Court Date - Need advice!

[algernon]

So, I paid my fine online through AMA this morning. $147 became $157 after the handeling fee. So be it. They provided me a service... Except the final window stated that my payment would be processed in 72 hrs. WDF? why did I pay $9.64 over the Internet? Are their info-tubes too small to process that kind of cake in an immediate fashion?! /rant off

Anyone know if I will get a bill in the mail for the 72 hrs over due payment?

[Leon]

Well this thread went downhill.

I ended up paying the ticket. I'm a student, and it will just mean fewer meals over the next week or so. Those of you claiming going to court to fight this as "wasting the officers time" need to screw your head back on. Court date appearances do not take away from time spent in the line of duty, these times are scheduled seperately for them.

Also, next time someone asks for advice/help, dont be an ass and make a smart comment, if you have nothing good to say, then dont say anything at all. That being said, thanks to those who gave good advice, next time something like this happens, I will fight it.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by noel

Well this thread went downhill.

I ended up paying the ticket. I'm a student, and it will just mean fewer meals over the next week or so. Those of you claiming going to court to fight this as "wasting the officers time" need to screw your head back on. Court date appearances do not take away from time spent in the line of duty, these times are scheduled seperately for them.

Also, next time someone asks for advice/help, dont be an ass and make a smart comment, if you have nothing good to say, then dont say anything at all. That being said, thanks to those who gave good advice, next time something like this happens, I will fight it.

You should have fought the ticket. Next time, I hope that you do take it as far as you are willing to go. Dont worry or listen to those that say you should man up, not waste officers time or create a logjam of the judicial system. Never worry bout things such as that, for its your time and money that should matter the most, no one elses.

As stated, I have never paid the full amount of any ticket in my life. Fight all of them and I will bet that a majority of time, it will be reduced or thrown out altogether.

[jammies]

Talk about "wasting the officer's time" and "just man up" is entirely missing the point that the POLICE don't decide whether or not you are guilty of an offence, the COURTS do. If you choose to exercise your rights and fight a charge, you are safeguarding those same rights for everyone, and never should you feel embarrassed or inhibited from doing so.

If more people fought against frivolous tickets such as jaywalking, then perhaps the gov't would stop relying on such tickets as a revenue source, and free more cops to attend to actual crime instead of making their quotas for the month.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by jammies

Talk about "wasting the officer's time" and "just man up" is entirely missing the point that the POLICE don't decide whether or not you are guilty of an offence, the COURTS do.

I guess I'm of the mindset that I don't need the courts to decide what in mind are petty offences; and neither do the people I consider friends. A while ago I lent a friend a power tool, and he damaged the cord. His immediate reaction was to buy me a new tool, and I told him that he only had to buy me a beer to cover the cost of the cord. We didn't need to go to court to settle the dispute.

Or my last photo radar ticket. Yeah, I was ticked off- but more so that I got caught as opposed to thinking it was "the man" out to get me. I really thought the road I was on could have handled a much higher limit, but the speed was posted and I broke the law.

Originally Posted by jammies

If more people fought against frivolous tickets such as jaywalking, then perhaps the gov't would stop relying on such tickets as a revenue source, and free more cops to attend to actual crime instead of making their quotas for the month.

The court system is already over loaded. And the same court that handles traffic issues also handles summary conviction offenses like drug charges, petty theft, etc. If more time is available to handle those charges, perhaps those crimes can have the time they need to ensure the appropriate sentance is given. And if those people receive the proper care the first time, maybe they won't end up being one of those people we see shooting up on the street.

I don't think anybody was saying that every person should pay every ticket. If you have any sort of defense, then feel free to fight the ticket. However if you don't think jaywalking is an offense, then the appropriate action is with the legislative branch of the gov't- not the judicial.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by jammies

Talk about "wasting the officer's time" and "just man up" is entirely missing the point that the POLICE don't decide whether or not you are guilty of an offence, the COURTS do. If you choose to exercise your rights and fight a charge, you are safeguarding those same rights for everyone, and never should you feel embarrassed or inhibited from doing so.

If more people fought against frivolous tickets such as jaywalking, then perhaps the gov't would stop relying on such tickets as a revenue source, and free more cops to attend to actual crime instead of making their quotas for the month.

Do you know how many pedestrians were killed crossing the street last year? It's a frivolous ticket? Kinda like speeding or something, eh? Only the fact that the laws are there to prevent deaths... but you know, whatever. Just a waste of time.

[metallicat]

I agree that if you have a legitimate defense, then by all means, fight your ticket. But I find it despicable if you plan to fight a ticket by lying or making something up in front of the judge.

[photon]

Originally Posted by soulchoice

Never worry bout things such as that, for its your time and money that should matter the most, no one elses.

Exactly, things like laws and obligations to others should never stand in one's way.