Beating a Carpool Ticket - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

WhiteDevil · 12-31-2006, 12:45 PM

I was hoping for some advice about a ticket I got last month. I got cited for being solo in the carpool lane. It was an innocent mistake; I was staying with my girlfriend on and off during that period and hadn't driven during commuter hours for a couple weeks. It was dark out and the time had changed a few weeks before, so I pulled into the commuter lane without thinking about it. I was only in it for one or two minutes before realizing the time and pulling back into the next lane over. That was long enough, apparently, as a few minutes later a CHP officer appeared in my rear view mirror.

The real pain about this is that carpool violations are specifically exempt from being taken off your record with traffic school (or at least that's the law in California). So in addition to the $371 fine, I'll have to pay more on my insurance for the next three years as well. It's a lot of punishment for an innocent mistake, especially so considering that had I been cited for speeding, which is actually dangerous, I could have taken it off my record.

What should I do? Go to court and talk to the judge? Just pay the fine and suck it up?

thingstodo · 12-31-2006, 01:02 PM

I would surely go to court. You never know what might happen, especially if you have a clean record. One thing though is that you would need to acknowledge what you did was wrong and that there's no excuse. The fact that you were pulled over while not actually in the HOV lane might help since you recognized what you were doing was wrong and moved over.

This isn't a moving violation and shouldn't have an impact on insurance rates.

SirLance · 12-31-2006, 01:22 PM

Go to court. If the officer doesn't appear (many times they don't) the charge will be dismissed. If he does, talk to the prosecutor. Maybe you can work out a plea bargain.

cj2112 · 12-31-2006, 05:11 PM

What they said ^^^

basmoq · 01-01-2007, 04:27 AM

Traffic Lawyers kick ass, they can knock a 34 over speeding ticket down to 4 over violation with ease. (this happened to a friend of mine)

12-31-2006, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
WhiteDevil Brave Corporate Logo Location: Undisclosed	Beating a Carpool Ticket I was hoping for some advice about a ticket I got last month. I got cited for being solo in the carpool lane. It was an innocent mistake; I was staying with my girlfriend on and off during that period and hadn't driven during commuter hours for a couple weeks. It was dark out and the time had changed a few weeks before, so I pulled into the commuter lane without thinking about it. I was only in it for one or two minutes before realizing the time and pulling back into the next lane over. That was long enough, apparently, as a few minutes later a CHP officer appeared in my rear view mirror. The real pain about this is that carpool violations are specifically exempt from being taken off your record with traffic school (or at least that's the law in California). So in addition to the $371 fine, I'll have to pay more on my insurance for the next three years as well. It's a lot of punishment for an innocent mistake, especially so considering that had I been cited for speeding, which is actually dangerous, I could have taken it off my record. What should I do? Go to court and talk to the judge? Just pay the fine and suck it up? __________________ Join me or die! Can you do any less?

12-31-2006, 01:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	I would surely go to court. You never know what might happen, especially if you have a clean record. One thing though is that you would need to acknowledge what you did was wrong and that there's no excuse. The fact that you were pulled over while not actually in the HOV lane might help since you recognized what you were doing was wrong and moved over. This isn't a moving violation and shouldn't have an impact on insurance rates. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

12-31-2006, 01:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
SirLance Junkie Location: In the middle of the desert.	Go to court. If the officer doesn't appear (many times they don't) the charge will be dismissed. If he does, talk to the prosecutor. Maybe you can work out a plea bargain. __________________ DEMOCRACY is where your vote counts, FEUDALISM is where your count votes.

01-01-2007, 04:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
basmoq It's a girly girl! Location: OH, USA	Traffic Lawyers kick ass, they can knock a 34 over speeding ticket down to 4 over violation with ease. (this happened to a friend of mine) __________________ "There's someone out there for everyone - even if you need a pickaxe, a compass, and night goggles to find them."

12-31-2006, 05:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	What they said ^^^