Fighting a Ticket

Got a ticket for rolling through a four-way stop yesterday. I was working, looking for an address. Just didn't come to a complete stop. The cop was cool, but said he had to give me a ticket because "it's a zero tolerance zone" and that he was "there specifically to monitor that intersection because the neighbours have been complaining."

He really seemed like he didn't want to give me the ticket. Seemed genuine enough.

Anyway, he spelled the name of the street wrong on the ticket. My point? How can I get a ticket on a street that doesn't exist?

Can I fight this? And win?

 

my advice is to hire one of those lawyers who do this shit all the time. they virtually guarantee a reduction and no points on your license.

i have never been to traffic court so i don't know how they do it but at least where i live, they just do the same thing in high volume and these lawyers make a pretty good living.

i would guess that if you didn't want to or couldn't afford to hire this type of lawyer (where i live you can get one for $99) then if you have time, spend a day or two in traffic court and figure out what the lawyer does. i assume it's all just procedural - the lawyer isn't actually defending the person or claiming he didn't speed. so once you know what the lawyer says or does, try it yourself.

 

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing in regards to hiring one of those "traffic court specialists."

A lot of times, they are ex-cops or semi-retired lawyers keeping busy.

We'll see. I have a clean record - and I'm not saying I didn't break the law this time - and I want to keep it that way. Hell, I'll pay a lawyer and a fine (or take a day off work) and pay fine to keep my points where they are.

 

Somewhat similar question...

Three weekends ago I got lost in east Cleveland (scary, I know). Anyway, I found my way out of town, and three days ago I got a letter in the mail. A camera/radar gun caught me speeding and sent me a ticket.

I was dead lost and had no idea what the speed limit was, and there is no police officer who pulled me over to try and reason with him.

How can I fight this? Can I fight this?

 

Not knowing the speed limit isn't a defense. Pay the ticket.

 

What about not being from the area and being lost?

 

Regarding SoSueMe's quandary: If the cop doesn't show up to court, the judge likely will throw it out.

 

I know up here in the Great White North, the law is "speed limit in residential areas is 50 km/hr unless otherwise posted" and "speed limit in rural areas or highways is 80 km/hr unless otherwise posted."

Basically, if you don't know the limit, drive 50 and 80, respectively.

 

I got the feeling he wouldn't. He stressed, I mean REALLY stressed, that I "read the ticket very, very carefully" and suggested I "note all three options on the back of the ticket."

Like I said, I got the feeling he didn't want to write as much as I didn't want to get it.

 

Why would being lost make you speed?

Not trying to be a dick, just imagining what a judge would ask you...

 

No, I understand. I wasn't driving through a rural area, and I thought the speed limit was 45 because it seemed like that would be the speed limit there. Turns out it was 25, so instead of being 3 under I was 17 over. Not good. I don't know that I saw one speed limit sign while I was on the road.

 

The officer schedules all his tickets to be in court on the same day. He won't not show up just for yours. If he misses your court appearance, he misses the appearance for all the tickets he wrote that month, it doesn't happen very often, when it does your court date will usually be pushed back to accomodate the officer. It is rare that your ticket will be tossed because of an officers non appearance on the first date.

As for the lawyer, good move. Keeping a moving violation off you insurance is the important thing. Pay any fees or fines you have to in order to keep your insurance clean. Your chances representing yourself aren't nearly as good as if you had a lwayer, even if you know what you're doing. The traffic court judges and lawyers all know each other, the lawyers clients will get preferential treatment. It's not supposed to work that way but it does.