Would You Fight This Ticket?

I got a ticket for an expired registration in the train station parking lot (it really was expired.) However, the officer marked my car as a Honda sedan without including a color. DH thinks i should write a letter that this isn't my car and thinks I'll get off on a technicality because I drive a Honda coupe (silver - again, the officer did not mark off any color.) DH says that this, combined with the fact that the officer was in a busy train station parking lot makes it possible that the officer got the cars confused.

What do you think? Write a letter to fight the ticket or just keep quiet and pay it?

ETA: I made a mistake. It was an expired inspection. (I've since had this taken care of.)

Message edited 11/26/2007 9:12:06 AM.

Re: Would You Fight This Ticket?

I don't think you have a case but if you have the time to go down to the court and fight it you may get lucky. Is it worth taking time off to fight it?

Re: Would You Fight This Ticket?

if he wrote down your plate #, they can trace it and find out that your regis was expired on that day.

IMO, pay the ticket.

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I would just pay the ticket........

Re: Would You Fight This Ticket?

pay the ticket

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if the ticket was legit, then pay it.
I don't think its right to try to get out of something you are guilty of.

Re: Would You Fight This Ticket?

I'm going to agree w/ your DH on this. I don't think that by writing the letter you're pleading not guilty, I think you're making them aware that the ticket wasn't 100% correct. Actually, I believe that's true that if there is 1 piece wrong or missing on the ticket that it's a void ticket (though I'm sure there are ways around this). If you decide to write the letter at no point would I say that I'm not guilty, I would just mention the fact that your car is a (make model color) and this ticket is for a (make model no color). The worst thing they can do is tell you to pay it anyway.

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I think if you send proof in that you had the inspection taken care of, they void the ticket anyway.

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It's an urban legend about 1 thing being wrong it's void. I'm on a few car forums, and people who have tried that, and police officers themselves say that the judge will just say, "Oh, it's brown not black? OK, we'll fix that."

If it's legitimately expired, there's no way you can get out of it.

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I would pay the ticket.

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I got a ticket once for my headlight being out when in college. It was the first time I got a ticket and I was soooo upset. The officer told me not to freak out and that if I had gotten it taken care of within 5 buissness days the ticket would be revoked. I just needed to send it in with a copy of the slip stating the tail light had been fixed.

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If its the Village of ER, just pay it. They are sticklers!!! They got my dad the very night (after midnight) that his expired! I wouldn't waste time writing a letter.

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I got this ticket a few months ago in RVC, and because I had the car inspected and showed them proof, they threw it out when I went down to pay it!

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I think if you got it inspected within 10 days of the ticket you can send in proof of inspection and avoid the fine.

If not - I would pay the ticket.

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I personally would pay the ticket. Your car's registration was expired and you got caught. It's not a moving violation - it won't give you points on your license or affect your insurance. I'd just pay the ticket and register your car.

Honestly, they can look up whether or not your car's registration had expired on the date of the ticket - it's not like they can't prove that.

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Not worth the hassle. I had gotten a ticket once for an expired meter, ticket said I had a gray car when it was clearly blue. Judge looked at me and laughed. The only possible way to get out of a ticket is if the officer didnt sign it or if your license plate number is wrong

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If the ticket is not accurate then you can get out of it. However, it has to be something like the wrong license plate or wrong color. I am not sure if the failure to mark any color at all is enough to have the judge toss the ticket?

I have had several NYC parking tickets dismissed since my plate was 1 digit off. A good friend of mine got out of a speeding ticket in VA (state trooper) since he wrote the wrong date (the following day). She got off the highway at the state police office and showed them the ticket with a future date and she did not have to go to court or write a letter.

ETA: I have fought nearly all of my NYC parking tickets and won. I carry my digital camera in my purse 95% of the time for that very reason. Once a no parking sign was gone (had been for weeks) but I was given a ticket anyway. Another instance was when a red/white no parking sign was painted over in all red (couldn't read it) and I got a ticket anyway. A guy who had gotten a ticket in the same spot the prior week told me that the sign was painted over then too.

Alternate side of the street parking is a PITA too but I pay those if I happen to park on the wrong side once in a while and don't move in time for the street cleaner.

Message edited 11/26/2007 12:52:31 PM.

Re: Would You Fight This Ticket?

If it was an expired inspection, u have a chance to get a reduced fine if you send them a letter with the picture of the new inspection sticker.

That is what i have done and it has worked!

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I wouldn't waste the energy.

I once had a friend who got a ticket on his blue car, the cop wrote it was green. When they went to court, the judge asked the cop what color the car was and the cop said something like 'blue, green...what's the difference??' and my friend had to pay the ticket. You'll probably end up paying in the end.