How to Beat a Traffic Ticket?

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 8:42am

Does anyone know any tips or suggestions on how to get out of a traffic ticket? I was cited for "failure to obey traffic control devices" in my town. The police officer said I ran a red light but I was moving through the intersection and had to wait for a (speeding) oncoming car before turning onto the road I was traveling.

He "was easy on me" and gave me a ticket with no points but I'm going to court today to fight the ticket as I truly believe I am not guilty.

From what I understand that other than the police officer not showing up to court, I don't have a shot since it is my word against his.

Has anyone successfully fought a ticket? Or do you know of a good website (something) that will help?

Signed,
Red light Robbo

[KelRel]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 8:43am

Public saftey is the main priority, if you were already in the intersection and had to stop to let the car through before you could continue then just explain that and you should be ok. If not...pray the cop doesn't show. Usually when they go easy on you they think you will pay the ticket and don't show.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 9:04am

Very rarely do you ever get out of a ticket completely. The couple times I went was because points were involved. I met with someone from the prosecutor's office prior to court, and haggled. They took off a point or two.

It's pretty much all about the fines and the court costs. That's what they're after.

In your case, though, not sure what to do except tell your story and hope for the best.

Good luck!

Updated On: 6/2/05 at 09:04 AM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 9:11am

In the words of my wise grandfather..."Pay the $2". It does save a lot of aggravation. Be glad you didn't get points pal.

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:14am

Well, the funny thing is that even pleading "not guilty" and asking for a court date, I still had to pay the fine (over $120 with all of the fees that are tacked on to the $25 fine) plus a $6 court fee so if I lose today the ticket is already paid. Who knows, maybe they'll make me pay for the judge's lunch if I lose?!?

It's just a matter of right and wrong. I'm right and the police officer is wrong.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:23am

I'm confused. You are in the middle of a traffic intersection waiting to turn, which means you went into the intersection when YOUR light was green. So....was the "speeding" car entering the intersection when his light was red, and he was already speeding through, or had his changed to green....and he floored it (from a complete stop) to go through.

We're you entering the intersection, and then the other guy had a green light?, and then you continued your turn after him, which would be against the red light.

sorry I used to investigate accidents, and also was an MP, so saw everything.

Something seems missing.....like did you go into the intersection to turn when your light turned to yellow, or maybe perhaps red?

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:25am

Thanks Elphie for giving me a migrane.

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:45am

okay, i was turning left onto a street and waiting for opposing traffic to go straight thru the intesection. so... i waited until it was safe (after the oncoming speeding car went thru a now yellow light) and turned as the light turned from yellow to red.

so, yes, technically i was in the intersection as the light changed but had no choice as i was in the middle of making the turn when i yielded to oncoming (speeding) traffic.

mind you, this is a fairly busy intersection in a small town with a lot of pedestrians so the odds of getting thru a light when it is purely green is slim since you're yielding to traffic or walkers.

if i blatantly ran the light, i would have no trouble with the cop "going easy on me" and only giving me a fine but i did not commit the offense to which i was charged. so, as a matter of principle, i'm going to court and praying to idina that the police officer does not show up.

Updated On: 6/2/05 at 10:45 AM

[KelRel]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:47am

If you were already in the intersection you had to clear the way for traffic, ths you had to go through. I think the cop was just trying to reach his quota. Explain it to the judge, you should be fine.

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:51am

see kelrel, i think (legally and technically) you should not enter the intersection unless you can make the turn but that is like cars passing on the right shoulder - it's illegal but it happens all day, every day.

so, legally and technically, the cop can give me a ticket but, logistics and practicality, i hope is on my side. if nothing else, it gives me a 1/2 day at work and a chance to see our court system work its magic!!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:52am

There likely will be no magic. See if you can speak to the prosecutor before your case is called. Maybe you can work out something. If you ask for a trial and lose, the judge will likely give you the maximum penalty. Pray that the cop does not show and then the matter should be dismissed.

[KelRel]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 10:53am

I agree, but if you had to stop mid turn to wait for the speeding car to get by then that's another story. That is what I thought you meant.

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 11:02am

kelrel, that is what i meant and partially why i'm fighting the ticket.

brdlwyr, i already paid the fine which is the maximum offense, right? they cannot change the charge and try to make it a ticket with points, right? they wouldn't be able to change the offense (right? i hope) so i figured i would have nothing to lose.

i don't know if they will add on additional court fees or something else but they probably will if i lose.

i'm going in thinking that i'm going to lose if the cop shows. there's nothing for me to plead down with the prosecutor since there are no points unless they would reduce the fine. if so, i still will probably take my chances and go before the judge.

thanks all for your suggestions. i'll let you know how it goes (when i get out of jail, of course)

[jaded_october]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 11:03am

strip for the courtroom.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 11:26am

What confuses me is why you had to pay the fine before going to court. From what I've experienced and heard from others, nothing gets paid until your day in court.

If it turns out the judge is on your side and you win, no fine would be paid, only court costs.

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 11:30am

two things:

jaded oct - if i strip, i would certainly be declared "guilty"

bwaygirl - i live in pennsylvania - rules and logic do not apply.

[KelRel]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 11:38am

I got a speeding ticket and I had to pay my fine before I went to court too. If I had gone to court and won I would have been given my money back.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:09pm

sorry boobs, I looked at that and didn't even know what I meant, LOL

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:13pm

robb, you said this

i think (legally and technically) you should not enter the intersection unless you can make the turn but that is like cars passing on the right shoulder - it's illegal but it happens all day, every day. so, legally and technically, the cop can give me a ticket

and you are probably right........but, they certainly can't expect you to back up to where you were, which should cause an accident. Sounds like you had a jerk for a cop. Sounds like he was following the letter of the law, when he could have stopped you, warned you, and let you off..
The only other option you had was to wait in your original lane to traffic had passed, but as you say, no one does that....

I feel for you........maybe he won't show up

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:24pm

Obviously, Robb, we will need a full report!!

[BT]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:54pm

Maybe they threw him in jail. Who will post bail?

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 3:31pm

if i was waiting for someone on here to post bail for me, i'd rot!!

well, folks, i won!

the cop didn't show and the judge only waited 25 minutes after my scheduled court appearance to dismiss the case. it was over before i realize it started.

the clerk told me i could go into the courtroom where the judge sat and to the right at the (defendants?) table a police officer was standing there. since they all look alike (LOL) i was not sure if he was MY cop so i was kinda worried.

the judge said that my p.o. had not shown up after waiting a reasonable amount of time and asked to make a motion to dismiss the case or postpone to another date. i choose dismissal (duh!) and will receive all of my money back which they collect as collateral (collateral to pennsylvania apparently means paying the ticket in full + court fees - weird).

so, my story has a happy ending, this time. this time...

[KelRel]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 3:33pm

Congrats!!

[jaded_october]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 3:33pm

congrats!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 3:39pm

Excellent - now drive safely everyone!