How long to pay a moving violation ?

[Electric Factory]

Generally speaking, how long do you have to pay a moving violation from the time you first receive the violation in the mail ? 30days ? 60 days ? Less ?

[HowardW56]

30 days or 45 days

[dantodd]

the ticket should say on it. Last time I got a ticket I had 21 days from date the notice was written. It was for a parking ticket, it's been a little while since I've had a moving violation.

[Electric Factory]

Isn't your bail amount due date[ for a moving violation] generally one day before your court appearance date ?

[TaxAnnihilator]

You can pay on your court date, but most counties allow for extensions over the phone or ONLINE! (They are so advanced!) Dress nice, go to court and ask for a bail reduction, has not failed me ever.

[Lancear15]

You can get extensions and drag it out. You can get an extension, then request a trial by written declaration. When you loose that you can request a real trial. Then if you really want to drag it out you can ask for extensions on that. you could easily drag it out for 6 months plus. If funds are an issue you can plead guilty and ask for a reduction in fees and/or a payment plan, or ask for community service or jail time instead.

[Electric Factory]

Here's why I asked;
- i got a moving violation on 4/10
- my court date was scheduled for 5/ 29
- I paid the moving violation on 5/20, they cashed my check on 5/22 and I have the evidence in hand as I write this[ not easy when you're typing], ie the cancelled check. The bond amount was dutifully paid well BEFORE the court date.

Yesterday I got a notice from a collection agency on behalf of the Chatsworth Court saying I owe them 768.00 for failing to appear in court on 5/29 and not paying my bond.

WTF ??

[Decoligny]

Here's why I asked;
- i got a moving violation on 4/10
- my court date was scheduled for 5/ 29
- I paid the moving violation on 5/20, they cashed my check on 5/22 and I have the evidence in hand as I write this[ not easy when you're typing]

Yesterday I got a notice from a collection agency on behalf of the Chatsworth Court saying I owe them 768.00 for failing to appear in court on 5/29 and not paying my bond.

WTF ??

Make copies of the ticket, the check (both sides) with account number blacked out, and send this via signature required certified mail/registered letter, or whatever it is called. Attach a cease and desist letter stating that the debt has been paid in full and any future contact by the collection agency will be considered illegal harrassment and will result in extremely costly legal action. Tell them you had no problem writing a check to pay for the violation, and will have no problem writing a check pay for the lawyer to sue them.

[dantodd]

Call the clerk of the court and ask if they have your payment on file. DO NOT TALK TO THE COLLECTION AGENCY. Don't even take their calls. Work only with the court. There is a form letter for getting the collection agency off your back. I think it is on Clark Howard's website.

It is almost certainly a clerical error and can be straightened out with the court. You will also want to make sure they file a correction with any credit reporting agencies if they have reported this.

[Electric Factory]

Do you think it would be better to walk into the Chatsworth Courthouse instead, stand in line at one of those windows and try to speak to someone ?
I'm not sure how I'd even call the Clerck of the Court[ I don't have the original ticket anymore].

[HowardW56]

Call the clerk of the court and ask if they have your payment on file. DO NOT TALK TO THE COLLECTION AGENCY. Don't even take their calls. Work only with the court. There is a form letter for getting the collection agency off your back. I think it is on Clark Howard's website.

It is almost certainly a clerical error and can be straightened out with the court. You will also want to make sure they file a correction with any credit reporting agencies if they have reported this.

+1

[TaxAnnihilator]

If it's like LA, the collection agency is really just an arm of the court - they are in the same building just a separate window. In LA the court computers are locked out of the case til you clear it up with the collection "agency." I had the same thing happen over a $10 fix it ticket. They said it was in "collection" for months and it never showed on my credit.

Good luck.

[6172crew]

I moved this to the LE forum although it might belong in OT.

Be advised, read the rules in our LEO forum before posting.

[Electric Factory]

I moved this to the LE forum although it might belong in OT.

Be advised, read the rules in our LEO forum before posting.

Thanks 6172crew, hopefully someone there can suggest the QUICKEST and easiest way to sort this out.

[Electric Factory]

If it's like LA, the collection agency is really just an arm of the court - they are in the same building just a separate window. In LA the court computers are locked out of the case til you clear it up with the collection "agency." I had the same thing happen over a $10 fix it ticket. They said it was in "collection" for months and it never showed on my credit.

Good luck.

I spoke to someone at the 'collection agency', explained everything, said I had the proof of my timely bail bond payment in hand could send it to them if required.

The guy I spoke to said a drive to the Chatsworth Corthouse is the only way he could suggest to sort out what to me is CLEARLY a cluster-f on their end.

The 'collection agency' is trying collect 758.00 additonal dollars on a citation I paid on time !