Having second thoughts? You should. The civil court system is rigged in favor of law enforcement. Rarely do the judges disagree with the police report or what they say in court. I told the judge the speed limit was 45 in one suburb and 35 in the next suburb and the cop was parked right next to the 35-speed limit sign waiting to catch the speeders. The judge asked me to draw a map and showed it to the cop. The cop said, “No, the sign was over there – where the higher speed limit suburb was at – and I parked here by the parking lot where there’s no sign.” What a lie. Because entrapment is frowned by the courts and the cop knew it. Judge sided with the cop. I never bothered with contesting tickets again – waste of my time.
On the other hand, sometimes the officer is needed out in the field and doesn’t show up. In those cases, the person appealing the ticket might win. Worth a try, if you honestly think you have a good case…
Always go to court. The worst that can happen is you have to pay the fine. Most times it will be lessened to some degree, points on your license may be canceled, or if the policeman that issued the ticket is not there you should get off completely.
Take pictures. After my first and only ticket, they went back and added more speed signs to that street (previously, the one and only one has right were you turned, in a hard to see spot).
You are the first one called because the judge sees your name. He knew your grandfather. You, and everyone else is in that court to get back the security deposit that the new landlord kept; no one had broken their lease and you tell the judge. He skewers the landlord’s attorney ("show me the valid leases!) He rules on all he cases at once, and slams down the gavel, then goes back to asking about grandfather. It doesn’t get better than that, even now after 30 years.
At my first divorce hearing, there were people in the back of the courtroom eating their lunch. They came every day to watch the proceedings. Better, I was told, than daytime TV. They were privileged to hear some of the most intense and intimate personal information. I wondered why this came under the heading of democracy.
Court is public, but they usually have no food or drink etiquette, which the guy drinking coffee is violating. Since Elly watched Night Court / Judge Judy, I am not sure why she didn’t know the court was public.
I did go to court before for a speeding ticket and after the police officer gave a very detailed account of how he picked my truck out of a line of cars on the interstate as the one speeding — I cross examined with “what color was my truck?” — the officer stammered and had no recollection — that coupled with a few other facts allowed the Judge to rule in my favor. Also, in all fairness I probably was speeding so the scales of justice can tip either way.
In America, the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution codifies “speedy and public trial” due to the Framers’ knowledge of past societies, particularly Europe. There was a time when the British had a special court called the “star chamber”, where people were tried in secrecy. Needless to say, plenty of those cases were found guilty (big surprise). From the looks of things, it seems that Canada also wanted to avoid such secret tribunals as well.
My son had only been driving a year when he got his first speeding ticket, coming home late, from an after school job. Because he was under eighteen, he had to go to traffic court, and a parent had to go with him. The judge earned my respect that day, twice over.
Because we arrived first thing in the morning and were the very last case the judge heard, we had to listen to every other case presented for the day. Almost everyone was found guilty. Most got hefty fines. Some had their licenses taken away, and a few were sent directly to jail.
It was late afternoon in a nearly empty courtroom when my son’s case was called. He was trembling with fear, but he stood up bravely, and apologized to the judge, saying he knew it was wrong, but he hadn’t realized how fast he was driving.
The judge agreed my son was wrong and found him guilty. Then, the judge said – “I hope you have learned a lesson here today. Not only have you seen what can happen to you, you should be ashamed. You have wasted a whole day of your mother’s time. And, if I see you here again, things will go differently.” The judge suspended the fine, (probably knowing I’d be the one to pay it,) and charged only court costs.
I’ve been lucky since my only experience with traffic court has been just to pay a small fine through the mail. I have, however had some awful experences as a member of juries. One of the worst was a case that stretched out for almost a week. It was concerning a woman who became mentally ill and was endangering her 3 children and the husband was seeking custody. We in the jury had to take her children away! That has bothered me ever since.
I received a parking ticket in San Francisco, for an early (2am) morning when I was in the hospital the entire week. After contacting the SF department that handles tickets, I provided the hospital bill to show proof I was not out driving around, statements from my mother the car was parked at her house in Santa Clara, (40 miles away from SF) and still was told “they didn’t make mistakes” because the license plate number on the car matched my car in the DMV records. Even though only the make (VW) on the ticket matched my car, not the model (Vanagon vs Jetta). I was told to come to court in person, contest it and the judge might see things my way. Of course the license plate matched my car, obviously the cop wrote down the number wrong. The cost of a losing a day’s wage, parking for 4 hours in SF, and gas for 80 miles round trip far outweighed the cost of the parking ticket. Which the system knows. And takes advantage of. Tickets are for revenue.
Templo S.U.D. almost 6 years ago
hang in there, El
capricorn9th almost 6 years ago
Having second thoughts? You should. The civil court system is rigged in favor of law enforcement. Rarely do the judges disagree with the police report or what they say in court. I told the judge the speed limit was 45 in one suburb and 35 in the next suburb and the cop was parked right next to the 35-speed limit sign waiting to catch the speeders. The judge asked me to draw a map and showed it to the cop. The cop said, “No, the sign was over there – where the higher speed limit suburb was at – and I parked here by the parking lot where there’s no sign.” What a lie. Because entrapment is frowned by the courts and the cop knew it. Judge sided with the cop. I never bothered with contesting tickets again – waste of my time.
