Ticket help

[Bumble G]

got two tickets last night.

Cop stops me on the 400 north at Finch and says I ran 2 amber(yellow) lights and I was speeding on Black Creek Drive.

I was only going about 80 on black Creek(posted speed 70). And yes I did go through two yellow lights.
So 20 minutes later after sitting in my car he gives me:

speeding 120 in 100 = $100 3 points
fail to stop amber light = $190 3 points

So now what?
This is my first offence
Should I go with Pointts? X-Copper?
or fight it myself?
I've never been in court so I don't know what to expect. And I get real nervouse speaking infront of people.

[midnightp5]

I know how you feel pal I had a similar experience myself.

Got a ticket for doing 110 in a 70 then in the same day I get a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt.

It's up to you if you want to pay X-copper or Points $2-300.00, but they won't do anything you can't do yourself.

After I got my tickets I went to speak with the prosecuting attorney about a plea bargain. I ended up having the Seat belt violation thrown out, and the speeding ticket lowered to 80 in a 70 ($40.00 no points)

Look at the bright side, you got both tickets in the same municipality so you shouldn't have any problem doing what I did.

Plea bargains a very common and they save the government a lot of money by not having long drawn out court cases.

FYI if you go to speak with the attorney and they decide not to allow the plea bargain your pretty much screwed.

As long as you know what you’re saying and kiss a little ass you should be alright.

Good Luck!

[MP5Navy]

Go down to the court house and set a trial date with the plea of NOT GUILTY.

Your court date will take a month to set up. Once you get notification - request a change of dates. Do this twice.

Hope he doesn't show and both tickets get thrown out. If that doesn't happen you can do all your thinking while you wait for trial. Write down all the events and conditions the day you got your tickets and prepare the most solid defense you can, even if it's a little unthruthful.

[SunBurst-P5]

That's BS....it's obvious that cop just needed to fill his quota for the day. I've been told by a few cop friends of mine that they don't even bother pulling people over for speeding unless they're doing more than 20 over the limit...or you're causing danger to other drivers (swerving or weaving through traffic)

I would fight it both tickets....do what midnightp5 did and do a plea bargin....cuz they'll most likely throw both tickets out. If they happen to ask your side, tell them what speed you were doing and tell them it was unsafe to stop at the yellow lights...or that they changed once you were already in the intersection.

Good luck! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[CarDemon]

"I've never been in court so I don't know what to expect. And I get real nervous speaking infront of people."Quote

Don't worry brother!, Ben Johnson ssssssurvived the DDDDDubin Enquiry.

All jokes aside, get some bristol board and draw a diagram outlining the traffic flow, time of day, weather, speed limit etc and B.S. abit to show yoiu are somewhat of a scholar.

Try to earnestly prove that it was not a stale yellow light you went through.But a fresh Yellow Light.

You know the type that changes on you 1/2 way to 3/4 of the way through the intersection. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif

In the Projects, we brothers have had to come up resourceful representing ourselves. We couldn't afford Jewish Lawyers. Oh yeah. Dress very professional. Fubu and other ghetto apparel has been a determining factor.

good luck!!!

and by the way I have jewesh blood, so no anti semetism here.

[ChopstickHero]

Definitely plead NOT GUILTY and go for the plea bargain with the prosecutor. Show up early, so you have sufficient time to talk to the prosecutor. Majority of the time, the cop WILL show up b/c they are actually getting paid to go to the court. So if you change your dates a few times, then MAYBE the cop won't show. Again, your first impression to the court is your last, so dress nicely, be polite and have a reasonable (if not somewhat BS) defence.

The first impression works quite well. My brother has a horrible driving record and one of his last tickets (140km/h in a 100km/h + reckless driving for tailgating at 140km/h) was reduced from $385 and 6 points to just $35 and no points b/c the judge thought he looked like a "nice guy".

Good Luck. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

[Fhemto]

The whole procedure is bothersome and is not something you would want to do everyday. If I were you, I would set a trial date and plea guilty for speeding and not guilty for the amber light. When you're caught speeding, you're pretty much caught red handed. As for the amber light, you can argue that it wasn't safe to stop, so it's your words against the cop.

