120km on the highway (a 100 limit), if he'd only reduced it by 5km i wouldn't be losing 3 points. so since i don't want to risk my insurance company jacking up the rates i'm fighting it. when i applied to challenge the offense (10 bloody months ago) i said i wasn't going to be debating the evidence - which means the cop (opp) doesn't need to show up. i'm going to tell them i was doing the speed of traffic and try to convince the judge to reduce it.
what do i call a judge in ontario, btw - "your honour", "your lordship", "sir/ma'am", "buddy"¿
please tell me if this might work & anything else i should know.
― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:00 (twenty years ago) link
Why did you say you weren't going to debate the evidence?
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:07 (twenty years ago) link
J: "OK, it says here that you're not going to be debating the fact that you were speeding, mr. dyson."
mr. D: "that's right, your honour."
J: "OK, what are you going to do?"
mr. D: "well, you see, your honour, it wasn't just me."
J: "I sentance you to death."
http://www.eji.org/images/internal_chair.jpg
― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 19:27 (twenty years ago) link
Why did you say you weren't going to debate the evidence?because i'm a tool.honestly, i can't remember, i'm sure i had my reasons at the time. probably because i'm not really debating the whole "speeding" thing.
― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:22 (twenty years ago) link
:D
― Allyzay, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:25 (twenty years ago) link
― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:27 (twenty years ago) link
― Allyzay, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:30 (twenty years ago) link
Speaking of which, on a semi-different matter, how do I find out the statute of limitation for something? I couldn't (apparently) find out the answer in the US Code, which is where the offense was detailed.
― Girolamo Savonarola, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 20:35 (twenty years ago) link
i am quite sure this theory is bullshit.
i'm am also sure that unless i manage to put this thing off for, like, 10 years the ministry is going to want their money. also i'd probably not be able to renew my license.
― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 21:27 (twenty years ago) link
Is quite good theory, but if that strategy worked, wouldn't everyone be as clued up?
That said, good luck, Dyson....
― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 21:45 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 21:54 (twenty years ago) link
― adam (adam), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 22:30 (twenty years ago) link
Yep: http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/ticket.asp
― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 30 October 2003 02:13 (twenty years ago) link
― geeta (geeta), Thursday, 30 October 2003 02:14 (twenty years ago) link
― ModJ (ModJ), Thursday, 30 October 2003 02:19 (twenty years ago) link
and maybe it's b.s. anyway. found some stuff on google, including this:
http://www.norman-law.com/page29.html
― ron (ron), Thursday, 30 October 2003 07:10 (twenty years ago) link
― Skottie, Thursday, 30 October 2003 07:31 (twenty years ago) link
i've fought a few tickets in toronto (mostly parking, but finally got a speeding ticket last year). 'guilty with an explanation' is what it is, methinks... i disputed them even though i was in the wrong, because i didn't want to lose the points and pay the big fine, but mostly because a friend told me the cops usually don't show up and you almost ALWAYS have the fine/charge reduced. all you have to do is simply show up sober and not acting like a maniac. you probably won't even have time to explain yourself.
are you in toronto? if you are, it works like this: you sit on a shitty wooden bench waiting your turn with countless other deadbeats like yourself. your name gets called, you go up and confirm who you are, the judge will either (a) simply reduce the fine and send you off straight away without a word from you, or (b) s/he asks you what happened, you start to sheepishly explain about the 'flow of traffic', and before you finish your sentence s/he cuts you off, reduces the fine and sends you on your way, wondering what the hell just happened. ahhhh, nothing like watching taxpayers money being put to good use, is there?
― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 30 October 2003 14:39 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Thursday, 30 October 2003 16:57 (twenty years ago) link
i fough the law anddys-won.
okay i was still convicted, but i got what i wanted. had a pretrial chat with the prosecutor and agreed to lowering the speed to 15 over. no points and the fine was reduced from $135 to $55.
