OK.. I got a court date tomorrow for a traffic violation...

OK.. I got a court date tomorrow for a traffic violation...

I got a ticket back in November for exiting too late on the highway. By exiting too late I mean that I crossed the solid line and got a ticket, the exact citation was crossing a divided highway. I decided to go to court for it and I was wondering if I can get any advice about what I should say/do/dress/etc..

I was hoping the judge would be leniant on me and just grant me a saturday school so I may be excused but this is a long shot being that I went to traffic school for a speeding ticket about 14 months ago.
Hopefully the judge will be leniant..

Also, can anyone tell me what the process is? The cop does not show I will be granted my wish or... ? I am not sure how it happens..

well, the cop always wins because he and the judge are state employees. The only way you'll get out of that one is if he/she doesn't show. It's immediately thrown out

but do i have to plead innocent then i go to a trial where inthen they will ask for the officer to show? or am i thiking this differently?

I am in california if that helps

It's all done on the spot. You go to court, sign in, they call up all of the cops who wrote the tickets, and then you go to a room. You plead innocent in front of the cops.

What happens if I plead guilty? and request traffic school in hope of eliminating the point? Will I get my fine lowered either way? the amazing thing is that the fine for this traffic ticket is $180 bux and my two previous speeding tickets were $80 bux each... $20 less than this awkward violation.

Re: OK.. I got a court date tomorrow for a traffic violation

BTW, if you try to dispute the ticket in court, I think you rescind you right to traffic school (which means it will stay on your record).

Re: OK.. I got a court date tomorrow for a traffic violation

BTW, if you try to dispute the ticket in court, I think you rescind you right to traffic school (which means it will stay on your record).[/quote]

yah, I think that's true too.

so do you recommend me to go through with it since I am going to get a point on my record anyway? or is it just a waste of time?

i think you have to post bail for the ticket in order to go to court. So you pay the fine first.. and if you win in court then they refund the money.

I don't know about California but most states won't let you use Defensive driving to get out of a ticket but once every 3 years.

Dress professional or like you were going to church on Sunday. Be curteous and calm. Stick to the facts and don't try any sympathy ploys. The judge sits through that kind of crap all day long.

And pray the cop isn't there or you are going to have to pay the ticket plus court fees if this is your 3rd moving violation (at least that is how it is in NM).

Good luck.

Don't know whether this is too late or not but here is the law in CA.

CVC41501. The court may order a continuance of a proceeding against a person, who receives a notice to appear in court for a violation of any statute relating to the safe operation of a vehicle, in consideration for attendance at a licensed school for traffic violators, a licensed driving school, or any other court-approved program of driving instruction, and, after that attendance, the court may dismiss the complaint under the following conditions:

(a) If the offense is alleged to have been committed within 12 months of another offense which was dismissed under this section, the court may order the continuance and, after the attendance, dismiss the complaint. The court may order attendance at a licensed school for traffic violators which offers a program of at least 12 hours of instruction.

(b) If the offense is not alleged to have occurred within 12 months of another offense
which was dismissed under this section, the court may order the continuance and, after the attendance, dismiss the complaint if the attendance is at any of the types of schools or programs that the court directed pursuant to Section 42005 at the time of ordering the continuance. Which means your case was dismissed by traffic school.

you can take traffic school every 18 months in California, and sometimes in some circumstances under a judges approval you can take a class to cover two violations.