how much trouble am i in? i'm going to call the courthouse to sort it out but i want to know what has happened to others with missed court dates for minor traffic tickets.

8/1/2006 2:06:45 PM

capital punishment. shouldn'tve done that shit.

8/1/2006 2:07:40 PM

bench warrant - just pay it - it'll go away

8/1/2006 2:07:45 PM

If you scheduled a court date to contest the ticket and didn't show, then you automatically lost and also are responsible for court costs.

8/1/2006 2:08:22 PM

i thought you could mail those seat belt violations in

8/1/2006 2:19:46 PM

^ That's kind of what I am wondering about.
A court date for a seat belt violation? Unless it is somehow mixed with wreckless driving or a more serious offense, the scheduling of a traffic court appearance would be voluntary. If that is the case, then the only consequence is a significant increase in what you owe.

8/1/2006 2:28:18 PM

ok a related question...

say you get a ticket for running a light in the mail, but you have moved. Would the post office deliver it to your new address?

Just curious how the address thing works for title and license...not expecting one.

8/1/2006 2:29:48 PM

^^^^,^^^,^^

The cop told me I could show up at the court date and ask to have the fine reduced...which i was planning to do. but i didnt open outlook for a few days and didn't get the reminder its all outlooks fault

i figured i would just have to pay a $50 fine or something

8/1/2006 2:36:36 PM

Quote :

"how much trouble am i in?"

None, they are happy you missed. More money for the state

8/1/2006 2:44:17 PM

Quote :

"ok a related question... say you get a ticket for running a light in the mail, but you have moved. Would the post office deliver it to your new address? Just curious how the address thing works for title and license...not expecting one."

it depends on the address on your registration/driver's license - did you put in to have your mail forwarded with the post office

8/1/2006 2:45:52 PM

too bad you cant open outlook on tww

8/1/2006 2:53:01 PM

yes, I did

8/1/2006 2:53:06 PM

GOD THE LEGAL ADVICE DESPENSED ON HERE IS SO HORRIBLE

Go to the clerks office and file a motion for a new court date, they will tell you when to come back. Its not a big deal at all. Just make sure you take care of it within a few weeks or you will get a nasty letter from the DMV threatening to revoke your license.

8/1/2006 2:54:19 PM

I am asking this question because I was in Chicago 2 weeks ago and there was this automated toll thing. I threw the exact change and it didn't register it...so I threw in some more and it still didn't register. At that time, the car behind me started honking, so I had to move with the stop light on. Now, I called the toll support number and the automated thing said that it happens often and that the computer would know it.

I didn't get to speak to a real person, so I am just curious what the ramifications could be.

8/1/2006 2:55:08 PM

Guantanamo Bay

8/1/2006 2:56:25 PM

Quote :

"LEGAL ADVICE DESPENSED ON HERE IS SO HORRIBLE"

We're laymen not lawyers. I think that it wouldn't really be all that surprising that the advice probably sucks.

At least I have one shining star of good advice, actually the best legal advice yet - hire a lawyer.

As far as practical advice, and financial advice, you'd be gambling on your abilities to lessen the fine during a court appearance, and you'd still be accountable for the court costs if you lost. Unfortunately your only options are to pay the court cost or motion for continuance. Either option will be greeted with a rubber stamp.

[Edited on August 1, 2006 at 3:01 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on August 1, 2006 at 3:02 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2006 2:59:51 PM

Quote :

"At least I have one shining star of good advice, actually the best legal advice yet - hire a lawyer. "

thats the worst option as the costs associated with hiring a lawyer aren't worth the benefits for just a seat belt violation.

Quote :

"As far as practical advice, and financial advice, you'd be gambling on your abilities to lessen the fine during a court appearance, and you'd still be accountable for the court costs if you lost. Unfortunately your only options are to pay the court cost or motion for continuance. Either option will be greeted with a rubber stamp."

as far as gambling goes, its not going to get any worse than the fine and court costs printed on the ticket. i wouldnt call it gambling if things can only get better for showing up.

8/1/2006 3:05:53 PM

True, although it is noteworthy that the decision to appear in court is when you first start the gamble and wager the cost of the court hearing that you can win. I agree that it is not gambling at this point. It was gambling upon the initial decision to appear. Now I am actually curious if you'll win. Without jeopardizing your strategy, on what basis do you hope to knock down the fine?

