Insane Fee for Ca Traffic Ticket--advice

[MOMO3.2]

I was driving my Ford Truck to work on 10/23/06. I was going to turn right to enter onto a freeway on ramp. Honestly, I decelerated down to about 1mph or less then hurried my turn as the light turned red onto the on ramp. It is not a violation to turn right on red at this light. I DID commit a roll and go stop--just barely.

Well, I got the ticket and the fee is $1,041! Is this possible? Moreover, I checked the violation code on my ticket and it is 21453A which translates to: "Illegal movement/red/light/arrow". The DMV Website also states that this is a "1 Point" violation.

Could this all be right? I was very cordial (as always) to the officer (CHP) that issued the citation. But, had i known what this was leading to, I would have tried to either talk my way out of it or given him a piece of my mind for issuing a really serious citation for what was really a marginal, ticky-tack infraction.

Any help or advice to be had out there?

Thank you.

Mike

[MOMO3.2]

The worst part of this whole thing is, I will have to drive my 911 like an old granny for the next 12 months. I might as well just park it!

Mike

[RickM]

Sounds similar to not stopping at a stop sign which usually carries a higher point penalty (at least in NJ). So, 1 point isn't too bad. The $1k+ fine is outrageous.

Here if you fail to produce either your insurance card, registration or license it's $180....another rip.

[slodave]

Something is wrong. It can't be that high. As much of a pain as it is, I'd start looking into this before I pay.
Dave

[Hugh R]

Rolling stop cost you $1,041 in CA! That's outrageous. Next time I'll purposely hold up traffic not to cause a violation. A thousand ******** bucks for that? Kiss my ass

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Traffic school?

[MOMO3.2]

Traffic School for the El Monte Superior Court is $400. I am pretty damn sure that the $400 is tacked on top of the fine too. Therefore, it may be nearly $1,500!

I looked up some misdemeanor fees for the State and if I had turned this into a police pursuit, it would have been $300. I am not joking either. WTF is going on here?

[Danny_Ocean]

Move! I did. Here in FLA, you can drive 85mph on the freeway all day long and the cops won't even look at you twice. Rolling stop? Hell, if you don't do a rolling stop here, you'll get honked at...even by the police.

I got tired of CA nickel & diming me to death. After 20 yrs. (1980 ~ 2000) I bailed. My vehicle registration this year? $35.

[the]

No way that number can be right, not even in the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia.

A quick 5 minute search of the court website shows it as being a $100 ticket, with a bunch of surcharges that throw it into maybe the $300 range.

http://lasuperiorcourt.org/bail/pdf/misd.pdf

[MOMO3.2]

Danny:

SoCal (Los Angeles) does have the potential to be magical. We have a great climate and it is only 45 minutes drive from the mountains to the surf.

It does, however, occasionally pain me to think about what it would be like to live in some of the beautiful, less populated, cities and states I have visitied. But, my roots run too deep here in SoCal to move. My loved ones are here. Therefore, I would basically live in Hell just to be in their company. Sometimes, it seems like I do... I guess this is one of those times.

Mike

[MOMO3.2]

Dang the. I hope you are right. The disturbing thing is my printout from the court shows $1,045 and the website shows the same amount when I type in my citation #.

I am obviously going to contact the court tomorrow. But, I am pretty sure the amount is correct. It DOES state that traffic school is $400. If they are charging that much for traffic school, one has to conclude the traffic fines must be pretty stiff too.

If they really are charging me $1,000+, I have no choice, but to fight it.

Mike

Mike

[Danny_Ocean]

CA = State Income Tax
FL = No State Income Tax

CA = Over-restrictive gun laws
FL = I can carry any gun that is legal to own, loaded & in my glovebox with no permit

CA = Smog tests
FL = What's a smog test?

CA = Illegal Aliens from Mexico
FL = Illegal Aliens from Haiti
(OK...you got me on that one).

CA = Outrageous Property Value
FL = Live near the ocean for $250k

CA = Earthquakes
FL = Hurricanes (you can see 'em coming)

CA = Dianne Feinstein/Barbara Boxer
FL = Jeb Bush

etc., etc.

[MOMO3.2]

Danny:

ROFLMAO--sort of...

[m21sniper]

Originally posted by Danny_Ocean
Move! I did. Here in FLA, you can drive 85mph on the freeway all day long and the cops won't even look at you twice. Rolling stop? Hell, if you don't do a rolling stop here, you'll get honked at...even by the police.

I got tired of CA nickel & diming me to death. After 20 yrs. (1980 ~ 2000) I bailed. My vehicle registration this year? $35.

Agreed.

Here in philly the cops arent even allowed to use radar, it's friggin' great.

I got pulled over doing 150 about a year ago and got a $180 some dollar fine for "Careless driving".

Then when you show up for court they plea bargain everything down to no points.

LOL, it's great.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Having lived in both places (I lived in FL for five years total) I can say with absolute certainty that (1) I'd never move back. Ever. Even on a dare. Unless you count Key West - I'd consider that one. Maybe. If you got me really drunk. and (2) CA is VASTLY superior in terms of the quality of life overall and for the sheer lack of inbred redneck bible-thumping wastes of oxygen.

Yes CA may have its problems, but it keeps the rest of the midwest the hell outta' here.

[m21sniper]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Having lived in both places (I lived in FL for five years total) I can say with absolute certainty that (1) I'd never move back. Ever. Even on a dare. Unless you count Key West - I'd consider that one. Maybe. If you got me really drunk. and (2) CA is VASTLY superior in terms of the quality of life overall and for the sheer lack of inbred redneck bible-thumping wastes of oxygen.

Yes CA may have its problems, but it keeps the rest of the midwest the hell outta' here.

I'd personally rather chew shards of broken glass than live in Kalifornia.

I sure do like Florida though.

[450knotOffice]

We've got too many people living here anyway, we don't need any more.

MOMO3.2, fight it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

To each their own I guess. If we all liked the same things, the world would be an awfully boring place. . .

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
(2) CA is VASTLY superior in terms of the quality of life overall and for the sheer lack of inbred redneck bible-thumping wastes of oxygen.

Yep, you're correct. I hear Long Beach is absolutely beautiful, too...

[masraum]

California is beautiful. It's a nice place to visit.