― dyson (dyson), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 17:10 (twenty years ago) link
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 18:03 (twenty years ago) link
― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 18:06 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 18:09 (twenty years ago) link
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 18:17 (twenty years ago) link
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 18:22 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Tuesday, 4 November 2003 18:27 (twenty years ago) link
i have a parking pass for an area remotely near my apartment (an 20 effing minute walk away). i leave my car alone for 3 days - as i have done many times. return to my car, or where it was, to discover it's been towed. $15 cab ride and $115 donation to the local towing company later i find 6 tickets under my wiper at $20 each. apparently at the beginning of each month the side of the street you're supposed to park on switches - news to me.
i swear to god i want the fucking secret decoder ring that allows me to translate what the hell all the fucked up fucking parking signs hanging all over this goddamn fucking city mean. fucking fuck.
i have no plan. i'm just fighting these tickets - i've been punished enough. then i am going to drive my car into the lake and be rid of this city-of-toronto-revenue-generating-machine for good.
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:38 (twenty years ago) link
― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 10 November 2003 17:58 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 10 November 2003 18:01 (twenty years ago) link
Another great site for tickets in ontario is <a href="Ontario Demerit Points. it lists all the demerit points and how they effect your licenece. Who knew turning at the wrong place could cost you 2 points? stupid!
― Adrian, Saturday, 10 November 2007 14:27 (sixteen years ago) link
I heard on the news today that in Reigate, only 9% of parking tickets which are challenged are rendered void, but in Westminster, 88% are.
― Mark C, Saturday, 10 November 2007 14:38 (sixteen years ago) link
seriously FUCK traffic tickets with a motherfucking shovel
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 11 July 2008 08:46 (fifteen years ago) link
I just got a $480 red light violation ticket from one of those automated camera things. how do you beat this shit in court? I've never had a ticket/moving violation/accident before, this is all new to me
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Sunday, 11 September 2011 14:34 (twelve years ago) link
What the fuck. 480 dollar?!? A few months ago I think I did it too but later on I learned that they only fine from 1,5 seconds of red light or sth. Afterwards I also discovered there wasn't a camera. Thank god: if I was caught I might have to redo my exam as I only have my license for less than a year. Then again, I should also be lucky for not causing an accident. Far worse than an exam or fine imo.
Just had a ticket cause I turned into a street which wasn't allowed. Temporarily cause they are doing works there. Funnily enough I followed another car. lol. 50 euros. Not contesting this at all. I mean, it's only 50 euros.
― Nathalie (stevienixed), Sunday, 11 September 2011 16:43 (twelve years ago) link
any Americans got any useful legal advice
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 15:20 (twelve years ago) link
Not a clue -- sorry, man, $480 is a piece of change.
― Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Monday, 12 September 2011 15:22 (twelve years ago) link
if you get the ticket drunk before the fight, its reflexes won't be as fast and you'll be able to get more punches in
― ibiza bloodfarty rock anthem (some dude), Monday, 12 September 2011 15:25 (twelve years ago) link
this sucks. I'm going to write to request a written trial since I think there were extenuating circumstances (there had been an accident in my lane a couple blocks ahead, which had disrupted the flow of traffic and people were changing lanes, spending entire green light in intersection, etc.) plus I can lol plead mercy as a normally conscientious driver I guess. I could request an in-person trial as well. I guess the issue is which do cops like to do less: appear in court or fill out paperwork.
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:02 (twelve years ago) link
in my experience showing up at court and pleading for mercy usually results in a 50% discount, fortunately I have not had to do this in years.
― sleeve, Monday, 12 September 2011 16:05 (twelve years ago) link
court trial. dress slutty.
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:07 (twelve years ago) link
I wouldn't make a very pretty slut, unfortunately.
pros re: court trial - cop less likely to show up and argue? increased likelihood of leniency?cons: I am more persuasive with the written word than I am nervous and in person. also would have to take time off work which would mean $$$/time off lost
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:16 (twelve years ago) link
christ on a stick, $480???
― call all destroyer, Monday, 12 September 2011 16:20 (twelve years ago) link
If it's an automated camera ticket, would they need a cop to show up?
If you lose, will court costs be tacked on to the 480?
― Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:20 (twelve years ago) link
citation sez:
"an officer and witnesses will be present"
it doesn't say anything about court costs, apart from a fine if I fail to appear ($300)
re: a written trial, there's no mention of a cop, it just says "the judge will make a judgment based up on your Written Declaration and the photographic evidence which will be subpoenaed by this court"
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:28 (twelve years ago) link
who 'witnessed' this, if it was a camera?
― comes correct with his gameboy (k3vin k.), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
well I dunno what other witnesses the city would call. I had people in the car with me (am also considering using "distracted by semi-hysterical toddler" defense)
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
Did you see this page? http://www.amusings.com/san-francisco-red-light-camera-tickets/
Lots of good info for SF.
― svend, Monday, 12 September 2011 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
seems like the plead guilty + traffic school option is halfway decent.
― call all destroyer, Monday, 12 September 2011 16:59 (twelve years ago) link
Good timing, I have to do this soon.
Last one of these I got, a whole bunch of cops did not show up and those that did "could not recall" the incident resulting in it being forgiven.
Mine is $360 for going 65 in a 35, which seems way faster than I was going, I did not even really think I was speeding. But it is a long, underdeveloped stretch of straight road leading through an industrial area just outside of Downtown LA. I see cops with radar there all the time now picking people off, so it is a total speed trap. There's no way you can keep to 35 on that road.
― Pizzataco Five (admrl), Monday, 12 September 2011 16:59 (twelve years ago) link
yeah altho I'm a bit confused. it looks like you show up, plead NOT GUILTY, and then they offer you a reduced fine + traffic school in order not to pursue the case...?
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 17:22 (twelve years ago) link
oh is it not guilty? i guess at that point pursuing the case costs them more than the fine would collect.
― call all destroyer, Monday, 12 September 2011 17:24 (twelve years ago) link
I think so... I don't get why you would request a trial and plead guilty, seems like that's a bigger waste of the court's time.
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 17:29 (twelve years ago) link
At least in NJ, the way you do it is to plead not guilty and request a trial. Then on the day of your court appearance, the prosecutor will typically offer you a plea deal (provided your offense is not too, um, offensive). The deal they typically offer you is a reduction on the points, but not necessarily on the fine - however, your situation may vary. Basically the point of the plea deal is to save them the hassle of holding a trial for you.
― o. nate, Monday, 12 September 2011 17:37 (twelve years ago) link
that makes sense
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
SO why would you take that deal instead of doing traffic school and paying the fine?
― Pizzataco Five (admrl), Monday, 12 September 2011 17:48 (twelve years ago) link
^^^that is the deal. you get a reduced fine + traffic school and they waive the trial.
― you will always be wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 September 2011 17:51 (twelve years ago) link
see refs in linked site above
I'm not sure how that works in NJ, but I think the traffic school is something separate that you can do any time to reduce points on your license. I don't think it has anything to do with the plea deal.
― o. nate, Monday, 12 September 2011 17:52 (twelve years ago) link
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, July 11, 2008 4:46 AM (4 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Some of the truest words ever. I'm simmering with anger and hope I can keep it from boiling over here at work.
― i like slash and i vote (j.lu), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 16:49 (eleven years ago) link
run very fast and try and squat it.
― jel --, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 16:54 (eleven years ago) link
swot, I mean.
― jel --, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 16:56 (eleven years ago) link
Hope the officer that wrote your ticket doesn't show up in court. When I had to go recently I wasn't one of the lucky ones, but three officers didn't show up and easily 40-45% of the people in the room had theirs dismissed.
― heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 16:58 (eleven years ago) link
My first inclination is to suck it up and pay the fine, rather than trying to contest it. But is this sort of thing really worth challenging?
― i like slash and i vote (j.lu), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 17:03 (eleven years ago) link
Got slammed for doing 42 in a 25mph zone (aka a local side street in the 'burbs). Defund the motherfuckin' police.
― Nhex, Wednesday, 7 April 2021 01:04 (two years ago) link
Yeah but if you defund them they're going to be that much more aggressive with speeding tickets to compensate. Maybe go with deflate instead.
― Evan, Wednesday, 7 April 2021 17:07 (two years ago) link