Argythree almost 6 years ago
On the other hand, sometimes the officer is needed out in the field and doesn’t show up. In those cases, the person appealing the ticket might win. Worth a try, if you honestly think you have a good case…
Egrayjames almost 6 years ago
Always go to court. The worst that can happen is you have to pay the fine. Most times it will be lessened to some degree, points on your license may be canceled, or if the policeman that issued the ticket is not there you should get off completely.
8ec23d5228da33aa2115003c92d0fe83 almost 6 years ago
Take pictures. After my first and only ticket, they went back and added more speed signs to that street (previously, the one and only one has right were you turned, in a hard to see spot).
Kalkkuna almost 6 years ago
You are the first one called because the judge sees your name. He knew your grandfather. You, and everyone else is in that court to get back the security deposit that the new landlord kept; no one had broken their lease and you tell the judge. He skewers the landlord’s attorney ("show me the valid leases!) He rules on all he cases at once, and slams down the gavel, then goes back to asking about grandfather. It doesn’t get better than that, even now after 30 years.
Willywise52 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Get a bag of popcorn too.
jless almost 6 years ago
Lynn’s Notes:
At my first divorce hearing, there were people in the back of the courtroom eating their lunch. They came every day to watch the proceedings. Better, I was told, than daytime TV. They were privileged to hear some of the most intense and intimate personal information. I wondered why this came under the heading of democracy.
howtheduck almost 6 years ago
Court is public, but they usually have no food or drink etiquette, which the guy drinking coffee is violating. Since Elly watched Night Court / Judge Judy, I am not sure why she didn’t know the court was public.
Crandlemire almost 6 years ago
I did go to court before for a speeding ticket and after the police officer gave a very detailed account of how he picked my truck out of a line of cars on the interstate as the one speeding — I cross examined with “what color was my truck?” — the officer stammered and had no recollection — that coupled with a few other facts allowed the Judge to rule in my favor. Also, in all fairness I probably was speeding so the scales of justice can tip either way.
USN1977 almost 6 years ago
In America, the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution codifies “speedy and public trial” due to the Framers’ knowledge of past societies, particularly Europe. There was a time when the British had a special court called the “star chamber”, where people were tried in secrecy. Needless to say, plenty of those cases were found guilty (big surprise). From the looks of things, it seems that Canada also wanted to avoid such secret tribunals as well.
DCBakerEsq almost 6 years ago
Canadia has a justice system? Who knew?
summerdog almost 6 years ago
She really thought no one would be there but her?
coffeeturtle almost 6 years ago
coffee makes everything much better. true liquid courage!
ellisaana Premium Member almost 6 years ago
My son had only been driving a year when he got his first speeding ticket, coming home late, from an after school job. Because he was under eighteen, he had to go to traffic court, and a parent had to go with him. The judge earned my respect that day, twice over.
Because we arrived first thing in the morning and were the very last case the judge heard, we had to listen to every other case presented for the day. Almost everyone was found guilty. Most got hefty fines. Some had their licenses taken away, and a few were sent directly to jail.
It was late afternoon in a nearly empty courtroom when my son’s case was called. He was trembling with fear, but he stood up bravely, and apologized to the judge, saying he knew it was wrong, but he hadn’t realized how fast he was driving.
The judge agreed my son was wrong and found him guilty. Then, the judge said – “I hope you have learned a lesson here today. Not only have you seen what can happen to you, you should be ashamed. You have wasted a whole day of your mother’s time. And, if I see you here again, things will go differently.” The judge suspended the fine, (probably knowing I’d be the one to pay it,) and charged only court costs.
kodj kodjin almost 6 years ago
I’ve been lucky since my only experience with traffic court has been just to pay a small fine through the mail. I have, however had some awful experences as a member of juries. One of the worst was a case that stretched out for almost a week. It was concerning a woman who became mentally ill and was endangering her 3 children and the husband was seeking custody. We in the jury had to take her children away! That has bothered me ever since.
Nanajani almost 6 years ago
I received a parking ticket in San Francisco, for an early (2am) morning when I was in the hospital the entire week. After contacting the SF department that handles tickets, I provided the hospital bill to show proof I was not out driving around, statements from my mother the car was parked at her house in Santa Clara, (40 miles away from SF) and still was told “they didn’t make mistakes” because the license plate number on the car matched my car in the DMV records. Even though only the make (VW) on the ticket matched my car, not the model (Vanagon vs Jetta). I was told to come to court in person, contest it and the judge might see things my way. Of course the license plate matched my car, obviously the cop wrote down the number wrong. The cost of a losing a day’s wage, parking for 4 hours in SF, and gas for 80 miles round trip far outweighed the cost of the parking ticket. Which the system knows. And takes advantage of. Tickets are for revenue.