Since we see so many of these “What do I do about my xxxx Ticket” threads still, I figured I would just write up some ground rules for any ticket. Feel free to post whatever anyone else thinks might apply. Also maybe make this a sticky.
General rules for any tickets you ever receive…
1.) Always plea NOT GUILITY to ANY ticket you ever get.
2.) Wear something nice and be neatly groomed.
3.) Always show up with about $300 cash on you. You will have to pay your fine on the spot.
4.) Always be polite, acknowledge you were in the wrong as much as you may not feel you were.
5.) Whether or not you have or have not been to driving school in the past 18 months ALWAYS tell them you HAVE NOT been. They do not check, and having the ability to send you to driving school will always help reduce tickets.
6.) If you are young, Never have a parent show up with you. (The judge sees it as you not being responsible enough to represent yourself.)
7.) Always mail it in as late as you can. Ex.(If it were due on 12-02-2009 mail it in on 11-30-2009) This will push you court date back further and give you more time to put money together ect… (Not a must, but something I have always done.)
There are many more things to take into consideration, Ex. If you were doing 127 in a 35, you might just wanna get a lawyer. But for you average 50 in a 30 or 85 in a 55, these rules should get you in the right direction.
Uhhh isn’t Amherst the only place you have to pay on the spot.
And the lawyer thing is :tif: it gets you in and out quick or you can have them go alone…The cost to have a lawyer go handle a ticket costs less then money I would lose not being at work…
In Clarence when I was 17 my dad showed up with me.
The Judge went on a rant and made some comment about you probably didn’t buy your car, don’t pay your insurance and probably don’t buy your own gas so I am not going to make your dad pay for anything else and gave me a $0 fine and traffic school.
On the way home my dad laughed because he was about to speak up and set the judge straight but then heard about the $0 fine.
Same judge also told me to go and look at the list of all the tickets for anything below double digit overages and figure out how fast I should be driving. Implying 9 over is not a problem, but they will nail you for 10.
I have seen people begging the judge in Cheektowaga for more time to pay, but most courts except credit cards now, so it’s not much of an issue. And I agree with getting a Lawyer for most tickets. I usually do because my time is worth more than what I would pay the lawyer anyway. But these are just general rules, and usually the only people looking for a guideline on how to go to court are young kids that usually don’t have the money and just go themselves.
I agree, may also add if they ask have you ever received a ticket before say no.
most courts want you to pay same day, most take CC but you can always ask for an extension (judge usually asked if you can pay same day, and if you get a ticket in some crazy no where town like corfu its not worth driving back out there), and most if you take school have you to come back to pay the fine after school is completed.
OH and TVB sucks. if you get a ticket in a major city (yes buffalo is a major city) there is no plea bargaining. just get a lawyer.
1.) Always plead not guilty even if you have no logical defense?
I assume the goal is to get offered a plea?
Better to plead not guilty by mail or in person?
