Contesting traffic tickets...can it work??

[buddy28]

I just got pulled over by a couple of fucking idiot cops.

I was driving home from dropping my gf at her house and I see a couple of cops doing a big U'ie coming out of the local strip club and sneak up right behind me.

Because I drive an older car and don’t have a lot of cash at the moment, I’m conscious of the plethora of pigs in my area. So I make sure to observe all the posted limits and indicate my turns, as I always do.

I’m driving down a stretch of road - at least 5 km or so - and the cops are moving from my behind my car, to my blind spot, to behind my car again. I knew they were going to pull me over even though there was no legitimate reason for them to do so - except a half retracted backseat passenger window that recently got stuck in that position.

After about 5 km I take a left onto a major road making sure to use my indicator, and sure enough, the pigs follow. As I’m driving in the left hand lane the cops accelerate from behind my car, pull up directly along side of me so our drivers side windows are parallel and I look sideways to see the cop driver looking right at me - checking me out! Fucking idiot.

Predictably, they immediately pull behind me again and put on their lights.

We pull over and I wait patiently for the assholes to come to my window. Two officers show up with one pressing me I wasn’t using my signals. I immediately said "Where?" The cop starting stammering a little and kept repeating "you weren’t using you're signals'. BULLSHIT. I made SURE to use my signals as soon as I saw their stupid asses. To top it off, there was a 2 km straight stretch I was traversing before I even hit them. No lanes changed there.

They ask for my ownership and insurance. I gave them both. One cop asks why my insurance certificate isn’t valid (it isn’t). I tell him the policy is valid (it is) but I haven’t put it in my car yet.

They go back to their car and return about 15 mins later. The quiet one hands me a traffic ticket explaining its for not having a valid insurance certificate. "Its only 70 dollars," he says. Like you're doing me a fucking favor!!!

I take the ticket and my documentation from his hand without looking at or acknowledging either of them and put them on my passenger seat. As I’m turning around I notice the cops are still silent but just standing there waiting for me to say 'thank you' or some shit. I begin rolling up my window and the stupid Swede is like "thank you. Have a nice nig-----" I start my car and drive off.

Long story short. Cops are dicks. Can I beat this ticket? And how?

Its not the money I’m concerned about. 70 bucks isn’t a lot. But its the principle. These guys had no legitimate reason to pull me over but blatantly LIED (no signaling) to justify taking a look at me because I appeared 'suspicious'. Yes, driving without a valid insurance certificate is a traffic infraction in Canada, but fuck them!! I had a valid insurance policy and I was minding the speed limits.

Arrogant assholes.

 

[casualbb]

I mean absolutely no offense by this, but: are you a member of a minority? You might have a stronger case.

 

[dave smith]

In this case it's your word against theirs. I know if you go to court sometimes the judge will take into consideration your driving record. If it's good the judge might not give you any points and just make you pay the fine and court costs.

 

[buddy28]

I mean absolutely no offense by this, but: are you a member of a minority? You might have a stronger case.

haha. Yea right. White male. 26 years old. Thats why I seemed suspicious. My age. Even though those POS's are younger than me.

 

[buddy28]

In this case it's your word against theirs. I know if you go to court sometimes the judge will take into consideration your driving record. If it's good the judge might not give you any points and just make you pay the fine and court costs.

I've heard if the cops dont show at the hearing, the infraction is dropped. Is that true?

Thing is, they had me on not having an valid insurance ceritificate. But they're reason for initially pulling me over was bogus.

 

[dave smith]

Damm Kid cop's, get off my lawn!!! uh, I mean street.

 

[casualbb]

I don't think you can get out of it. There's no doubt whether or not the ticket stands. If it's merely the initial pulling over that you're trying to question, well they could make up some shit about god knows what and then it's your word against theirs.

 

[RADAR]

I've heard if the cops dont show at the hearing, the infraction is dropped. Is that true?

Thing is, they had me on not having an valid insurance ceritificate. But they're reason for initially pulling me over was bogus.

Yes you could contest it--and if they dont show charges are usually dropped! Good Luck!

RADAR

 

[dave smith]

Yeah, if they dont show the ticket is thrown out, but dont count on it. I got a speeding ticket by a motorcycle cop sitting on the sidewalk. He walked out into the road, flagged me down and gave me a ticket. Me being young and dumb at the time thought I would take it to court since the cops never show up. Yeah right! The cop told the judge his case and the judge asked me what was mine. I froze for a minute and told the judge I could'nt be going as fast as the officer said because at that time my breaks were not any good and I would'nt have been able to stop and would have run him over. The judge said since there was some dispute about it, and since my driving record was good, he would'nt give me any points. I just had to pay the fine and court costs. I got lucky. If you go to court make sure you have a plan, and expect the cops to show up.

