Should I take this citation to court?

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

go to court, worse thing is ask for the judge to lower the ticket price

 

[nateberrier 10+ year member]

If you go to court, just show up even, they will usually cut your price down at the least. The legal system is not designed to keep people safe, its designed to make money and if you fight a 140 dollar ticket they are not gonna make much money. They might lower it to court cost and if you are really mad then you can push it and try to get it dismissed but that may be tough without a lawyer which is not in your best interests financially.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

go to court, worse thing is ask for the judge to lower the ticket price

This. Go, but be courteous and polite. Plead your case, hope for the best. You may want to bring up the "impeding traffic" argument. Try to not get hostile, offensive, or even defensive. Try to make it seem you weren't that close to the other vehicle without insulting the officer too much.

Just my .02 and opinion/approach.

Best case scenario, the officer doesn't show. Worst case, you're out a couple hours of time. Likely scenario, the fine gets reduced.

Good luck. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[-01limited- 10+ year member]

I'd fight it. At 20 mph you should be what like 2 seconds behind the car in front of you? At highway speeds its 5-6secs IIRC. So Unless you were seriously right up on his tail you may have a fighting chance. The cop might not even show which would make it even easier to make your case.

 

[Whattha 10+ year member]

Im a bail bondsman so I deal with the judicial system on a daily basis. I dont live in Utah therefore I dont know how things work there but, if you dress nice, go in there with a good attitude, and present your case with the facts not what you thought chances are it will get threw out. Alot of times the judge doesnt want to deal with a traffic citation. He has bigger fish to fry than a measly Following to close ticket. Dont start trying to throw the law at the judge because in his eyes he is the law. You obviously didnt know those traffic codes prior to getting the ticket and hes gonna nail your *** if you try to bring all that up. Hope that helps you bro.

 

[ThomasG 5,000+ posts]

My court date is May 23rd at 10:00am. I'll let you guys know how it goes thank you for all your input.

 

[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

you dont fight it and u pay 140.....if u fight it there is atleast a 50/50 chance u dont pay so fight that shitt...if u say there a traffic interference for going to slow then fight dude.....call the cop out on it during court

 

[Wingsfreak9 10+ year member]

fight it. even if u lose u made that ******* cop show up to court and waste his time.

 

[Haunz 10+ year member]

Since no one has asked yet.. how close were you ??

If you were 6 inches off the guy's bumper and the cop tells the judge that then you don't have much of a case IMO.. but if you can tell the judge that you were a second and half behind the guy at that low speed its more of a judgement call..

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

slip the judge a stack he will drop the charges that always works for me....

 

[-01limited- 10+ year member]

slip the judge a stack he will drop the charges that always works for me....

A stack? So you would pay the judge off with a grand to get out of a $200 ticket? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

It sounds like the cop was just looking to write a ticket, I'd say fight it.