothing.
2007-09-22 14:37:49 · answer #6 · answered by Mon-chu' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