 

[buddy28]

I don't think you can get out of it. There's no doubt whether or not the ticket stands. If it's merely the initial pulling over that you're trying to question, well they could make up some shit about god knows what and then it's your word against theirs.

Its true. I guess Im expecting the judge will be able to discern my truth from their lies.

Probably not. Its worth a shot though.

 

[buddy28]

Yes you could contest it--and if they dont show charges are usually dropped! Good Luck!

Thanks man. Ill give it a shot.

 

[dave smith]

Good Luck!

 

[buddy28]

If you go to court make sure you have a plan, and expect the cops to show up.

Can the judge penalize you beyond what was initially issued by the cops if the defendant loses the hearing?

In this case, I don’t see how that could be possible as the cops issued the maximum fine for the infraction and point deductions aren’t awarded using subjective criteria?

So assuming I received the maximum fine and no points are associated with this particular violation, what can the judge do if I lose the case?

 

[dave smith]

Probably just charge court costs. Thats what I think.

 

[buddy28]

Probably just charge court costs. Thats what I think.

That'll be at least 3 times the cost of the ticket. I should check that out.

 

[dave smith]

I would try to find out what court costs are also, good idea. For me in florida they were only about 35$ believe it.

 

[danielson]

go for it....provided u can;t get reamed further its worth a shot, especially if they dont show

 

[milo hobgoblin]

FUCK COPS... most of them are egotistical losers and like nothing more than to fuck with people.

I fucking hate them with every fiber of my being.


and yes you can get off... when you go to court just bring prrof that you were insured when they pulled you over and the judge will drop the case.

I would tell him the story though.

 

[Hengst]

I mean absolutely no offense by this, but: are you a member of a minority? You might have a stronger case.

Sorry...... but, I just got off a post about being called a racist and then I read this. So, it really doesn't matter if the lad was right or wrong, if he's a minority then screw the law and play the race card.

and I get accused of racism???????????????

 

[gonelifting]

I don`t see how if you show them proof of your insurance that`s DATED BEFORE the date you were pulled over, that you can`t get out of the ticket. Your ticket was for not having insurance and it will prove otherwise.

or Was your ticket for not SHOWING proof of insurance? There is a difference. You will never win against a cop in a "your word against his" deal. Don`t even try that route. You`re saying you used all the signals and they`re saying you did`nt??? What are you gonna prove to the jusdge? CASE CLOSED> Unless you do the insurance proof thing. good luck. let us know how it goes.

 

[hamstershaver]

you cant fight the police, sad but true

 

[mostly_a_lurker]

wasn't your ticket for an invalid insurance card? bring the ticket and your current insurance card to prove you did have insurance but it wasn't with you at the time. My wife got a ticket for the same shit. You may have to pay a filing fee ($25) or something silly but it won't be $70.

 

[theoak01]

they probably wont show up if they were stammering idiots,just go and argue it and see where ya get,cant hurt any

 

[chewyxrage]

wasn't your ticket for an invalid insurance card? bring the ticket and your current insurance card to prove you did have insurance but it wasn't with you at the time. My wife got a ticket for the same shit. You may have to pay a filing fee ($25) or something silly but it won't be $70.

Yes exactly.

I've been pulled over before and had an expired insurance card (but my policy was valid).

All you have to do is goto the court date on the ticket, show the assistant state's attorney your valid insurance card.

He will compare the two dates (on the ticket, and on your card) to see if you had valid insurance at the time of the ticket.

If you do, then your off.

I never had to pay any filing fee or anything, but that may vary from state to state.

 

[casualbb]

Sorry...... but, I just got off a post about being called a racist and then I read this. So, it really doesn't matter if the lad was right or wrong, if he's a minority then screw the law and play the race card.

and I get accused of racism???????????????

Well he said there was no real reason for getting pulled over, and that the cops only did it AFTER they saw him face-to-face.

One could say that they decided to antagonize him after recognizing him as a black/hispanic/whatever rather than for any traffic infraction.

 

[buddy28]

wasn't your ticket for an invalid insurance card? bring the ticket and your current insurance card to prove you did have insurance but it wasn't with you at the time. My wife got a ticket for the same shit. You may have to pay a filing fee ($25) or something silly but it won't be $70.

Yep. The charge was for having an invalid insurance certificate/card. But the insurance policy is valid.

Thanks. Im gonna try this.