question 'bout a speeding ticket - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

kinsaj · 02-01-2006, 04:27 PM

I got a speeding ticket a couple weeks ago and it was pretty clear-cut so I have little hope at arguing it. What I am wondering about is that I have not received anything in the mail thus far. What should I do, if anything. Also... is there any way I can get in trouble if I do nothing and receive nothing?
Thanks in advance.

Mbnfc · 02-01-2006, 04:37 PM

im in the same situation as you are. i got a speeding ticket on jan. 14th. the officer told me i would receive something in the mail within 4 days and i havent gotten shit yet. i think he thought i was from the area because he didnt bother to include the area code in the court phone number. i went on their website and found a phone number. it was automated and it told me i would receive something in the mail within 3 weeks. there was also something on there to pay the ticket online. i put in my info but it didnt work. im thinking it still not processed.

my mom told me she got a ticket once and never received anything. she even went to the court and they told her she had no record there. so it is possible the officer didnt to hand in the ticket.

BadNick · 02-02-2006, 01:38 PM

If it turns out otherwise, sorry and I hope you don't serve jail time

Based on my experience in PA, NY, and NJ, the worst that can happen is that you eventually get a notice in the mail to pay the fine, or plead not guilty and request a hearing. Often, even if you are obviously at fault, if you want to sacrifice the time and aggravation it may pay to plead not guilty and go to the hearing. Prior to the hearing, a court police officer will usually call you aside and offer a plea bargain, you might think of some extenuating circumstance like you were in a hurry so you don't loose your job, or something similar, and if you pay the fine you get convicted of a lesser offence that does not put points on your driving record and adversely affect your insurance etc. You say thank you, pay the fine, respectfully thank the judge, and off you go.

I have also had an occasion over 10yrs ago, I live in PA but this speeding offense was in NY, where I never got the notice and it all seemed to just disappear. The district justice office for this was a small rural town in NY and I suppose they just lost it.

thingstodo · 02-02-2006, 04:45 PM

Since you don't say where you live or received the ticket there's not enough info. I'd follow the instructions on the ticket if there are any. If you don't get something, they could eventually track you down. At that point, there would be penalties on top of the original fine. That's about the worst thing unless you get pulled over and there is a bench warrant for failure to show up at court. Then they just jail you immediately in most states because your license is automatically suspended when they issue the warrant.

Good luck with all of that!

kinsaj · 02-02-2006, 08:06 PM

I'm in California. The officer said to expect something in the mail and I am pretty sure that the ticket itself which he wrote up on the spot does not have any instructions.

Jimellow · 02-02-2006, 08:26 PM

The only sort of mail I've received in relation to speeding tickets is a notification after payment stating how many points I've accumulated.

As for the ticket itself, the instructions are to mail that in, along with payment if pleading guilty to the offense.

I am not understanding or familiar with why the police would mail you.. Didn't they give you a physical ticket when they pulled you over? That is what they do here, and it is then the driver's responsiblity to mail that in, with payment, promptly. Not mailing in the ticket and plea is serious business, so I wouldn't recommend doing nothing.

Borla · 02-02-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimellow

The only sort of mail I've received in relation to speeding tickets is a notification after payment stating how many points I've accumulated.

As for the ticket itself, the instructions are to mail that in, along with payment if pleading guilty to the offense.

I am not understanding or familiar with why the police would mail you.. Didn't they give you a physical ticket when they pulled you over? That is what they do here, and it is then the driver's responsiblity to mail that in, with payment, promptly. Not mailing in the ticket and plea is serious business, so I wouldn't recommend doing nothing.

Yup....that's how it is here. You get nothing in the mail, all the info is on the ticket, in fine print on the front and back.

yellowchef · 02-03-2006, 10:57 AM

In FL they will eventually suspend your license... this I know for a fact but all they do is issue a bench warrant. That means no subpoena but if you are caught and they run your name, it will come up and they will ask you "did you know your license was suspended" at which point you ALWAYS say NO!!!! because there is a clause for "Driving on an Unknowingly Suspended License" which means they cant take you to jail.

It also means having to call someone to come get you before the cop will release you but it beats jail time. It also means getting 2 tickets instead of 1 but again its better than sitting in some holding cell waiting to be bailed out.

