California Speeding ticket question......
 

Hey,

6 weeks ago I got caught speeding....50 in a 35 mph zone.
The cop did not give me a "paper ticket"....He said I would recieve my ticket. In the mail....

So today, I open my mail and have recieved a "Courtesy Notice".....

It reads......

Total Bail 478.00$

You have been charged with the following violations: 22350CZ.


WHAT THE F#$cK???????


what is "Bail Amount" ?

i never recieved an actual ticket, before getting this letter....is bail amount the same thing as the price of the ticket?

SvK



i am confused.


SvK

Yup. The $478 is what you pay, or go to court and negotiate a higher amount :)

478???

Why soooo much?

SvK

That seems huge. You could call the court and verify. If you appear before the judge, he'll probably reduce it. Traffic school seems to require payment of the full amount in additon to the traffic school fees.

Each "municipality, city or county" set their own bail amounts. You didn't mention where you got tagged. Some areas really rely on the ticket revenue for city funds.

Not getting a paper ticket really doesn't give you a whole lot to work with in fighting it......"I" would ask for written documentation and make them work for the money.

You can call the court find out your options or just roll over and take it.

"I" fight them all.....but that's me.

BTW....school zones, construction zones and other special areas double traffic fines...

thanx for info....

i live in San Diego county (La Costa)....hahaha

We are pretty broke....

i guess they figure since i drive a 911 ...i've got funds available...

SvK

Sheez,

that is what it was....a construction zone

dang....

SvK

Depends on if you have the time and energy you can really make them work for the $$$.

I was poking along the 101 a few years back and three 911s past by and sucked my doors in....I was driving a lowly 914/6 and I half heartedly gave chase.

About a mile up I saw the lead car get pulled over and three other CHPs pull out. Seems like the eye in the sky was pacing them.....they pulled me over as well.

MY ticket described MY car as a 911. I fought it.....subpeona'd the hell out of everyone, including the pilot, the JAFO, the drivers, the CHP ground units and the written guidelines and the way to do things, and training records.....a Deputy DA showed up and attempted to "negotiate" a plea.

Told them to pound sand....Chippes never showed and I got dismissed.

La Costa, construction zone, let me guess, new $1M+ homes going in :)

You can elect to fight the ticket but with the double fine I'll bet they won't budge. Then you will be out your time and effort (time off work??) and it will make the fine even worse. I hate rolling over for stuff like this but sometimes it's best to pay and move on.

Wait, don't we "own" the government?

So, really, you're just writing a check for $478 to yourself. :rolleyes:

Still, even without the penalty enhancer, $239 for 15 over seems a bit extreme. Guess I don't get pulled over often enough.


Dan