do i have to pay the tiket if i had insurance?

Question

so i got a ticket for not having insurance in the car at the time. i got the insurance and put it in the car already. i got this major ticket fine of 751$. so i was just wondering if i still have to pay that much even though i had it the whole time, just not in the car??
how much do you think they will lower it too if i bring the proof?

so the ticket was for "Failure to Show Proof of Insurance".... and the court date is 12/24/07 (but really, out of all the other days). and all i want to know if I'm going to have to pay the full fine??

the ticket also includes not having the license plate in the front of the vehicle (but i got that fixed and signed off already). and i live in southern California, San Fernando valley

Answer 1

I'm sure the ticket was for "Faliure to Show Proof of Insurance". Not only do you need to have the car insured, but you are required to carry the insurance card with you.

You still have to answer to the ticket. Bring your proof to the court, hopefully the judge gives you some consideration.

Answer 2

Depending on the state, once you appear in court, you should not have to pay such a high amount for not showing proof of insurance. Most of the time, the judge will dismiss the ticket. I can't speak for other states but I've been told before that some courts will still charge you court costs when you appear.

Answer 3

In Colorado once you show the court that you had insurance and that it was valid at the time of the citation the insurance part of the ticket will go away, no fine, no points, no nothing. Can't say about Calif. law but probably the same or similar.

Answer 4

all you have to do is take your proof of insurance to the court with you, this will mostly work if you are showing that you had insurance at the time of the ticket, but if this is a new insurance policy which started after the date of the ticket, still take it with you, they may let you slide.

Answer 5

Here in Florida as long as you produce valid proof of insurance to the clerk of court within 30 days... you just have to pay a filing fee of about $7.50. Not sure if other states are like this. Best bet is to call the clerk of court and see if they can provide you with any information about it. They see the court paperwork day in and day out so they would know best.

Answer 6

in my state, you have to bring it in and show the clerk of courts office that you HAD insurance on the day of the ticket. we also write the vin # of the vehicle on the ticket so they just can't bring in some other guys insurance. if you prove it before the court date, it is dismissed. if you show up to court and don't have it, you lose your license.

Answer 7

You can show proof that your insurance was in effect on the date you got your ticket & it'd be dropped. Does your ticket have a court date on it? Call the secretary of state in your state or your local police department.

Answer 8

I am sorry, but i find it hard that failure to exhibit documents is a $751 dollar fine. It is usually far under 100. I would bring the insurance card to court, but i would also recheck that fine amount...

Answer 9

Depending on where you live they could drop it once you show proof you had insurance at the time. The lesson here is to always keep proof in your vehicle at all times.

Answer 10

They should dismiss the ticket if you go to court and show proof. You will still have to pay "administrative costs".