Furious over citation

[Richard]

Words (that can be publically shown), will NOT display my anger right now /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Roughly 1 1/2 weeks ago, I had a headlight go out. Went out of town to DC, got back this past monday night. (took wifes car to DC, not mine with headlight burnt).

So, I've "known" about light, but havn't dealt with it yet, was planning on doing it this weekend. I've been focusing on my fuel tank issues with Brutus.

Today, driving to work, sheriff stops me, gives me ticket for burnt light. In my hometown, they'd say (like Andy Taylor), hey.. did ya know it's burnt? better get it fixed, if we stop you again, you will be cited.

Here? no.. they give you a citation, you have to go to court and guess what.. I just called the courthouse, the fine? $121.00 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif


This means, if you leave home, headlights working, one burns out on way into town and you get stopped BAM $121 fine. Don't pass go, no warnings, just slam bam, thanky mam.

I'm very incensed about this. AFter all, I'm the one that's replacing a 60 cent silly rubber GASKET in my backhoe cause I want it to work and "be" right. Lord knows I'm concerned about my light and want it fixed too...in fact I was even going to look into replacing BOTH of them with brighter bulbs if available.....

Sheesh....

I have half a mind to fight this to the end... any thoughts, or should I just bury it, shut up and smile when they ask me to bend over at the courthouse?

/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Double crap... adding insult to injury.. I just got a phone call during reviewing this post for posting that one of our dogs has just been killed. Ran over by uncles truck, accident of course. Sadly, just last night I was telling the wife that between the 2 stray pups we kept, "this" one was the more personable, obedient, friendly and to use a tacky word, more of my (and hers though she didnt' say the words) favorite... sigh...... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[JATO_RaT]

Richard, I understand your anger. When I saw your post, I thought, oh, a whiny, take no responsibility, crying about an injustice to poor little me type. It's ridiculous that a fine is issued for an unvoidable situation. Police policy out of control. I can't comment on what you should do, I would attempt to fight it. I would want the judicial system to know if they don't already just how far the law enforcement is intruding into your life. Citing and a fix it ticket, thats OK. A time frame to do it in, thats OK, a fine like that, forget it. Sorry too about your dog. When it happened to us, I was absolutley devastated and still think about him. Rat...

 

[shade2u2]

I've heard around our neck of the woods that if one admits that it has been out for a period of time, then figure on getting a citation (alot less than $121 - I hope) since they think that you should have fixed it. If one says "I didn't know it was out" then usually a warning to repair is the only consequence...
I agree that $121 is rediculous...

 

[Bird]

Let's see if I understand this . . . you knew it was out, but you didn't get it fixed. And it's the officer's fault for doing his sworn duty. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I guess you can't win'em all.

I don't know anything about the laws or the courts in your area, and haven't kept up with them here either for several years; however . . . . Texas law used to provide for a maximum fine of $200 for such offenses, I believe that has now been raised to $500 but am not sure. In reality, I've never known of a judge fining anyone more than $50, but guess that may have changed, too.

And now for the good news! (And I don't know for sure whether this still applies in my own area, much less yours.) When Dallas officers wrote such equipment citations, if the recipient went to court with a receipt for the repairs; i.e., evidence that it had been corrected, the ticket was dismissed.

So I never hesitated to write such citations and all it was going to cost the recipient was the time to go to the court (and I told them that at the time I issued the citation), but as someone else has already said, if the driver said he didn't know the light had burned out (and I believed him/her) then I didn't issue a citation. And of course, it's been 35 years since I was doing traffic enforcement. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

what state was this in? here in KY, you can drive around without doors, hood, front fenders, spiderweb cracks in the winshield, and leave and smoke screen of burning oil and the cops won't look twice.

 

[Richard]

Yes, I did know it was out, I have no problems being honest. At same time, I honestly didn't have time to get the parts and get it fixed given that I'd been out of town. That was a Saturday project (tomorrow) for me.

To say I had no idea, would have been a lie. I actually had the silliness to think he might respect my being honest and not trying to deny any knowledge.

Meet Rosie /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[skent]

Here in MD, they issue a Inspection Notice. They give you 30 days to have it fixed and take it to any state inspection station or police station and they will sign off on it. If you don't have the work done and inspected, they will fine you.

 

[thcri]

At work here a couple of times we have gotten warning notices. What we have to do is get the item fixed and mail in a copy of the service report or in the light bulb case a copy of the invoice for the light and we have like a week to do it in. No fine. Now I am sure if we didn't fix it and they would stop us again we would probably end up with a fine.


murph

 

[gerard]

In NY ANY equipment violation you get a ticket for you also get a notice of correction. You can correct yourself or have a service shop fix it. Have the notice signed, send in with ticket and it's dismissed. Just a way of "insuring" the matter gets taken care of promptly because, believe it or not, not everyone is conscientious and people actually DO lie to police officers, can you believe it?????????

 

[TresCrows]

Maybe after we free Iraq we can free ourselves from an oppressive dictatorship. I don't remember voting for that type law. I don't remember a vote for much of any of this.
Hey, we are being annexed by a nearby town so they can tax us without representation and of course they will provide no additional services to the none that are provided now.
Maybe if you show a receipt for the repair your local Dictatorial Enforcement Machine will allow you to escape "justice" with your wallet intact.
Sorry for your dog. J