Using POINTTS or another traffic ticket defence company

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I've heard they're pretty good for more serious traffic violations, though. Is that true? Or is it basically a) minor offense = don't bother with any representation, or b) serious offense = hire lawyer who specializes in traffic court?

I'd say that's pretty accurate. There aren't too many serious driving offences under the traffic safety act anyways. A traffic ticket guy will just ask the crown to take a lesser included offence in some instances, which the crown is supposed to say no to, unless there is a good reason.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by gottabekd

I've always wondered what the deal was with arguing down the ticket? I mean, if you are guilty. What good is it to show up and ask for a reduction? Is that all you do? Just say "Hey, I got a ticket. I'm guilty. But can I pay less pretty please?" and they will just reduce it on the spot for you?

Or is it more along the lines of getting a ticket for going 25 over, and lying to the judge that you were actually only going 15 over, and the judge saying "whatever, here, reduced. Next!"

Both

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by gottabekd

I've always wondered what the deal was with arguing down the ticket? I mean, if you are guilty. What good is it to show up and ask for a reduction? Is that all you do? Just say "Hey, I got a ticket. I'm guilty. But can I pay less pretty please?" and they will just reduce it on the spot for you?

Or is it more along the lines of getting a ticket for going 25 over, and lying to the judge that you were actually only going 15 over, and the judge saying "whatever, here, reduced. Next!"

The Crown has a high case load. They can't possibly run every trial. If you ask for a reduction, they'll gladly give it, in order not to be over run.

It's not the judge who gives the reduction, it's the crown. And they'll give it for every single offence they can.

[Millertime]

Do you have to see the crown on the date on your ticket, or can you go before hand?

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Millertime

Do you have to see the crown on the date on your ticket, or can you go before hand?

You can go to the counter at the court office before hand, depending on the location, and the clerk will give you a reduction. You don't even need to see the crown, that's the case in big centres like Edmonton and Calgary.

Otherwise, go on the date of the ticket.

[gottabekd]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

The Crown has a high case load. They can't possibly run every trial. If you ask for a reduction, they'll gladly give it, in order not to be over run.

It's not the judge who gives the reduction, it's the crown. And they'll give it for every single offence they can.

So is it essentially pleading down to something lesser? I.e. to get your fine/demerits reduced, you are admitting guilt, but to something less than the original ticket? And the crown makes these deals because any sort of guilty plea means they can avoid any court time?

If that's the case, makes some more sense.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by gottabekd

So is it essentially pleading down to something lesser? I.e. to get your fine/demerits reduced, you are admitting guilt, but to something less than the original ticket? And the crown makes these deals because any sort of guilty plea means they can avoid any court time?

If that's the case, makes some more sense.

Yes. Most often pleading guilty to going say 10km over the limit instead of the 30km over as stated on the ticket. Smaller fine, less demerits.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

Hi, I'm very familiar with Alberta traffic court.

Don't hire one of those companies. They don't accomplish much.

If you're not guilty, set it for trial. If you are guilty, go down and speak to the prosecutor and ask for a reduction.

Those traffic ticket defence company people just negotiate with the Crown for the same thing you can ask for.

That's fine and dandy if you can afford to take or get time off from work. I've used them in the past when getting away from the workplace was impossible. In both cases I got the tickets reduced to a fine and no demerit points.

[getbak]

If you got a ticket for rolling through a stop sign, what lesser charge could you plea to?

[billybob123]

Failure to obey a traffic control device, though that comes with demerits as well.

[Slava]

I don't know how the legal side of it works, but in my experience they just cut the fine in half (or roughly half) and eliminate the demerits. There is no indication that you're agreeing to say "I was only going 15km/hr over instead of 30km/hr" or anything like that. Maybe behind the scenes they do that kind of thing.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I've heard they're pretty good for more serious traffic violations, though. Is that true? Or is it basically a) minor offense = don't bother with any representation, or b) serious offense = hire lawyer who specializes in traffic court?

It depends. What is a serious offence in traffic court? reckless driving? those are usually pretty easy to plead down yourself.

I would always go speak to crown and see what deal they can get you, first.

Also, if you have the times, anyone can do as good a job as a POINTTS or similar agent.

[mrkajz44]

I used them (POINTTS) when I started driving and got a speeding ticket. I think I was 16 or 17 at the time, so still in high school. It wouldn't have been easy for me to go and defend myself, and considering my age, I'm not sure I would have been competent enough to do it on my own.

They were pretty expensive, at least for a 17 year old, but they got the charge reduced from normal speeding to some sort of photo-radar charge. The difference was my new charge was attached to the car only, rather than me personally. Saved a ton on insurance because it wasn't the new male young driver that got the ticket, it was just "the car". At least that's how I remember it.

Long story short, they did cost a lot, but it saved me much more in the long run, so I considered it worth it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by KTrain

Just be a man and pay the ticket.

I love this because absolutely everyone agrees with this until its their ticket and then no one agrees with this.