It's your 1st offense, realistically the judge should ease on you. And if the cop doesn't show up, then you're home freeeee! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Oh yea, you might want to dress nice for the court too. Don't go in looking like a thug. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Mike_Moss]

i got a ticket from a "Park Warden" for running the stop sign on the way in to a camp ground. he wouldnt even have caught up to me but i stopped to look at some deer on the side of the road. the guy was on a complete power trip and as well as the $70 ticket, he harassed all of us for the rest of the week.

oh yeah, Rock Point provincial park sucks.

[jali-p5]

since when do they give you a ticket and deduct points for running an amber light........red i can understand, but yellow?? shiet, don't they have better things to do than try and see who is crossing the intersection when the light is yellow?? why do they go harass the killers and rapeists and criminals........f***ing bs!!

oh yeah, plead not guilty, x-copper or points will usually only get you your points reduced, so it's like paying the full ticket w/o any points........move dates around, and if you speak french and the cop doesn't, book the appointment at a french speaking court, cops rarely ever show to these.......hehehehe

[Protege5girl]

Just because the cop doesn't show up, does not necesarily mean the ticket will be thrown out. Same goes for information written down on the ticket, if its wrong, it does not mean you won't have to pay.

I'll ask a friend of mine tonight whos a cop what you should do.

I think you should definitely fight it. You were going 80 in a 70 and got a ticket for 120 in 100. 80 in a 70 you won't lose demerits and its a small fine.

Navy, have you gone to court yet?

[KDawgONE]

Here is a little FYI for everyone...
In the past, cops were not paid to show up in court for traffic violations so they did not go and your case was usually thrown out. However, nowadays, most police forces are are paying their officers to show up for court so the NO SHOW COP THING dosent really work anymore.
What you should actually do is not only pay the fines, but, OVERPAY the fines! What happens then is that if you overpay enough (say, $20), you get a refund check. Your case then remains open untill you cash that refund check. As long as you DONT cash it, you case forever reamins open and your insurance company and M of T never find out. The only downside is the monthly reminders to cash your check....

[YP5 Toronto]

ummm.....That is the biggest URBAN MYTH that has been circulating for over 20 years. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't go the route of overpaying.

just my 2 cents.

[Silvermp5]

Jason is right, that's an urban Myth, your insurance office can find out regardless of the file remains open.

Your best bet is to fight the ticket and like mentioned before, once you get a set date, call them and get the date changed. Cops usually will spend an entire week in court as that's part of their duty. If you get a date when the cop does not show then the judge will throw your case out of court unless this ticket involved an accident where someone got hurt or died or there are liability involved.

[Protege5girl]

OK, spoke to my friend. There is a HTA blitz going on. (highway traffic act), cops are writing tickets for EVERYTHING, no matter how minor!

As for court, they have always been paid for going, in fact if they are not on duty and go to court, they get paid triple OT.

You can go to court, and plead guilty with an explanation or do a 1rst offence notice. You discuss the charge with the crown prosecutor and you can get the fine/points lowered, or they can send it to court.

[Fhemto]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Protege5girl @ Sep. 23 2002,2:27)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">OK, spoke to my friend.   There is a HTA blitz going on.  (highway traffic act), cops are writing tickets for EVERYTHING, no matter how minor![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Errrr...how long is the blitz for? and which area is this most concentrated in?

[CarDemon]

I heard about the GTA/HTA blitz which will be continuing for the next few months on the radio. I guess the Police Christmas &amp; NewYears Gala will be extravagant from now on if you know what I mean.

Ever since 'Fast &amp; The Furious' came out they've been on the hunt even more on this side of the border. Them damned Civic/Cavalier/Mustange kids have brought hell and damnation upon us all, we have to repent in these last days.

Being a brother of a darker tone I just keep safe most of the time since I don't wanna get shot pullinig up my handbrake, having some narcotic thrown in my car or cavity searched. What good is the SIU after I'm paralyzed or dead.

I must pay hommage and light a candle for the Abbot now. :|

[frankied]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Bumble G @ Sep. 23 2002,08:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Cop stops me on the 400 north at Finch and says I ran 2 amber(yellow) lights and I was speeding on Black Creek Drive.