8/1/2006 3:13:05 PM

Why were you so fucking stupid as to not wear your seat belt in the first place? Damn, people are dumb.

8/1/2006 3:49:54 PM

Quote :

"True, although it is noteworthy that the decision to appear in court is when you first start the gamble and wager the cost of the court hearing that you can win. I agree that it is not gambling at this point. It was gambling upon the initial decision to appear"

Thats what you're not getting. You pay court costs regardless of if you show up or not. There is no extra cost in showing and pleading not guilty, or asking your charge to be reduced etc. The worst that could happen is they say no, and you pay the same thing you would have if you had mailed in the fine+court costs the day you received the ticket.

Quote :

"Now I am actually curious if you'll win. Without jeopardizing your strategy, on what basis do you hope to knock down the fine?"

On any traffic charge you can talk to an assistant DA and ask for the charge to be reduced (which wouldn't matter in this case since the charge doesn't impact insurance) or ask for the fine to be waived etc. The fine on a seat belt violation is $25 so I'm 99% sure I could have had that waived...but I would still be stuck with the ~$75 court costs.



[Edited on August 1, 2006 at 3:55 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2006 3:51:41 PM

$110 court costs (at least in Raleigh), ya gotta remember it takes several idiots to do the paperwork to get your money.

8/1/2006 5:13:10 PM

Quote :

"You pay court costs regardless of if you show up or not."

Maybe you're skipping over the fact that you had the option not to go to court in the first place and just pay the fine, thus avoiding that $75 you wagered in scheduling a hearing.

Just because the cop said you could go to court and attempt to reduce the fine didn't mean that you had an obligation to schedule anything and put $75 on the line. That's all I am saying.

And a verdict of not being guilty of failure to wear your safety restraint is still a possibility, in which case you would not pay the costs of the court. Reduction of fine is effectively a plea in traffic court so you'd still pay.

I guess I am just wondering why you decided to go to court at a cost of $75 at the chance of a reduction of a $25 fine when you had the option to just pay $25 and not go to court?

[Edited on August 1, 2006 at 5:21 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2006 5:17:16 PM

Dog is going to come after you

8/1/2006 5:21:03 PM

Quote :

"Maybe you're skipping over the fact that you had the option not to go to court in the first place and just pay the fine, thus avoiding that $75 you wagered in scheduling a hearing."

I'm not sure if you're trolling, or just don't get it.

You don't schedule court dates. When you receive a ticket, you have a court date and time printed on the ticket the cop hands you. At the bottom of the ticket is the fine amount and the court costs amount you have to pay. You can mail it in, or go to court to have the charge reduced or ask to have the fine waved etc.

Quote :

"You pay court costs regardless of if you show up or not."

8/1/2006 5:21:49 PM

Ooops


You're right.


I have been living in Florida for too long and forgot how NC operated their traffic court differently.

FL is more friendly and doesn't charge "court costs" on the event of getting a ticket.

8/1/2006 5:25:24 PM

^ YEP

Or you call your attorney, your attorney faxes you the waiver of appearance, you sign it, fax back, pay fees over the phone, and forget about it.

8/1/2006 5:25:26 PM

Quote :

" I'm not sure if you're trolling "

What is trolling?

Don't tell me it's living under a bridge.

8/1/2006 5:27:28 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

8/1/2006 9:29:56 PM

^^ 100 must be the year of graduation

8/1/2006 9:32:31 PM

Quote :

"Guantanamo Bay"

8/1/2006 9:39:27 PM

somebody's headed to Federal Pound Me In The Ass Prison

8/1/2006 9:55:57 PM

look ma, comedians

8/1/2006 11:29:17 PM

Go to the 1st floor of the courthouse down town. Go into the CRIMINAL*not civil* clerks off and as you walk in theres a counter on your right. theres a big sign that says "Missed your court date???" and tells you to fill out a piece of paper then get in line to talk with clerk.

Id do this ASAP before po-po show up with a warrant for failure to appear. If warrant was issued after you get a new court date make sure you get it recalled if needed.

8/2/2006 9:41:34 AM

If you want advice speak with a lawyer, not with people who think they know everything on an internet message board.

8/2/2006 9:49:06 AM

OH NO HE DIDNT

8/2/2006 9:50:14 AM

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here....but I thought seatbelt tickets actually put points on your license now??? I remember they didn't use to (they were only a $25 fine and no points), but I think I remember a recent change to make the penalty more severe.

8/2/2006 9:56:23 AM