Need help with a ticket
 

I got a fix it ticket for loud exhaust on October 10th and fixed it and got it signed off October 13th and used my girlfriends checkbook to send a check in for the court fee because I ran out of checks in my checkbook. Now 2 momthes later the court sends me another letter saying now I owe $197 because I failed to pay the first court fee. How can I fight this? In my girlfriends checkbook there is no hardcopy just a ledger saying when the check was written and what it was for. Would that ledger help me to lower my fee?

No, a hand written ledger will do nothing. You would need her to get a copy of the check from her bank. With proof the funds were withdrawn and check cleared.

Call the bank and have them trace the check to see if it was ever deposited. Did you write the ticket number on the check? Most online banking will show a picture of the check when it is deposited also (if it shows deposited).

In the future anytime you send something to the government or city, make sure you send it priority mail with tracking and signature required.

Next time you are short on checks use a postal money order or bank check.

1) You need to provide a copy of the check to the court that shows it was cashed.
2) I'm assuming you did verify that this was cashed, right?
3) The fee will be waived once you provide proof that the check was cashed.

If you can't get a copy of a cashed check, then we can't help you...

-alex

Since it was your girlfriend's check, unless you included a citation number or put your name somewhere in reference to what the check is for then they probably had no idea who or what it was for. Also, the ledger will do nothing. You need to obtain:

-A copy of the image of the check front and back.
-Bank statement showing those funds cleared her account.

Better call Saul

I havent used an actual paper check in over 10 years!

After seeing how easy it is to "wash" a handwritten check, I refuse to let my wife even HAVE a checkbook.

:thumbup:

Alright I got things sorted out, since my record was clean and it was a first offense, the person at the citation window just charged me the original $25 instead of the $197. Now I know to send in the ticket with the check and now take a picture of the check

Sorry to hear about your luck OP. Another reason to add to why I hate California. Bet there are plenty of Harleys running around with loud pipes. :thumbdown:

Glad everything worked out for you. Taking a picture of your check is not going to help. The check has to ARRIVE at it's destination and has to be PROCESSED appropriately.

You still have no idea how the banking system works, so let me spell it out for you:

In case of payment disputes, you need proof that the payment was made, not the intent to pay.

A picture of a check is an intent to pay.
A picture of a processed check is proof that it is paid.

Two completely different things.

-alex

OK well Igot things sorted out and iI understand now