Posted: 1:50 AM - Jun 04, 2003
HitokiriMoonKnight
I got my very first traffic ticket today :">
I was on my way to pick up my brother from school. This bloke slows to 1 mph to make a right turn into the student parking lot, so I do one of those deals where you go around him. Well a bike cop felt that was an "unsafe lane change" so now I have a ticket.
I have no job, zero income, and from what my friends tell me, I can expect to pay $200-$300 for the ticket plus $50 for traffic school so it doesn't show up on my record. I can't let my parents know about it because.. well you'd have to know my dad. Anywho, I've started a "Save Randy's Arse" fund if anyone would care to donate...
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
lblQuote.Text = "Second place is first loser."
lblBlogLink.Text = "moonBLOG"
lblAirsoft.Text = "Skirmish to live, live to skirmish."
End Sub

Posted: 2:22 AM - Jun 04, 2003
Gestahr
Why not fight it? Per my understanding, half the time the cop doesn't show. not allowed

Posted: 2:46 AM - Jun 04, 2003
Delilah Darkheart
Yeah, appeal it. There are two stages of trials and it doesn't cost you anything, except maybe parking:
In the first round, you go into a little office building and casually explain your situation to a judge one on one. If they think you have a good excuse, they'll reduce the fee, or even wave it and keep it from going on your permanent record.
If that fails, you can always request a formal court hearing and hope the cop doesn't show up. That automatically cancels the charge.

Posted: 2:53 AM - Jun 04, 2003
HitokiriMoonKnight
Yeah another friend of mine suggested the same thing... The first thing I did (well, after I called my buddy Eric) was look up tips on fighting tickets... But the whole prospect scares me, ya know? Especially since the bike cop dropped the school zone speeding ticket since, "it didn't affect any children."

Here's the ticket:

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
lblQuote.Text = "Second place is first loser."
lblBlogLink.Text = "moonBLOG"
lblAirsoft.Text = "Skirmish to live, live to skirmish."
End Sub

Posted: 3:26 AM - Jun 04, 2003
CyberDeffender
Paying the ticket is the easy part surviving through the traffic school is the hard part. 8 hours of your life most likely your weekend gone GONE I tellz ya! GONE!

Posted: 4:08 AM - Jun 04, 2003
HitokiriMoonKnight
I'm going to fight the ticket. My friend Phattferd's mom said that if I lose I still have to pay the ticket, nothing else. So what do I have to lose, ya know?
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
lblQuote.Text = "Second place is first loser."
lblBlogLink.Text = "moonBLOG"
lblAirsoft.Text = "Skirmish to live, live to skirmish."
End Sub

Posted: 7:09 AM - Jun 04, 2003
Jim
If you want to avoid paying the full amount, definately try to fight it (as you've already decided to do so). As you've already figured out, it can't hurt to try (well, that is, assuming you don't have any outstanding warrants or other things they could get you on).
As far as keeping it from your parents...good luck.

Posted: 4:49 PM - Jun 04, 2003
HitokiriMoonKnight
I'm going to plead Not Guilty with a Written Not Guilty Plea (pursuant to CVC 40519 (b)). Then I'm going to request a Trial By Written Declaration. I won't even have to show up in person. I'm going to write about what happened and why the judge should find in my favor. If the arresting cop doesn't submit his written statement in the time allotted I win. If he does, and the judge finds me guilty, I can request a Trial de Novo which is essentially a re-trial, but then I have to show up in person. By then it will be months and months since the ticket happened and the cop probably won't remember the details anymore, and I'll probably win. If I lose, though, I can just pay the fine (which will probably be reduced) and attend traffic school (which I found out that I can do online).
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
lblQuote.Text = "Second place is first loser."
lblBlogLink.Text = "moonBLOG"
lblAirsoft.Text = "Skirmish to live, live to skirmish."
End Sub