Curiousity Q - How often to Cops show up in Court if you fight a ticket

Every time I got a ticket the officer showed up. I think they do almost always. Plead guilty and take the driver course.

 

It depends entirely on the jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions have the cop scheduled to show on certain dates and that is your court date, but others don't. Some don't require the cop to show up at all and take what he wrote on the ticket as his testimony, so you can't beat the ticket at all. The only way to find out is to attend a court session. Best to do it in advance of your own court date.

But no matter what: fight every ticket, complete with appeals. Make it as expensive and difficult as possible for them. it reduces their incentive to rob innocent people at gunponit on the side of the road.

Me, I just tear the things up and ignore them. but that's me. Hey, jail ain't so bad. I did hard time in a Middle Eastern prison. You think some local American jail scares me?

 

Depends on the state and jurisdiction---we are required to go to court. There are 3 days a month set a year in advance for Traffic cases, so I know what those days are well in advance. If we don't show we get fined!! No officer misses court in Charles County, Maryland..

 

My experience (in Ft. Collins with CHP) was ALWAYS! If there is something missing or wrong on the ticket, you have a chance(technicality); if not, admit that you MIGHT have been going a little over the limit, but not the speed you are charged with. Some contrition can get it reduced to a palatable level--sort of a compromise that will minimize the point damage. The only other way is "go back to school"...all depends what your current record looks like. Oh, and dress like a lawyer, and leave the fashion statements for another day. Court is a very conservative place where showing up with the "tackle-box" on your face and all your tattoo's showing will guarantee negative results. If all you have is excuses, the judge has heard them all before, no matter how creative you may think you are!!!

 

My advice? Call the court (well in advance) and ask for the court date to be rescheduled. Claim you have previously scheduled business travel or something. Last time I did that it got rescheduled to a day the officer normally didn't go to court, so I got lucky.

 

He's going to buy a radar detector to try to avoid this in the future (and I told him to slow down on the lead foot around town).

Your advice is better than his plan. Just slow down a little. I'm an attorney who has had the misfortune of having had to defend a client charged with vehicular manslaughter. He was speeding through a residential neighborhood, didn't see the 8-year old who ran into the street chasing a ball. He was found guilty of a lesser charge, but he'll never be the same for having run over that kid.

 

Find an attorney and fight it. In the Seattle area, there are attorneys that specialize in traffic infractions, and for simple ones like a minor speeding violation, they can get them dismissed. Will cost you from $250 to $350. Cheaper than paying the ticket and resulting higher insurance premiums.

 

i show up everytime. it's ot money