Traffic ticket help

[Sapphireho]

My $.02,

Traffic court, you are guilty, period. No such thing as "innocent until...." Garbage in traffic court.

The judge thought he would be on the Supreme Court by now, but he is seeing about 300 complete lying idiots per day. You have 2 seconds to say your story, and if it is bs like the ticket says red when my car is orange, he will cut you off and not be happy.

Cops show up. Cops love court days, they basically get a day off.

Your only saving grace is most judges in Cal are very liberal, so they think fines are too high, and after you are found guilty the fine might, might be less. Usually you can't do school if you go to court.

Best bet if you can is pay the fine and go to school. No insurance point with school.

First ticket?

[510FRS]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

My $.02,

Traffic court, you are guilty, period. No such thing as "innocent until...." Garbage in traffic court.

The judge thought he would be on the Supreme Court by now, but he is seeing about 300 complete lying idiots per day. You have 2 seconds to say your story, and if it is bs like the ticket says red when my car is orange, he will cut you off and not be happy.

Cops show up. Cops love court days, they basically get a day off.

Your only saving grace is most judges in Cal are very liberal, so they think fines are too high, and after you are found guilty the fine might, might be less. Usually you can't do school if you go to court.

Best bet if you can is pay the fine and go to school. No insurance point with school.

First ticket?

This is my first ticket. It was written for crossing double yellow lines. So should I at least try to get a fine reduction, or is it not worth it to fight it at all?

[FX86]

Originally Posted by 510FRS

This is my first ticket. It was written for crossing double yellow lines. So should I at least try to get a fine reduction, or is it not worth it to fight it at all?

tell the judge you were with your crazy girlfriend and she yanked the steering wheel causing you to cross the double yellow lines but you learned from my mistakes because you are single now

[PMok]

Originally Posted by 510FRS

This is my first ticket. It was written for crossing double yellow lines. So should I at least try to get a fine reduction, or is it not worth it to fight it at all?

I've had a better experience with traffic court judges than @Sapphireho ... the traffic court judge I had to appear before once was very kind, conscientious, and fair. I determined this based on sitting in the courtroom for a few hours watching how she handled other traffic cases, not just on the way she handled mine. If this is your first ticket and you have the time to do so, ask for a trial date and appear in person. If the cop doesn't show up, you win automatically and the case will be dismissed. (that is what happened for me) If the cop does show up, unless you legitimately have a good argument for why the ticket should not have been issued to you (99% of the time, you do not), plead no contest and ask for both a fine reduction and traffic school. If the judge is nice like the one I had, she will see you are appearing not to offer some bullshit defense, but are genuinely contrite and wish to ask the court for mercy. And grant both your requests. If the judge is not nice, then yeah be prepared to face the consequences. Full fine and no traffic school. Good luck.

[ATaraxias]

CVC 21460.


(a) If double parallel solid yellow lines are in place, a
person driving a vehicle shall not drive to the left of the lines,
except as permitted in this section.
(b) If double parallel solid white lines are in place, a person
driving a vehicle shall not cross any part of those double solid
white lines, except as permitted in this section or Section 21655.8.
(c) If the double parallel lines, one of which is broken, are in
place, a person driving a vehicle shall not drive to the left of the
lines, except as follows:
(1) If the driver is on the side of the roadway in which the
broken line is in place, the driver may cross over the double lines
or drive to the left of the double lines when overtaking or passing
other vehicles.
(2) As provided in Section 21460.5.
(d) The markings as specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c) do
not prohibit a driver from crossing the marking if (1) turning to the
left at an intersection or into or out of a driveway or private
road, or (2) making a U-turn under the rules governing that turn, and
the markings shall be disregarded when authorized signs have been
erected designating offcenter traffic lanes as permitted pursuant to
Section 21657.
(e) Raised pavement markers may be used to simulate painted lines
described in this section if the markers are placed in accordance
with standards established by the Department of Transportation.


Your best bet is to argue you didn't actually break the law...

[Pish]

Originally Posted by PMok

I think others have kind of said this but I'll say it in another way. Some of us have more time than money, and others feel their time is too valuable to use it fighting a petty traffic offense. If you are one of the former, then fight the ticket and try to save your money/record. If you are one of the latter, then pay the ticket and move on.

This guy studied Law, I would listen to him.

[cplabaunza]

Also, while getting the tix, ask the officer for the county seat. If the officer writes his ticket for the local court house, he "might" miss your court date for his other tix at the closer court house. Once you get your court date in the mail, call the court house and request for an extension. Good luck!