What is the name of your state? Georgia
My wife was stopped while on the way to work last month by a Dekalb County policeman.
She was surprised to be stopped while getting on an entrance ramp to 1-285. The officer was very nice and spent some time checking her Drivers Licence and gave her a ticket for expired registration--violation of code 40-2-8 of State Law.
We had received letters due to a lapse in paying our auto insurance however we were fully covered at the time of the stop as we are now. Apparently this was our 2nd lapse--though both were for a very short time--a week or 2, I believe.
My first question is regarding the actual stop and the legality issue. The officer did not say why, or note anything other than the expired registration. She was not speeding, did not commit any other violation that she was aware of, had a current license plate & tag sticker, etc.
Shouldn't there be a reason for stopping someone and was this a legal stop?
When we go to court should we ask that the case be dismissed for that reason?
Our funds are tight and we have no way to pay a fine right now. I called the phone number on the ticket which gives the fine amount--$180.00--if paid in advance and pleading guilty. However just wondering how to handle when we go to court--plead not guilty and ask that the case be dismissed due to illegal stop or? Also what happens if that doesnt work & we have to pay a fine--do we get a certain time to pay this or? Thanks for any help and/or suggestions..
My wife was stopped while on the way to work last month by a Dekalb County policeman.
She was surprised to be stopped while getting on an entrance ramp to 1-285. The officer was very nice and spent some time checking her Drivers Licence and gave her a ticket for expired registration--violation of code 40-2-8 of State Law.
We had received letters due to a lapse in paying our auto insurance however we were fully covered at the time of the stop as we are now. Apparently this was our 2nd lapse--though both were for a very short time--a week or 2, I believe.
My first question is regarding the actual stop and the legality issue. The officer did not say why, or note anything other than the expired registration. She was not speeding, did not commit any other violation that she was aware of, had a current license plate & tag sticker, etc.
Shouldn't there be a reason for stopping someone and was this a legal stop?
When we go to court should we ask that the case be dismissed for that reason?
Our funds are tight and we have no way to pay a fine right now. I called the phone number on the ticket which gives the fine amount--$180.00--if paid in advance and pleading guilty. However just wondering how to handle when we go to court--plead not guilty and ask that the case be dismissed due to illegal stop or? Also what happens if that doesnt work & we have to pay a fine--do we get a certain time to pay this or? Thanks for any help and/or suggestions..