Speeding Ticket - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

MJM · 04-30-2009, 11:56 PM

So I was going to go pay my speeding ticket (cop caught me going 41 in a 30 zone with radar), and my coworkers keep telling me not to pay it right away and to see the justice of the peace at the time on the ticket and they will either lower the fine or take away the demerit penalty.

Is there any merit in what they are saying, or should I just go and pay the ticket as I originally planned?

jayswin · 05-01-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

So I was going to go pay my speeding ticket (cop caught me going 41 in a 30 zone with radar), and my coworkers keep telling me not to pay it right away and to see the justice of the peace at the time on the ticket and they will either lower the fine or take away the demerit penalty.

Is there any merit in what they are saying, or should I just go and pay the ticket as I originally planned?

It never hurts to give it a shot. More often than not you'll get a decent reduction to your ticket. The service is there, may as well use it.

jar_e · 05-01-2009, 12:27 AM

These threads usually turn out pretty fun.

jar_e · 05-01-2009, 12:28 AM

And to actually add something meaningful, I guess you have to look at it in the sense that fighting that $100 ticket is going to be worth it if you have to take time out of work, get parking downtown, etc.

Dion · 05-01-2009, 12:31 AM

I used one of those ticket agencies once and was told you needed a sqeaky clean record before they'd consider a reduction in fines or demerit points.

You could also fight the ticket and hope the officer doesn't show. Happened to me once when i fought a ticket i deemed was unfair. Ticket got tossed out.

Tower · 05-01-2009, 12:43 AM

Conditionally accept it. But ask for an original bill. If you received a copy of a ticket, which you did.

Once you say not guilty you are in dishonor and you are set up already to lose in the court. Pay it you are saying guilty and in dishonor. But conditionally accept it upon receiving a bill and you are with in honor and put the ball in their court.

jayswin · 05-01-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tower

Conditionally accept it. But ask for an original bill. If you received a copy of a ticket, which you did.

Once you say not guilty you are in dishonor and you are set up already to lose in the court. Pay it you are saying guilty and in dishonor. But conditionally accept it upon receiving a bill and you are with in honor and put the ball in their court.

Ummm, what?

MJM · 05-01-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jar_e

And to actually add something meaningful, I guess you have to look at it in the sense that fighting that $100 ticket is going to be worth it if you have to take time out of work, get parking downtown, etc.

I work downtown, would take me all of 5 minutes to walk over on my lunch. Otherwise I wouldn't even bother.

I'm not fighting the ticket. People are just telling me if I go in and plead guilty rather than just paying the ticket in advance they'll reduce the price of it or potentially wave the demerit penalty.

Paying the full ticket costs doesn't really bother me one way or another. I'd just rather not give the city the entire amount of the ticket for what I consider to be a complete cash grab if I don't have to. Not happy with the city wasting it resources having cops sitting behind a bush at 10 pm on Sunday night ticketing people going 41 in a 30 a zone (one that comes out of nowhere). I could see if it was a school day during school hours, but 10 pm on Sunday. Give me a break.

MJM · 05-01-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tower

Conditionally accept it. But ask for an original bill. If you received a copy of a ticket, which you did.

Once you say not guilty you are in dishonor and you are set up already to lose in the court. Pay it you are saying guilty and in dishonor. But conditionally accept it upon receiving a bill and you are with in honor and put the ball in their court.

I am pleading guilty. The reason I asked this is you don't have to show up to plead guilty, you can just pay the ticket but I've had like ten people tell me just to show up on the day and plead guilty and they will reduce the ticket.

Is it really worth my time to do this, or is this just an olds wives tale? That's what I'm trying to find out.

Tower · 05-01-2009, 01:13 AM

Well you can go down and plead guilty pay the fine and ask for no demerits if you have been a good driver. But where is the fun in that!

Dion · 05-01-2009, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

I am pleading guilty. The reason I asked this is you don't have to show up to plead guilty, you can just pay the ticket but I've had like ten people tell me just to show up on the day and plead guilty and they will reduce the ticket.

Is it really worth my time to do this, or is this just an olds wives tale? That's what I'm trying to find out.

Talk to the guys with POINTS in the Rocky Mountain Plaza. They'll give you free honest advice. I've used thier services on 2 occassions.