I was only going about 80 on black Creek(posted speed 70). speeding 120 in 100 = $100 3 points[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Umm... did he say he clocked you on Black Creek or the 400? If the posted speed is really 70 where he said he clocked you, and the ticket reads 120 in 100, then it's your right, no , your duty, to go to court with photo of the speed limit sign just before the alleged offence... so read the ticket carefully as to where it says your speeding offense took place.  Since it says 100km limit on the ticket , I think he clocked you on the 400.

[feedb4ck]

Quick Question... was it raining last night when you got the tickets, or was the road wet at all, cuz that right there should get you out of the ambers, unsafe to stop due to road conditions... they can't really argue that.

and the 120 in the 100 - you might want to go with basic flow of traffic excuses - if you were driving slower, other cars would have had to pull out to pass, causing unsafe conditions and whatnot... not necessairily any guraantees about it at all, but those would seem to be legit excuses....

but what do I know.

and about the cops not showing up to court - about the only reason they wouldn't show up is a personal reason, or if they have a offduty gig somewhere else (security or something) cuz they get more money for those, at least I think they used to at least.

again, what do I know

[feedb4ck]

Quick Question... was it raining last night when you got the tickets, or was the road wet at all, cuz that right there should get you out of the ambers, unsafe to stop due to road conditions... they can't really argue that.

and the 120 in the 100 - you might want to go with basic flow of traffic excuses - if you were driving slower, other cars would have had to pull out to pass, causing unsafe conditions and whatnot... not necessairily any guraantees about it at all, but those would seem to be legit excuses....

but what do I know.

and about the cops not showing up to court - about the only reason they wouldn't show up is a personal reason, or if they have a offduty gig somewhere else (security or something) cuz they get more money for those, at least I think they used to at least.

again, what do I know

[feedb4ck]

Quick Question... was it raining last night when you got the tickets, or was the road wet at all, cuz that right there should get you out of the ambers, unsafe to stop due to road conditions... they can't really argue that.

and the 120 in the 100 - you might want to go with basic flow of traffic excuses - if you were driving slower, other cars would have had to pull out to pass, causing unsafe conditions and whatnot... not necessairily any guraantees about it at all, but those would seem to be legit excuses....

but what do I know.

and about the cops not showing up to court - about the only reason they wouldn't show up is a personal reason, or if they have a offduty gig somewhere else (security or something) cuz they get more money for those, at least I think they used to at least.

again, what do I know

[feedb4ck]

Quick Question... was it raining last night when you got the tickets, or was the road wet at all, cuz that right there should get you out of the ambers, unsafe to stop due to road conditions... they can't really argue that.

and the 120 in the 100 - you might want to go with basic flow of traffic excuses - if you were driving slower, other cars would have had to pull out to pass, causing unsafe conditions and whatnot... not necessairily any guraantees about it at all, but those would seem to be legit excuses....

but what do I know.

and about the cops not showing up to court - about the only reason they wouldn't show up is a personal reason, or if they have a offduty gig somewhere else (security or something) cuz they get more money for those, at least I think they used to at least.

again, what do I know

[feedb4ck]

okay, sorry about the triple post, something got messed on my comp...

may the forces of toprotege fix my ignantness.

[CarDemon]

I TRIPLE THAT!!!

[Jika]

mike moss you think that's bad?

Annual Camping Trip 2002 - 5th Anniversary Sibbald's Point Prov.Park.

Pulling up to campsite, surprised to see park warden with lights flashing behind me, so I pull over. Totally surprised look on my face when he comes up to the window. Apparently he wanted to write me a ticket for doing 43 in a 40 (Park Entrance), and 24 in a 20 (Camp site roads). Then that bastard had the nerve to give me the &quot;where do you work, does it pay well&quot; talk (I've heard that before, my grandfather's cop days resulted in MANY stories).

&quot;So you can afford this ticket then.&quot; cop said (3K over is what, ten bucks?

&quot;Honestly (yea right), I can barely afford the car.&quot;

&quot;OK, keep it slow next time. Have a good day&quot;

&quot;Thank you officer.........Yogi.&quot;



This is what my $12 day passes and taxes pay for?

[CarDemon]

I triple that!!! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif