Quote:
Originally posted by singpilot
I'd start looking into traffic schools, and get a haircut as well as a new suit for your appearance. If you are a gambling man, say 'Not Guilty', and hope the officer does not appear 3 months from now for trial. Gawd help you if he does.
|
My experiences in McLean and Champaign counties (Central IL):
I've never gotten a traffic ticket that didn't contain some kind of mistake. I've also never gotten a judge that thought any kind of mistake was enough to throw out the ticket. Their basic philosophy seemed to be that the officer handed me the ticket and the clerk had my license, so I must have been doing the crime...
I always showed up for traffic court in a suit. Without exception, in the two counties listed above, the judge would throw out tickets for people dressed in holey jeans and stained t-shirts, and uphold tickets for people in suits, polo shirts & Dockers, etc... I guess they figure one group can afford the tickets and one can't. (I wonder what those judges political leanings were...) It didn't matter that the guy in the suit had clear evidence that the situation didn't occur as the officer described, and the guy in the holey jeans whole argument consisted of "I can't afford a ticket".
I've never had an officer not show up for a court appearance. In this area, traffic court dates and times are set up by working with the officer. The time is purposefully convienent for the officers, not you. Also, showing up for court is part of their job. I know that around here failing to show up for a court appearance without a very good reason will get the officer in trouble.
My best advice is to hire a real lawyer. The judges know who the ticket clinics are and generally don't like them.