Do you think I could beat this ticket or at least get the fine reduced?

Question

When I tried to put the sticker for my license plates on it wouldn't stick because my plate was dirty so I was afraid it was going to fall off,so instead I just put it in my glove box thinking if I got pulled over I could just show the cop. That was almost a year ago I have had many cop cars behind me but have never been pulled over. Today I got pulled over by the Carpentersville,Illinois PD I showed the officer my sticker explained why it wasn't on. He took my license and gave me a $75 ticket for improper display and I asked him why he couldn't of given me a warning he wouldn't answer and told me my only option was to pay the ticket so I could get my license back the ticket says no court appearence nessesary but there is a time and date there- could I go on that day and see if the judge will at least lower the fine or will I then have to pay the fine plus court costs? someone please help. I have never ever been in trouble in my life and have never had a problem with a cop before

I did clean the plate but I can't clean the sticker which is full of the dirt from my plate now wont stick to anything I did not know it was against the law to not display it. nowhere on the registration card does it say that even the cop told me it doesn't say that. I asked a cop about it before and he told me they could check on their computer if a sticker had been purchased before they even pulled you over and that it shouldn't be a problem,and I'm not saying I'm not guilty even though I didn't know it was against the law I'm just saying the fine is to high especially when I know he could've given me a warning since I honestly did not knoe I could get a ticket for that

Thank you to everyone that answered I got this situation resolved and I am happy about it but just wanted to say I am NOW aware that it is against the law,but I had asked some officers about it and they had told me as long as I had it in the car I should be fine. I am not saying I shouldn't of had to pay a fine I just think $75 was excessive and since I got this ticket I have asked every police officer I have seen about this and everyone of them said they would've only given a warning and let me go

Answer 1

ACCORDING TO ILLINOIS LAW:
625 ILCS 5/3-401
REGISTRATION-PLATES AFFIXED

FEES PAID FOR A VEHICLE

PROOF:

EVIDENCE OF PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION / TITLE FEES

SHOW AS EVIDENCE YOUR PAYMENT OF TAXES FOR STICKER THAT YOU DID NOT PUT ON VEHICLE AND PUT INTO GLOVE BOX AND FORGOT ABOUT.
WHEN YOU WERE STOPPED YOU REMEMBERED WHERE YOUR STICKER WAS AND RETRIEVED IT, SHOWED IT TO THE OFFICER, EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO AFFIX THE STICKER THEN AND THERE AND RESOLVED THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL

GO TO THE COURT HOUSE AND SHOW THEM THE LAW ABOVE AND EXPLAIN AS OUTLINED ABOVE YOU FORGOT ABOUT IT TILL YOU WERE STOPPED ON THIS OCCASSION AND REMEMBERED.
EITHER THEY WILL DISMISS BASED UPON EVIDENCE OF PAYMENT OR TELL YOU TO GO TO COURT WHERE YOU CAN PLEA TO THE JUDGE-
PROOF IS PAYMENT AND THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED TO SEE THAT YOU HAD PAID FOR THIS BEFORE BEING STOPPED NOT AFTER KEY WORDS AGAIN BEFORE NOT AFTERWARDS--OH GOOD LUCK AND NEXT TIME FFIX THE STICKER AFTER BUYING IT JUST RUB THE PLATE OFF WITH A TISSUE OR SOME PAPER ITEM OR CLOTH ITEM

Answer 2

Not sure how Illinois law reads but in North Carolina what you described is a violation. It is probably also against the law up there (pretty sure the officer wouldn't have scratched you if it wasn't). Go to court and tell the judge why you did what you did. In the mean time go to the DMV and get a new decal. Put it on the plate where it belongs. Take a picture of your plate showing you fixed the problem and show that to the judge too. I can't say the judge will drop the charges but that would at least explain why you did what you did and show the court you took corrective action.

Answer 3

Go to court, plead your case, and see what happens.
Tha facts are: you didn't properly display the decal; the law says the decal must be properly displayed. The officer didn't do anything wrong by giving you a ticket, but a softhearted judge might reduce the fine or dismiss the charges.
It doesn't hurt to ask.

P.S. go on down to the DMV and get a new decal (it's free, they do it all the time) and let the judge know you took care of it before the court date.

Answer 4

That is no excuse. Clean off the plate and apply the sticker. Thats what it is for, not to be put in the glove compartment where the officer can't see it. Pay up and put the sticker on before you get another one.

Answer 5

I doubt you will get your ticket dismissed.

You might get the amount reduced (not much) but there also will be the court fees. So, at the end, you still will end up paying about $75 or so. Just think about it.

Answer 6

I live in the State of Washington and have seen that if you show up in court and plead your case to the judge, you have a great chance of having the ticket reduced or dismissed.

Answer 7

So in almost a year you couldnt clean off a licenses plate? you were wrong pay the fine.