Anyone successfully fought a minor ticket and won?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I just got ticketed for an illegal U turn in a traffic trap. People were being pulled over left and right when I was stopped. The fine is $220. I live around San Jose, CA.

It was on a 25mph 2 lane road through a business district, with the parking spaces on each side slanted in the direction of travel (not parallel). I was lost and looking for a camera store. I saw a parking spot on the left side of the road, so I made a left and an acute angle turn into the parking spot. The officer classified that as an illegal u-turn in a business district (I guess technically it is) and I got the ticket.

I'm ok with not getting out of it entirely, but I'd like to at least reduce it to a violation that doesn't add a point to my record and increase my rates. Also, $220 is pretty steep. There are signs saying minimum of $100 fine and I'd be ok with paying around that.

Has anyone here "fought" a ticket like this? How did it go?

I see advertisements for services like Ticket Assassin and Ticket Lawyers with very high rates of success as advertised by them. Has anyone tried these?

 

[CVSiN]

all the time.. always go to court.. alot of the time the officer wont even show up and that's instant dismissal.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

all the time.. always go to court.. alot of the time the officer wont even show up and that's instant dismissal.

How does it work? I simply show up and if the officer isn't there I'm home free?

But if he is there... what do I do? I mean, I did the U-turn. That part isn't contested and I'm not going to lie about it. I'd just like to plea for a lighter penalty.

 

[DanDaManJC]

How does it work? I simply show up and if the officer isn't there I'm home free?

But if he is there... what do I do? I mean, I did the U-turn. That part isn't contested and I'm not going to lie about it. I'd just like to plea for a lighter penalty.

I live in washington state and ive had several tickets waived too. im not exactly sure of the rule, but for some states the officer has to go to court and provide testimony for the prosecution.

basically, you just request all the paperwork from the police and if they forgot to fill out a certain piece of info (say the officer didn't write your car's description down correctly), then you can get the ticket tossed on that issue alone. even if it's just a technicality. a friend of mine got lucky on one of those tickets..

it's stuff like that. that's what the lawyer would be looking for..

 

[thescreensavers]

If this is your first time, or what not, you can go to court and just plead no contest and pay court fee's and thats it.

Well atleast thats how it works in FL.

 

[Vic Vega]

all the time.. always go to court.. alot of the time the officer wont even show up and that's instant dismissal.

Wrong. The officer is a sworn agent of the court, his report which he filed is evidence against you, his live testimony of the events is not required. You absolutely can be convicted on the officer's sworn report.

Now, many times judges are annoyed when officers do not show and throw the case out but by no means is it a requirement for the officer to appear in court.

 

[amdhunter]

all the time.. always go to court.. alot of the time the officer wont even show up and that's instant dismissal.

Good luck with that here in NYC. With all the budget cuts going on, the only guaranteed overtime for an officer is showing up to court on his day off to make some money.

Also, if an officer doesn't show up, the courts will delay it until there is a time the officer can show, with no regard to your personal time.

No instants wins anymore.

 

[herkulease]

What street is this? I don't recall too many streets in downtown san jose with slanted parking. I know for sure 1st street as it near the new the hotel or condo.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

What street is this? I don't recall too many streets in downtown san jose with slanted parking. I know for sure 1st street as it near the new the hotel or condo.

I didn't get it in San Jose, but near San Mateo:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...307532&spn=0.001537,0.002642&t=h&z=19&iwloc=A

 

[Lifted]

Now, many times judges are annoyed when officers do not show and throw the case out but by no means is it a requirement for the officer to appear in court.

I'm pretty sure that is a requirement in NYC, so it may be where the OP is as well. It never hurts to go.

 

[lokiju]

A lot of times.

 

[Heller]

go to ticketclinic.com and pay the $79 dollar program. You pay the 79 bux and if its your first offence you wont have to pay court costs, if your a repeat offender its 79+ xxx court costs. Ticketclinic is really great.

 

[nageov3t]

I don't know anyone who's gotten a ticket dismissed outright, but it's pretty common to plead down the charge and save a couple minutes of the court's time. it's a good way to avoid points on your license.

