Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Got a ticket tonight

The cops are busting balls in my neighborhood. I got a ticket for failing to signal at a stopsign. Any way to fight this? I have or had a clean license.

Got a ticket for not comeing to a complete stop 'cause I didn't put my foot down at the stop sign, cop asked: 'how long can you stay upright while stopped without putting your foot down?' hmmm, I'm thinkin' 1-3 seconds....... afraid to prove it in front of the officer......so..ticket.... Doubt you will be able to 'fight it'....

I stopped and put a foot down, Cop said he saw me stop and put my foot down, after i stopped I made a right without signaling. I would really love to beat this BS ticket!

sounds like a nit picker, must of been looking for something to do.

mike

Officer, I did a hand signal before I stopped, then I had to drive the bike again...... doubt it will work, they can do what they want out there....and they need to have a certain number of citations per month....

How about "your honor I didnt know my bulb was burned out"

One of my pet peeves is people not signalling before they turn or change lanes, so I'm split on this one. I usually complain about cops NOT enforcing the law by citing those who don't signal, so I'll just say best of luck beating it.

Don't play fair. Hire a ticket lawyer.
I have two of them on speedial. Costs about $65 per ticket.
Most of the time they get it dismissed.
Sometimes there's a court cost, but no points.
It's what they're good at.

It's probably gonna cost him a bit more in NYC...

Tis the season. It's quota time!

How much is the ticket? Will it affect your insurance?

You can fight it if you wish, sometimes they'll reduce the penalty slightly if you grovel enough...

Cops around here usually stiop you for chicken poop stufff like that, for an excuse to check your paper work,then if you are legit say somthing like."im letting you go with a warning". This guy must have benn having a bad month.

Rule one - always plead not guilty, no matter what the charge. Why? Minor tickets are one thing - minor tickets when combined with potential future moving violations are quite another, and can indicate to an insurance underwriter or actuary a pattern of a scofflaw as an insured.

If NY tickets are still the way I remember them, on the back of the ticket, it may offer the option of a deposition -- DO NOT ask for a deposition. It just creates a great deal of paper shuffling work for the officer. In some counties of NY state, the officer acts as the prosecutor in court, and can decide your fate.

With your clean record, you might get lucky and score a nolle by mail. Know that it's customary for an officer to create written notes during a stop, then forward these notes to the powers that be. If you were respectful and courteous, and did not convict yourself if asked "Do you know why I stopped you?" it is in your favor.

If you get a notice to appear in court, all is not lost. Call the court clerk's office, and ask what time to get to court in order to talk to the prosecutor *. Show up a half hour before that, and get in line. My theory is it's best to get there early, before 127 mopes with attitudes p--s off the prosecutor to a point beyond any leniency. For non-felony and non-misdemeanor tickets, it's customary to plea your case to the officer or the prosecutor before the actual court appearance. This allows them to clear the docket in a timely manner. Also -- A coat and tie WILL work in your favor. It's your call. If you do go coat & tie, you'll notice you are very likely the only one doing so, and that is a VERY good thing perception wise. Like every human to human first time interaction, you will be made within the first seconds of meeting the person who decides your fate. A good first impression helps your cause. The coat & tie also suggests respect for the system, and that won't hurt your chances. I could go into the number of other reasons why, including herd psychology, but I'll leave it at that.

The typical scenario may be you will be asked what amounts to: "Why should I cut you slack?" What you want to consider is something to the tune of: "I made an error, but I do try to operate safely, as demonstrated by my clean MVR. "Would you consider a nolle (or dismissal) in this case?" Now you have put it in a place where they will have to say no. It may not help, but it won't hurt, if asked in a polite and respectful manner. If the officer or prosecutor won't give up any rhythm on the charge, politely ask if the option of a charitable donation in lieu of a conviction exists. This option keeps your MVR clean, and the insurance company happy, which is a home run, and makes the appearance worthwhile.

What you need to keep in mind, is it's their gig, and they all work together x days per week. Attitude and Perry Mason talk will not help your cause. Whatever deal is offered prior to court is the way it goes. To refuse the pre-court deal and try to sway the judge is a 99% no win move.

Also - all the myths about errors on the ticket or the officer needs glasses or making any excuses - they've heard it all too many times, and would be more likely to warm up to a "Sorry, I made a mistake" kind of an attitude. To you this is a big deal, because it has the potential to affect your insurance costs, and I'm with you on that. To them, this is a very trivial matter, compared to the vehicular homicide and child abuse cases coming their way later that day. My point being, they won't be thrilled to hear someone want to turn this into the OJ Trial II.

Good luck, and PM me if I can help. I'm not an attorney by any stretch of the imagination, but I have chased hundreds of tickets from ME to GA at my former job.
```````````````````````````````````````

* Leave your cell phone in the car. Most courts do not allow them, and many court houses have no means or desire to check your phone. A trip back to a distant parking space to stash your phone may create a problem with a timely appearance.
Another lesson learned the hard way...

Just curious, where in NYC (Manhattan) is there a stop sign?

This was at night a few blocks from my house. In Astoria Park Queens. With the river on one side at the stop sign you either go straight or turn right.

Good Luck? The court system is against you! I was ticketed for allegedly following too close behind an officer in rush hour traffic the friday before christmas. I will not go into all the details, still in the court system, but will say I was further behind him than he was the car in front of him. And by telling him that I got labeled a trouble maker. Being a professional firefighter I work very closely with law officers and have a great deal of respect for the job they have to do. He offered to take me to jail more than once during the stop. He was very unprofessional toward me. Went to the DA and was told the officer had made notations on the ticket that made it necessary for me to appear in court or pay the fine, was out of the DA office's hands to make a deal. Went to court in March, plead not guilty and given July 2 court date. I was on vacation in San Antonio, Tx rode 7 hours home to go to court and the DA posponed the case because the officer was on vacation. Where is the common courtesy to notify me of this prior to court as I was to notify them a month in advance if I couldn't appear? When I told the DA I was also on vacation but honored my obligation to come to court his reply was to change my plea to guilty and pay the fine. So Good Luck With The Court System! They are out to get you!

IF your record is reasonably clean, you have a good chance of beating it. Myself and family members here (and in VA) have not failed to get a ticket dismissed, having only to pay court costs and no points to the license. IF you have moving violations, it's a lot tougher to plead guilty and ask for probation before judgement (PBJ).

Isn't failure to signal at an intersection a non moving violation? Didn't think it counted against your license or insurance, at least I don't think it does here in Kansas.

BAD406, I had a similar experience with a speeding ticket, except since the officer didn't show up they just dropped the charges.

I've heard that officers like when you go to court because they get overtime pay, don't know if that's true or not.

Not really related, but me and Kimmy were blasting up highway 113 out of Rockmart toward Cartersville when a passing motorcyclist flashes his light, and pats the top of his helmet...We top the hill at around 65, and in the distance, it was just like the scene out of a Clint Eastwood movie...there must have been 100 Georgia State Patrol cars doing a "road block", apparently looking for someone. They asked for our licenses, and allowed us to pass...I asked the officer what was going on, he simply said "I could'nt tell ya brother"...I was like, allll righty then....Apparently they were looking for someone, and it was'nt me or Zoom girl...

Frickin' rules.

You got called on it, pay up.