| Seks |
I received two tickets a few days ago and the total of both of em are $400 :( .
I plan to attend court on the day that was indicated on the tickets. What can I expect on court day?
I've been told that I would be allocated a few min with the prosecutor before actually entering the courtroom. Is that true? If it is, is this where I can argue about my tickets or ask for reduction in the amount of each tix? |
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| snugs |
Ok, you go to the traffic ticket section (its on the main floor over towards 97th), speak to one of the women at the wickets. You can either plead innocent and be given a court date when the case will actually go before a judge (it will be in a couple of months from now), or if you want to plead guilty but want a reduction ask to speak to somebody about the tickets and they'll send the crown prosecutor out to speak with you.
I just did that last week, so read my thread about dealing with the crown prosecutor. Doesn't exactly instill confidence in the system. :( |
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| Seks |
quote:
Originally posted by snugs
Ok, you go to the traffic ticket section (its on the main floor over towards 97th), speak to one of the women at the wickets. You can either plead innocent and be given a court date when the case will actually go before a judge (it will be in a couple of months from now),
I thought the date written down on the ticket is the date you appear before the judge? :confused: |
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| snugs |
| Not really. If you want to plead not guilty they will set a real court date where you actually go before a judge, the women in the ticket center are just classified as justice's of the peace I think. |
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| midnite |
Don't bother going on the court day, it will waste a lot more of your time than needed. Go to the court house any day before the date on your ticket and when you take your ticket to the Justice of the Peace, ask to speak to the Crown Procecutor. She will ask you to wait and she will take your ticket to the CP.
The CP will bring you into his office to discuss your ticket. This is the exact same discussion you would have if you went to court to see him. He will ask you about the ticket ("so tell me what happened here Seks..") and you describe the situation. If he agrees you didn't deserve the ticket, he will withdraw it and you are free to go with no charge. If not, he will likely offer a reduction (I've had every ticket I've taken to him reduced so far).
If you agree on the reduction and wish to plead guilty to the lesser charge, he will take your ticket back to the JP, where you can arange for a time period to pay it. (I've seen people get at least a couple months extension on payment)
If you don't agree on the reduction and wish to fight it further, then you can go to court where you and the CP will talk to a judge, and the judge will decide on the result.
The CP will have a copy of the officers ticket, it has all the information of your ticket, plus the officers notes from when he wrote it. If you want a copy of the officers version before you go speak to the CP, when you are at the JP tell them you want disclosure of your ticket and they will have a copy mailed to you. I think it takes two weeks.
Then come back to see the CP after you have read the officers version and fell prepared to talk about your ticket with him.
A court day goes like this: You and a lot of other people will arrive at the court, you all have the same scheduled court date and time. There will be a lineup to speak to the CP, where you one by one talk to him about your ticket (just like you would in his office) and he will decide if it can be reduced or withdrawn. After you talk to him you sit in the courtroom until the entire line of people has gone thru.
The judge will come in and start court session. The judge will call everyone up one at a time when they are ready to deal with each trial. The CP will tell the judge the situation of your ticket, and the judge will decide on an outcome. The judge might ask you for details about the situation to help them make their decision just like the CP did. If your ticket is withdrawn, you're free to go right away. If you're found guilty (lesser charge or not) then you will then see the JP to arrange payment.
good luck! |
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| s2oooR |
when you say he offered a reduction... does that mean a reduction in the charge? i.e no demerits? or just a reduction in the fine, but still have the same demerits?
I dont mind paying the fine, i just dont want any demerits
:( |
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| Neo-Blue99GASE |
| You will have to discuss that. In most cases, thats what people want because of the damn insurance. Also, if you do decide to go to court, be prepared. Have as much info as possible, dress well, and plead your case if you think you were not in the wrong. If possible, research the actual charges and see if there are loopholes that might work. If you have a legitimate reason why you do not think your guilty, then go to court. I did and while I didnt actually get a chance to plead my case ( cop didnt show, but he sent a letter saying to setup another court date ) I followed that route and it seemed to work in my favor (got rid of my 4 demerits and actually took the charges off my license, all I had to do pay the 287$ fine and nothing shows up that I even commited the offence ). But like I said before, appearance and manners work well in the courtroom, especially if you look prepare to fight the case. |
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| Mustard |
quote:
The CP will bring you into his office to discuss your ticket. This is the exact same discussion you would have if you went to court to see him. He will ask you about the ticket ("so tell me what happened here Seks..") and you describe the situation. If he agrees you didn't deserve the ticket, he will withdraw it and you are free to go with no charge. If not, he will likely offer a reduction (I've had every ticket I've taken to him reduced so far).
You were doing so well, midnite, why did you have to write that part :P
I can't comment directly on what happens at an actual court ROOM date but the crown prosecutor is a waste of fucking time..
there are TWO OTHER posts on this forumn you can read that will agree :P (yes, one is mine)
I strongly suggest you talk to the CP, but go in being prepared to make a court date because chances are you will get the same jack-ass we did, who will certainly NOT ask you what happened, he will just sit there and say, "this is the eduction i can offer... i wasn't there, so don't try and tell me what happened, and i don't care about you, and i hate this job that i'm stuck in because i lost a big case, oh... and i eat babies..."
just don't be one of those ass-hats the goes to court to fight a ticket he/she 100% deserves in the hopes that the cop won't show up and the whole deal gets tossed.
If you just want a reduction talk to the CP, he'll give you something, i can garuntee you of that, but don't expect TOO much, and fess up if your guilty. BUT if you really think you were wrongfully accused, by all means, have your day in court. |
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| silvia s13 |
quote:
Originally posted by Mustard
You were doing so well, midnite, why did you have to write that part :P
I can't comment directly on what happens at an actual court ROOM date but the crown prosecutor is a waste of fucking time..
there are TWO OTHER posts on this forumn you can read that will agree :P (yes, one is mine)
I strongly suggest you talk to the CP, but go in being prepared to make a court date because chances are you will get the same jack-ass we did, who will certainly NOT ask you what happened, he will just sit there and say, "this is the eduction i can offer... i wasn't there, so don't try and tell me what happened, and i don't care about you, and i hate this job that i'm stuck in because i lost a big case, oh... and i eat babies..."
just don't be one of those ass-hats the goes to court to fight a ticket he/she 100% deserves in the hopes that the cop won't show up and the whole deal gets tossed.
If you just want a reduction talk to the CP, he'll give you something, i can garuntee you of that, but don't expect TOO much, and fess up if your guilty. BUT if you really think you were wrongfully accused, by all means, have your day in court.
Both times I have fought tickets have only gone to the CP and yes he did listen to my story and both times I got the demerits taken off and the fine cut in half....so there is a posibility. Just do everything in your power to convince the CP...dress nice, respect him/her, and havinga witness come with you never hurts...Good Luck |
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