Also in FL they have computerized tickets now through our Highway Partol and some local cops. This prevents tickets from not getting turned in and such. They also give you a packet on who to call, where to mail your fines and what all the points will mean. The only thing you get mailed is junk from traffic schools and then eventually at some point Tallahassee(or your state capitol DMV) will mail you something telling you that your license is suspended.

Id keep up on that ticket, call, research, read.

Good luck!

02-01-2006, 04:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
kinsaj Psycho Location: somewhere out there	question 'bout a speeding ticket I got a speeding ticket a couple weeks ago and it was pretty clear-cut so I have little hope at arguing it. What I am wondering about is that I have not received anything in the mail thus far. What should I do, if anything. Also... is there any way I can get in trouble if I do nothing and receive nothing? Thanks in advance. __________________ boom

02-02-2006, 04:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Since you don't say where you live or received the ticket there's not enough info. I'd follow the instructions on the ticket if there are any. If you don't get something, they could eventually track you down. At that point, there would be penalties on top of the original fine. That's about the worst thing unless you get pulled over and there is a bench warrant for failure to show up at court. Then they just jail you immediately in most states because your license is automatically suspended when they issue the warrant. Good luck with all of that! __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

02-02-2006, 08:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
kinsaj Psycho Location: somewhere out there	I'm in California. The officer said to expect something in the mail and I am pretty sure that the ticket itself which he wrote up on the spot does not have any instructions. __________________ boom

02-02-2006, 08:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	The only sort of mail I've received in relation to speeding tickets is a notification after payment stating how many points I've accumulated. As for the ticket itself, the instructions are to mail that in, along with payment if pleading guilty to the offense. I am not understanding or familiar with why the police would mail you.. Didn't they give you a physical ticket when they pulled you over? That is what they do here, and it is then the driver's responsiblity to mail that in, with payment, promptly. Not mailing in the ticket and plea is serious business, so I wouldn't recommend doing nothing. __________________ Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.

02-03-2006, 10:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
yellowchef Addict Location: Shalimar, FL	In FL they will eventually suspend your license... this I know for a fact but all they do is issue a bench warrant. That means no subpoena but if you are caught and they run your name, it will come up and they will ask you "did you know your license was suspended" at which point you ALWAYS say NO!!!! because there is a clause for "Driving on an Unknowingly Suspended License" which means they cant take you to jail. It also means having to call someone to come get you before the cop will release you but it beats jail time. It also means getting 2 tickets instead of 1 but again its better than sitting in some holding cell waiting to be bailed out. Also in FL they have computerized tickets now through our Highway Partol and some local cops. This prevents tickets from not getting turned in and such. They also give you a packet on who to call, where to mail your fines and what all the points will mean. The only thing you get mailed is junk from traffic schools and then eventually at some point Tallahassee(or your state capitol DMV) will mail you something telling you that your license is suspended. Id keep up on that ticket, call, research, read. Good luck! __________________ the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas. always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

02-01-2006, 04:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mbnfc Upright	im in the same situation as you are. i got a speeding ticket on jan. 14th. the officer told me i would receive something in the mail within 4 days and i havent gotten shit yet. i think he thought i was from the area because he didnt bother to include the area code in the court phone number. i went on their website and found a phone number. it was automated and it told me i would receive something in the mail within 3 weeks. there was also something on there to pay the ticket online. i put in my info but it didnt work. im thinking it still not processed. my mom told me she got a ticket once and never received anything. she even went to the court and they told her she had no record there. so it is possible the officer didnt to hand in the ticket.

02-02-2006, 01:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	If it turns out otherwise, sorry and I hope you don't serve jail time Based on my experience in PA, NY, and NJ, the worst that can happen is that you eventually get a notice in the mail to pay the fine, or plead not guilty and request a hearing. Often, even if you are obviously at fault, if you want to sacrifice the time and aggravation it may pay to plead not guilty and go to the hearing. Prior to the hearing, a court police officer will usually call you aside and offer a plea bargain, you might think of some extenuating circumstance like you were in a hurry so you don't loose your job, or something similar, and if you pay the fine you get convicted of a lesser offence that does not put points on your driving record and adversely affect your insurance etc. You say thank you, pay the fine, respectfully thank the judge, and off you go. I have also had an occasion over 10yrs ago, I live in PA but this speeding offense was in NY, where I never got the notice and it all seemed to just disappear. The district justice office for this was a small rural town in NY and I suppose they just lost it.