I'm leaving to go to court in about 45 minutes. Hopefully the fine won't be too heavy. Here's the story: Sunday morning, July 18 at about 7:45 I'm on my way to work. I see a cop on the side of the road so I maintain speed. I wasn't going to much over the limit. I think it was either 50 in a 45 or 55 in a 50. I go through the light and start to brake because two lanes merge into one. I look in my passenger mirror and the cop pulls out. I knew right then that I was going to be pulled over but I just kept going. Pull up to a red light and I'm the first car. The cop is no behind me but on the shoulder. The light turns green, I go, he turns his lights on. Pulled over for tinted windows (bull$hit if you ask me). I explain to the cop that my insurance company just merged with another and when the new statement came I payed the bill but forgot to put the new card in my car. (old one was 2.5 months old). He gave me the whole "Well how do I know you have insurance...." I remained calm, didn't mouth off, didn't say anything stupid, etc. Goes back to his car for like 5 minutes. Gives me a ticket for Failure to exhibit documents. Fine = $177. About two weeks go by and I get a call at work that I got a letter from court. It's now a court appearance required. So I'm hopin that they reduce it or something because I don't want to have to pay $177 fine + $30ish court fees. Learn from my mistakes.
weird, it should not even come down to court appearance. usually you just mail in the copy of insurance card with the tix and plead not guilty.
Unfortunately, I suspect you received a 39:3-29, which is a failure to exhibit the document at the time of the stop. So, contrary to what the above posters suggested, producing a valid insurance card or proof of insurance will not necessarily dismiss the summons. Fortunately, it is not a moving violation and therefore will not carry points. I'm not sure why this was a mandatory court appearance, unless the officer checked it on the summons. The tinted windows would have been a mandatory appearance as is directed in the statute for improper equipment, i believe. Lastly, unless the prosecutor is willing to downgrade the summons to a local ordinance, or something of the sort, I don't believe there is a lesser statute to ammend to. Let me know what the outcome was, I am curious to know the disposition...
Last year I had to get a letter from the insurance carrier saying insurance was in effect at such date and bring it to court for the same thing.I know in the past even if I had the insurance card I would not produce it that was he would be able to write a ticket for something and usaully I hoped that would be enough to satisfy the cop.
So I go to court, talk to the pros. nothing they can do. it seems they are cracking down hard on this violation. Court appearance required wasn't checked on the ticket but i received a letter from the court stating i had to attend: Damage = Fine $148, Costs $35.50, Misc $25. Total = $208.50 On my way home, I had to slow down excissively, because I saw something run into the road (didn't have my glasses so I couldn't tell what it was) Probably a rabbit or something. So I tried not to hit it and I hear screeching and a collision behind me. The MB behind me was rear ended by a Honda. Cops said three witnesses stated the accident was my fault. Two tickets: Delaying Traffic, and Reckless. Court date TBD. Cheer me up guys. I'm so down right now.
I just hope things work out. Good thing is everyones ok. I still think it's wrong that they are blaming me. But what can you do about it now except go to court and fight it. Just hope I don't get the shaft in court with fines, points, etc.
HEY CHRIS JUST READ THIS CRAP............THERE IS A LAW ABOUT FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY....1 CAR LENGTH FOR EVERY 10 MPH.....AND YOU WERE HIT FROM BEHIND??? GET A FREEKIN LAWYER....WHERE IN NJ YOU LIVE AGAIN?? 2NDLY.. WHAT WAS THE SPEED LIMIT AND WHAT WERE YOU GOING?? LASTLY, DOES IT SAY CORRECTIVE LENSES / GLASSES ON YOUR LICENSE?? BTW, NICE MEETING YOU LAST WEEK AT THE CAR SHOW.. BRUCE
Hey Bruce. First off. Love the new avatar. It fits. lol. It was nice meeting you at the car show. I wasn't hit. It was me, an old MB, and a Honda. I slowed down, and the Honda rear ended the MB. I was contemplating to keep going once i heard the collision, but all i could think about was someone getting my info and calling me in for leaving the scene. I was going about 55 it was a 50. My license doesn't say corrective lenses/glasses. I'm gonna call tomorrow and plead not guilty. Then hopefully get in touch with my lawyer and see what he has to say.
WTF? You shouldn't be blamed for the car behind you being rear ended by the car behind it! And even if you had hit the brakes and you were rear ended I find it hard to believe you could be found guilty of anything (short of going 70 mph and locking up all 4 wheels with the intention of making the person behind you hit you, and that intention being obvious to any observer). I don't see how you can be found guilty of any of this, if your car wasn't even hit (again, unless seemed like an obvious wreckless manuver....or if there's something your not telling us). I'm surprised you were written up for this. Good luck with it- this sounds like a BS ticket/blame!
