i got a ticket, the fine is 140 for emmissions do i have to appear or i can just pay the fine? how can i tell if the ticket is a case where i must appear does it go like this if you are not trying to fight it and agree with the ticket i can just pay it unless i want to fight it. but i dont wanna fight it i am going to pay it. do i still show
2007-10-16 17:43:38 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Read all the fine print. Every state/city has different tickets.
2007-10-16 17:47:14 · answer #1 · answered by Paladin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. PAY the ticket- If you want to just pay the ticket and go on, then the court will enter you as pleaing "guilty" and the ticketing agency (State or Local) will send in your ticket to the DPS as a plea of "guilty" to the charge of Emmissions.
2. Try and keep it off your record- If you want to work something out on the ticket, call the clerk's office of the court (municipal or State) and ask if they offer deferrments or other relief to dismiss the ticket. You will still have to pay the fine, but you will be entering a "nolo contendre" plea (No contest) and it will usually be dismissed after a deferral period (probation period) usually of 30 days or more. Most courts will offer this unless you have a Commercial Drivers License. There are different laws for these types of licenses.
Either way you choose to handle this (choices above), you will usually always have to pay the fine. Some courts DO require an initial appearance if you ask for relief. If you just want to pay the ticket, pay it BEFORE the date listed on the ticket (court date or appearance date) and you will be ok.
If you do nothing, the court will enter a "Failure to Appear" and this will sometimes suspend your drivers license depending on the laws in your state.
So you have options, just decide "what is your ultimate goal?" Keeping it off your driving record or getting rid of it quickly. Just DON'T ignore it and try and handle it AFTER the listed date. That is when things get rough.
Good luck!
2007-10-17 01:03:35 · answer #2 · answered by Good Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You still have to show. The ticket is to get you to show that you corrected the problem. You can pay the fine but that does not remove your burden to appear and show evidence the car is legal to drive. If you don't show such evidence they will put out a bench warrant for you and impound you vehicle on sight. If you do show, odds are they will forgive the fine and dismiss the ticket. Get the car fixed and go to the court house on or before the day with the fine in cash and present the proof of repair and the ticket and see if they don't dismiss it. But, no, you cannot just mail this in.
2007-10-17 00:58:21 · answer #3 · answered by LORD Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should get a letter with the fine amount, and if you just pay that before the court date, that should be good enough. If you had to appear, there would be a big box checked or something. But for emissions, I wouldn't think so.
2007-10-17 00:48:56 · answer #4 · answered by Flatpaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just appear on it and pay it then. Usually it will tell you what will happen should you not appear, such as suspending your drivers license and such. Just read the whole ticket and see if you can send in a payment or call and ask.
2007-10-17 02:58:12 · answer #5 · answered by Dakota Lynn Takes Gun 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if you pay before the date its due you don't have to go to court, but if you dont' pay in time or want to fight then you get a court date. I'm not totally sure though I have always paid my fines and never went to court.
2007-10-17 00:48:04 · answer #6 · answered by puppiesnmarshmellows 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Must-appear tickets are only for very serious offenses that may get your license suspended or something like that. If it's just for emissions, then you most likely don't have to appear.
2007-10-17 02:04:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