Traffic Court Question

[BDR529]

I recently received a speeding ticket. I'm not going to say I wasn't speeding, or that it wasn't fair, or anything like that. I just have a question regarding traffic courts. A while back I went to court to contest a ticket and the judge was reducing the fines if you plead guilty "in the interest of public relations" or something like that. Do judges still do this, or is that a practice of the past? I know the whole "do the crime do the time" mantra, but the fees these days are becoming a bit ridiculous. I mean, a base fine of 70 dollars is one thing, but the extra 330 dollars for taxes and fees is just ludicrous! I know even with the judge reducing fines, it was only about 50 dollars off, but every little bit helps! So, have any LEO's here been to a traffic court lately and witnessed this? Also, if it helps, this is for San Bernardino County...

[ncortez11]

Depending on the court and city. For example, Los Angeles City has a commissioner for pleas as of the past year. But if you want to fight it, then it's sent to the traffic judge and you have to wait another couple of hours.

[RickD427]

I've seen many judges and commissioners reduce the fines in cases where the defendants appeared, pled guilty, and requested a reduction. It was usually implied that the defendant was of limited means.

Judges understand fair play and they respect persons who meet their obligations to the court. A $400 fine is a much greater sanction to a person making $20K/year than it is to a person making $80K/year.

If you show up in court like you promised, don't try to scam the judge with an implausible version of what caused you be cited, and make a reasoned argument for a reduction in the fine, there's a good chance that you'll get it.

The goal of the whole system is to change the behavior that caused you get cited. If the judge is satisfied that goal has been met, the fine becomes less important.

Of course someone is going to chime in and suggest that revenue generation is the ultimate goal, but then when you factor out all of the costs involved in traffic enforcement, its a revenue-consuming venture.

[lavey29]

Your best chance at explaining your side and hoping for it to get dismissed is to do the "Trial by Declaration" option where you type out your reasons you did not commit the infraction. If the officer fails to respond you win, if he responds and the judge believes your version, you win. Best odds in the deal...

Now if you do not want to fight it, obviously asking for traffic school is an option but not sure this would help with those ridiculous fee's that are added on to tickets. I agree with you that they unfairly jack up the fines to pay for a bunch of other crap. It is a lot like the hidden taxes in our price we pay for gas here in California which makes the price for gas that much higher then other states.

[BDR529]

TRhanks for the input. If I was going to fight it, I understand the process of requesting discovery and going that route, but I don't have much of a leg to stand on. I was speeding. It may have been on the 395 without another car in sight and I just simply hadn't glanced at the speedo in a bit, but I was still speeding. Don't even get me started on traffic school! AFTER you pay your fine, California charges you another 60 dollars! Just to take the class, THEN you still have to pay for the class! I'll tell you, I wish I could be on the receiving end of a job that charges 60 dollars for a couple of key strokes, or clicking a check box!!!!

[Anthracis]

Home inspector. Walk around, check boxes, get $475

[bodger]

Home inspector. Walk around, check boxes, get $475

Deputy Inspector in the construction business. Pull up to the curb, yell "How many bolts are epoxying into the concrete?"

Do 30 seconds of writing and get several hundred dollars depending on how many bolts. These guys are supposed to observe each bolt being placed. Most of them don't. Biggest scam in the business. Can't get a final sign-off without them though, in some instances.

Sorry for the hijack.