[rhudeboye]

Completely forgot about my traffic court date. Didnt come to a complete stop at a stop sign. $90 ticket. It was today and I didnt remember until it was too late to get there.

Has this ever happen to anyone? I suppose I have to pay and take the points now but since I didnt appear, I was wondering if there are any consequences for that.

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[biotechee]

Missing court date = tossin' salad.

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

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[rhudeboye]

Thanx Jim [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]

Any helpful comments?

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[biotechee]

In all seriousness, you are now considered "guilty" for the violation and my guess would be you'll pay more than you would had you just showed up (court fees/costs/etc.). You'll get the points too, of course.

Call the court directly and ask.

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[banditsc]

They may have issued a bench warrant. So your best served to call the court to figure it out. Some states do wait a certain amount of days before a warrant is put out. You also may be facing a rescheduling fee..

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[rhudeboye]

I got the citation info from my wife, who's at home. Called the court house and explained the situation. I was told to write the judge ASAP give my citation number and explain why I was unable to appear and request another date.

It all seems to easy so I'm keeping my guard up.

BTW I slowed to 3MPH max, looked both ways, not a car in sight then when through.

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[biotechee]

<!--quoteo(post=78584:date=Aug 24 2009, 03:23 PM:name=rhudeboye)-->QUOTE (rhudeboye @ Aug 24 2009, 03:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->BTW I slowed to 3MPH max, looked both ways, not a car in sight then when through.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I almost didn't pass my driver's license test because I "rolled" through the last stop sign before the instructor got out of the car. Only thing I did incorrectly. I was excited because the end was near and I was flawless up until that point... Told me I was lucky today and passed me anyway.

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[Fox944]

IN NY they would suspend your license for not showing. You would need to go to the court house personally, pay a suspension termination fee aswell an additional fee to get a new court date.

its happened to me a couple of times in the past.

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[PorscheDude]

<!--quoteo(post=78584:date=Aug 24 2009, 03:23 PM:name=rhudeboye)-->QUOTE (rhudeboye @ Aug 24 2009, 03:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->BTW I slowed to 3MPH max, looked both ways, not a car in sight then when through.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Ah, the California roll.........

That's a no no....

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[DaveN]

<!--quoteo(post=78584:date=Aug 24 2009, 12:23 PM:name=rhudeboye)-->QUOTE (rhudeboye @ Aug 24 2009, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I got the citation info from my wife, who's at home. Called the court house and explained the situation. I was told to write the judge ASAP give my citation number and explain why I was unable to appear and request another date.

It all seems to easy so I'm keeping my guard up.

BTW I slowed to 3MPH max, looked both ways, not a car in sight then when through.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


There was obviously "1" car in sight! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

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[PorscheDude]

Yea, a sneaky bastard at that.....

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[4matic]

Stop sign in the Bay Area is a $500 number. With court costs on a missed court date. Double? Pay the ticket.

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[flash]

in california it is 40508a - failure to appear - misdemeanor - punishable by a fine as much as $1000 and jail time as much as 1 year

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[rhudeboye]

<!--quoteo(post=78598:date=Aug 24 2009, 03:29 PM:name=DaveN)-->QUOTE (DaveN @ Aug 24 2009, 03:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There was obviously "1" car in sight! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]
Actually there were 3 of them. It was a speed trap 1/2 a block over catching people as they come over a hill. He must have been watching me closely as my speed descended from around 40mph to 3mph.

<!--quoteo(post=78611:date=Aug 24 2009, 06:44 PM:name=4matic)-->QUOTE (4matic @ Aug 24 2009, 06:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Stop sign in the Bay Area is a $500 number. With court costs on a missed court date. Double? Pay the ticket.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I figure I have to write the letter and request the date but I fully plan on paying now that I've missed my orig date.

<!--quoteo(post=78616:date=Aug 24 2009, 08:13 PM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Aug 24 2009, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->in california it is 40508a - failure to appear - misdemeanor - punishable by a fine as much as $1000 and jail time as much as 1 year<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

OMG!

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[ebarone968]

<!--quoteo(post=78631:date=Aug 25 2009, 08:52 AM:name=rhudeboye)-->QUOTE (rhudeboye @ Aug 25 2009, 08:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]
Actually there were 3 of them. It was a speed trap 1/2 a block over catching people as they come over a hill. He must have been watching me closely as my speed descended from around 40mph to 3mph.



I figure I have to write the letter and request the date but I fully plan on paying now that I've missed my orig date.



OMG!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

In New Jersey they generally issue a warrant. In that case you have to surrender to the local police department and pay bail. You can get that money back when you go to your new court date. My lovely daughter got a ticket for handicap parking at school and failed to tell me about it. And she forgot about it. I ended up at the police department posting bail and setting a new court date for me to fight her ticket. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img]

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[rhudeboye]

<!--quoteo(post=78634:date=Aug 25 2009, 07:06 AM:name=ebarone968)-->QUOTE (ebarone968 @ Aug 25 2009, 07:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I ended up at the police department posting bail and setting a new court date for me to fight her ticket. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The joys of parenting.

Once again this board has helped me realize that my bad situation isnt that bad after all.

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[ebarone968]

<!--quoteo(post=78637:date=Aug 25 2009, 10:35 AM:name=rhudeboye)-->QUOTE (rhudeboye @ Aug 25 2009, 10:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The joys of parenting.

Once again this board has helped me realize that my bad situation isnt that bad after all.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


The good side of the story...... I knew the prosecutor. He laughed his ass off when I told him the story. He reduced the ticket to $40.00 I got my $250.00 bail post back, and my daughter is finally not grounded anymore..... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

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[flash]

it all depends on the judge - if you throw yourself on the sword, you'll probably do well - if you go in and try to fight the ticket, and don't do it well, you'll be paying

by the way, the FTA stays on your criminal record here for 3 years - this can affect a lot of thing, including your job - check your state's laws - you may need to hire an attorney to make sure that does not stick

if you choose to fight the ticket on your own:

do not testify voluntarily (single biggest mistake people make) - take the 5th - only answer questions if absolutely necessary, and then be brief without giving information not specifically asked for

have questions for the officer prepared - see if the officer has a history of sloppy work (you will need to subpoena those records)- pick apart his testimony - try to find issues in the citation - create reasonable doubt

have evidence prepared to support your case - pictures, witnesses, drawings, yada yada

do not have an "excuse" - the judge doesn't want to hear why you think you had to do whatever it is you did - the issue at hand is determination of guilt beyond reasonable doubt - if you did it, you're done - if you didn't, then you need to prove it - unfortunately in traffic court you are on the defensive - it isn't like criminal court - the judge will take the officer's word for it, unless you can prove otherwise - the presumption of innocence does not prevail in reality there - it's more of a money processing machine than a justice system

i have a pretty good track record beating tickets, but it's a lot of work, and i learned the hard way

good luck - hope this helps

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[rhudeboye]

I think I want Flash representing me.

All excellent points. My letter gave my appologies as to why I missed the court date and how I dont take their time lightly, the judge or the officers. I take a photo of the intersection. It's a hill and it would be pretty hard to negotiate the turn without brakeing. This would only come into play if the officer says something like I blew right through the sign. Seeing if he has a history of sloppy work.. I wouldnt even know where to start! He was quite young though.

My biggest concern is that I dont receive a bench warrent or some sort of record behind something so silly.

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[4matic]

<!--quoteo(post=78659:date=Aug 25 2009, 12:52 PM:name=rhudeboye)-->QUOTE (rhudeboye @ Aug 25 2009, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think I want Flash representing me.

All excellent points. My letter gave my appologies as to why I missed the court date and how<b> I dont take their time lightly, the judge or the officers</b>. I take a photo of the intersection. It's a hill and it would be pretty hard to negotiate the turn without brakeing. This would only come into play if the officer says something like I blew right through the sign. Seeing if he has a history of sloppy work.. I wouldnt even know where to start! He was quite young though.

My biggest concern is that I dont receive a bench warrent or some sort of record behind something so silly.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


By saying you don't take their time lightly are you telling us you are 100% innocent? If not then trying to propogate a ruse on the court is exactly wasting their time...for a $90 ticket.

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