05-01-2009, 07:03 AM

Just an FYI, you can head into the courthouse on or before the date listed. Go in when it's convenient for you.

05-01-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tower

Conditionally accept it. But ask for an original bill. If you received a copy of a ticket, which you did.

Once you say not guilty you are in dishonor and you are set up already to lose in the court. Pay it you are saying guilty and in dishonor. But conditionally accept it upon receiving a bill and you are with in honor and put the ball in their court.

What? I am so confused.

icarus · 05-01-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

I am pleading guilty. The reason I asked this is you don't have to show up to plead guilty, you can just pay the ticket but I've had like ten people tell me just to show up on the day and plead guilty and they will reduce the ticket.

Is it really worth my time to do this, or is this just an olds wives tale? That's what I'm trying to find out.

I think the law has changed since I last did it, they've gotten rid of or modified the RO (registered owner) plea, but it wasn't as though you just turn up and say "I'm guilty!" and they reduce your fine. It is more like you say to the Crown in advance "I don't think I was going that fast" or "I'm not sure that was me" and then you might get the prosecutor willing to say "well just plead guilty and we'll reduce the fine". If you turn up and say "I'm guilty! Now where's my discount?", you probably won't get one.

What time did you get the ticket? I once got a ticket late one Wednesday night so I arranged my court hearing for early one Thursday morning, assuming my cop worked late on Wednesday nights. Sure enough, the cop never turned up.

05-01-2009, 07:48 AM

nvm

Boblobla · 05-01-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

So I was going to go pay my speeding ticket (cop caught me going 41 in a 30 zone with radar), and my coworkers keep telling me not to pay it right away and to see the justice of the peace at the time on the ticket and they will either lower the fine or take away the demerit penalty.

Is there any merit in what they are saying, or should I just go and pay the ticket as I originally planned?

I try and go to the Justice of the Peace whenever I can for my speeding tickets. You used to be able to plead guilty as the registered owner of the vehicle and it would turn the ticket into something like a photoradar (no demerits). You can't really do that any more but EVERY time i have gone in the Crown Prosecutor reduces my fine/demerits.

It is worth it if you have a morning free during the week, if you would have to take time off work, don't bother. Especially for a ticket of only 11 over.

Rhettzky · 05-01-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

Not happy with the city wasting it resources having cops sitting behind a bush at 10 pm on Sunday night ticketing people going 41 in a 30 a zone (one that comes out of nowhere). I could see if it was a school day during school hours, but 10 pm on Sunday. Give me a break.

Just curious, but where was this? Playground zones end 1 hr after sunset, school zones end at 5:30pm. Was it a restricted 30km/hr zone?

Resolute 14 · 05-01-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

Paying the full ticket costs doesn't really bother me one way or another. I'd just rather not give the city the entire amount of the ticket for what I consider to be a complete cash grab if I don't have to. Not happy with the city wasting it resources having cops sitting behind a bush at 10 pm on Sunday night ticketing people going 41 in a 30 a zone (one that comes out of nowhere). I could see if it was a school day during school hours, but 10 pm on Sunday. Give me a break.

A 30 zone is a 30 zone for a reason. It could have been a kid running out from behind that bush at 10PM instead of a cop, and you could have hit that kid. One has only to look at the accident stats in this city, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, etc. to know that this is not a far fetched possibility.

Sure, speeding tickets are a cash grab. But they are a cash grab because you were too stupid to obey the speed limit. That was your decision, so suck it up and take the fine like a man.

Boblobla · 05-01-2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Sure, speeding tickets are a cash grab. But they are a cash grab because you were too stupid to obey the speed limit. That was your decision, so suck it up and take the fine like a man.

The Justice of the Peace is a service offered by the city. He has EVERY right to take advantage of it. He is not saying he is against speeding tickets and he wants to stick it to the man, he is just trying to reduce the amount he has to pay. You even said it was a cash grab so if he can go and take advantage of a service the city offers for this very purpose why shouldn't he?

Rhettzky · 05-01-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

A 30 zone is a 30 zone for a reason. It could have been a kid running out from behind that bush at 10PM instead of a cop, and you could have hit that kid.

If a kid is jumping out at you from behind bushes at 10pm at night then I seriously question his motives.