S
Sachmosis
Guest
I received a ticket in 1999 in California for driving with no insurance. I was driving my mother's car, which has had insurance from the very first day she got the car up until the present. I searched the car, but could not find the insurance information anywhere, which I later found out was kept in her purse. I told the officer that I HAD insurance, and he told me to just take that information with me to court, and it would be dismissed. I went to court and I showed the lady at the traffic window my proof of insurance, and I asked her if I could have an extension and if I could make payments. She said that I would have to ask the judge for that - but that I would have to have my first payment THAT day. Well, I had no money, so I said that I would come back. Well, I didn't actually get around to coming back until July 6, 2001. During that time, my car died, and then my license expired. So of course, by this time I had a warrant. Well, I brought the proof of insurance - from that time all the way up to the present - and when I went in front of the judge, I pled guilty, and then tried to tell him that I HAD proof of insurance, but he told me that he would not accept that on a two year old ticket. He was, however, under the impression that I had no insurance at the time, but that I had gotten it since then. He fined me $400.00. I wrote a letter to the court (traffic division) and sent them a copy of the insurance, and asked if my fine could be lowered or dropped, but I got a reply that said, "Corrections are not acceptable on two year old citations". There were no corrections, however! I want to appeal the judges decision, because I should not be punished for something I did not do. Can I appeal it if I pled guilty? I can't get my license renewed until I pay this fine in full, and I can't pay more than $30.00 a month. That means it will be a little over a year before I can get my license! Actually, longer than that, because I have another ticket to pay for first - I'm not supposed to start payment on this one until January, 2002. So, it will actually be almost 2 years!! What can I do???!!
Sachmosis
Sachmosis