Lawyer up for stupid tickets in California?

[Jim Bremner]

So, one of my 4 sons is a NUMBNUT.

1st, got busted for no seat belt.

2nd, got busted for holding his cell phone.

3. let the tickets go TOO long.

Said tickets are now valued @ $1,300! He's 22 and in and out of jobs.

Any recomendations? I tried to get him to ask for cummunity service. Fullerton said HelNo

[slodave]

Who's going to pay for the lawyer? Could end up costing more than the current fines.

[Jim Bremner]

yup, Mama! oh wait she's on disability. oh crap ME!

[slodave]

What ever you do, I'd suggest making him pay you back, even if it's over a bit of time.

[Jim Bremner]

yup, plenty of work for him in the warehouse!

[John Rogers]

I have to ask why you are trying to save his butt as you said he is 22?! Let the judge decide and pull weeds besides the freeway or something. If you pay his fines, then put him to work for you, I will bet within a day he never shows up!

[aigel]

Too late to lawyer up. Should have fought the ticket when you could.

I am with the tough love camp - don't bail him out. Let him figure out how to fix it. If he is "in and out of jobs" he is not going to college and not doing a good job being his age. Let him deal with it. You are only enabling stupid behavior otherwise.

If he was in college and doing well and his side job didn't pay for his mistake - different story. Same if he had a permanent job and was short on cash. But being short on cash because you can't hold down a job? Tough luck!

G

[Jim Bremner]

step-son.

sometimes the elevator skips a floor or fails to go to the top.


I want him to pull weeds but he has to F'up bigger for the city to make him do that.

[aigel]

LOL

Seriously, I know it is tempting to help him out, but you won't do him a favor in the long run. If he feels the pain now, he hopefully will pay better attention next time. Like others mentioned above, the judge will be much better at making him pay for it than you!

G

[Rick Lee]

When you get convicted in court and can't pay, they put you on a payment plan. If you miss a payment, they issue a warrant. Ask me how I know.

I think using a cell phone while driving should be the same as a DUI, so I'm in the tough love camp on this one.

[Heel n Toe]

Let him make his own arrangements with the court and set up a payment plan, etc. This really doesn't involve you at all, since he's 22.

Wait... he's not still living with you and the mizziz, is he?

[Rick V]

Holding his phone (not using it) without a seatbelt, results in $1,300?
Holy crap!!!!!!
Yup tickets are all about public safety and have nothing with the generation of money for the state.
No great weather is worth that kind of environment to live in.
Okay I'm done, but I agree let him make restitution through the courts, a lesson learned that he will remember forever.

[Gogar]

1. See if he can set up a payment plan with the city. Not with you.

2. Get ready for him to miss a payment, and let it happen.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Holding his phone (not using it) without a seatbelt, results in $1,300?
Holy crap!!!!!!
Yup tickets are all about public safety and have nothing with the generation of money for the state.
No great weather is worth that kind of environment to live in.
Okay I'm done, but I agree let him make restitution through the courts, a lesson learned that he will remember forever.

He "let them go too long". That means he did not pay them and penalties added up on top of it. The tickets would only be a few hundred $ starting out. This tells me son needs to learn about doing things on time ...

G

[Zeke]

Don't fines incurred state, "XX amount or X days in jail?" A friend of mine son ended up washing police cars.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Don't fines incurred state, "XX amount or X days in jail?" A friend of mine son ended up washing police cars.

I've never seen this. I wouldn't mind spending a day in jail to knock out big fines. That way I'm costing them money instead of the other way around.

[recycled sixtie]

Heck no, make the son take responsibility. Don't pay for him. If he ends up doing jail time/community service, that is the best thing for him.
I used to get my butt kicked when I was young and for good reason. Now it has come full circle and I have become the crusty old guy handing out opinions.
Don't pay his fines - pleeeez....he will thank u later - maybe.

[LakeCleElum]

Last year, my 31 year-old, unemployed daughter (with 2 master degrees) got a red light ticket in my pickup. From the documentation, I could see she was speeding when going thru the intersection.

I mailed my notice to the court with an affidavit that she was the driver, her address, dob, etc....

I told her: You work it out with the court.....Time for kids to carry their own weight....

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I've never seen this. I wouldn't mind spending a day in jail to knock out big fines. That way I'm costing them money instead of the other way around.

Try it before making that statement.... its not like they show in the movies.

[tharbert]

My live-at-home 21 YO got a speeding ticket. He paid the fine but "forgot" to ask for court supervision so the ticket went on his record. Three months later, his insurance went up $30 a month. GRRR!

I'm in the tough love camp. That extra $30 a month is a little reminder to him that attention to detail matters.