 

[Ronstang]

I don't know anyone who's gotten a ticket dismissed outright, but it's pretty common to plead down the charge and save a couple minutes of the court's time. it's a good way to avoid points on your license.

I actually had one dismissed outright at the arraignment hearing you go to first to receive your actual court date, but I was prepared. I got the ticket for "defective exhaust" on my Shelby but I had receipts from earlier in the week from the new mufflers from Ford, the entire new exhaust system from the local shop, and the receipt from the State Inspection I passed the day before the ticket. I asked to speak to someone and was allowed to talk to one of the Assistant DAs, or whatever lawyer they had at that level....and I lawyered her. I told her I was not arguing that my car was not excessively loud, in fact I admitted that it was, rather I averred that according to my paperwork my exhaust was not "defective". She dismissed it on the spot.

There was one other ticket I got outright dismissed at arraignment but that was because that court date was 8 AM Christmas Eve and the Judge was feeling generous and basically dismissed everything under a certain infraction level that morning.

 

[Born2bwire]

There was one other ticket I got outright dismissed at arraignment but that was because that court date was 8 AM Christmas Eve and the Judge was feeling generous and basically dismissed everything under a certain infraction level that morning.

It's a Christmas miracle! Ha, that's awesome.

 

[ahenkel]

Had my last ticket dismissed due to cop not being there.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Yes, I simply asked respectfully. It was a $50 illegal left turn, first offense.

 

[edro]

In my experience, the judge always reduces the fine or doesn't give points if you show up to court.

I won a speeding ticket battle once.
After I got pulled over, I was pissed because the cop was hidden on a turn on the interstate and pulled out into the left lane. I had my camera with me, so after I received the ticket, I circled back around and took photos of where he was parked, so for the hell of it.
After I circled around the 2nd time, the cop was in an accident. He had pulled out into the left lane and caused a 3 car pile up. I have photos of it all.

I took those to court and said that there was no way the cop could have radared me from that angle. The prosecutor said the photos wouldn't be admissible if I went to trial. I said "Oh well, I'll let the judge decide." When the cop showed up, the prosecutor discussed something with them in private. They then came to me and said they decided to drop the case. LOL! WIN!

 

[montanafan]

I did, and it was lucky for me that the officer did show up.

I got the ticket for going 45 in a 35, I think. I told the policeman that I knew the speed limit was 45 there but he said I was wrong and to check the sign further down the road in the direction I was heading (south). I did and the sign on the opposite side of the road said Speed Limit 35. I went back the way I had driven from until I reached the last sign I would have seen on the side of the road I was traveling and it said Speed Limit 45. So basically they had two different speed limits posted for the same stretch of road. I called the DOT and they said it was a mistake.

I took pictures and mapped out where the signs were and went to magistrate court. The officer was there and he just read the charges and then I explained my side of the story saying that the officer had been correct in that I had been going 45 and in thinking that I had exceeded the speed limit because of the sign he had referenced, but that I had been obeying the speed limit posted for the side of the road I had been traveling. The judge just wasn't interested in what I had to say and said that the problem with the signs wasn't the officer's fault and that I would still have to pay the fine. The deputy then said that he hadn't been aware of the problem with the signs and that if he'd known about it he would not have given me a ticket for the speed I was going. He told the judge he wanted to drop the charges and the judge said okay.

 

[Barfo]

 

[CVSiN]

Wrong. The officer is a sworn agent of the court, his report which he filed is evidence against you, his live testimony of the events is not required. You absolutely can be convicted on the officer's sworn report.

Now, many times judges are annoyed when officers do not show and throw the case out but by no means is it a requirement for the officer to appear in court.

Clarification.. NOT in Texas.
the officer has to show up for the court date or instant dismissal at least in MY state.

 

[Hacp]

The officer will ALWAYS show up to court. He gets a day off.

 

[bobdole369]

25mph zone, I drove 41 down it. No tickets in the past 4 years, only admin stuff (expired insurance, suspended license due to no insurance, et al) before that.

"I beg the mercy of the court and plead no contest, your honor".

"The court fines you $41 and no points, good day Bobdole369"

(normal 15 over ticket is $186.)