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06-15-2009, 06:51 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| |  Help with some traffic tickets...
I am in California (LA County) and got a traffic ticket recently. I have an outstanding ticket from 2 years ago that I never paid, and will be going to court soon for this new ticket. I am curious as to how I can proceed, because of my old unpaid ticket. Because I saw a judge before, and just never paid the ticket, I was told that nothing could be done but pay, though I recently lost my job and am unable to. Then I was informed that with this new ticket I will no longer be eligble for anything but jail time for the outstanding ticket, as well as the new one. I have heard so many different things I now do not know how to proceed with the old ticket, as well as the new one. Does anybody know if I can still go before a judge to try and resolve my old ticket, and if that will affect me when I go before the judge for the new ticket? Thanks |
06-15-2009, 07:05 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Back in LA LA land
Posts: 1,636
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by fresa3  I am in California (LA County) and got a traffic ticket recently. I have an outstanding ticket from 2 years ago that I never paid, and will be going to court soon for this new ticket. I am curious as to how I can proceed, because of my old unpaid ticket. Because I saw a judge before, and just never paid the ticket, I was told that nothing could be done but pay, though I recently lost my job and am unable to. Then I was informed that with this new ticket I will no longer be eligble for anything but jail time for the outstanding ticket, as well as the new one. I have heard so many different things I now do not know how to proceed with the old ticket, as well as the new one. Does anybody know if I can still go before a judge to try and resolve my old ticket, and if that will affect me when I go before the judge for the new ticket? Thanks | What were you cited for? Both times?
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"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security” ~ Benjamin Franklin |
06-15-2009, 08:11 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| | | 1. speeding
2. crossing double yellow lines |
06-15-2009, 08:56 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sitting at the computer probably rolling my eyes at your post
Posts: 9,126
| | | First of all, whoever told you that your only option was jail time for a traffic ticket in LA County was smoking some wacky tabaci. Jail time hasn't been an option for traffic tickets in YEARS. We don't want you in jail, we want your money.
Second, whether or not you can appear in court before the judge depends on the status of the ticket. If the ticket is in "Failure to Pay" status, which means, you were convicted ordered to pay a fine and ignored it, then NO you may NOT see the judge on the ticket anymore. Your option is to pay the ticket. If you don't expect your license to be suspended. How long? Until you pay the ticket.
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Originally Posted by sandyclaus CourtClerk is right. | |
06-15-2009, 09:14 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| | | My friend just did jail time for some tickets she had, but she asked the judge from the beginning. I did not think that was an option for me, as I just ignored my judgments, and have failed to pay. My concern is that because it has been so long, and there is a warrant in my name, when I go before the judge for this new ticket, my choices may become more limited. Again, I am going on what I have been told by many people, none an attorney, only a few people who have gone through these similar situations, a paralegal and some court clerks. |
06-15-2009, 09:17 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| | | How can I check if the ticket is failure to pay? I try to search it online and it only shows the case status as matter set for compliance. |
06-15-2009, 09:21 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sitting at the computer probably rolling my eyes at your post
Posts: 9,126
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by fresa3 How can I check if the ticket is failure to pay? I try to search it online and it only shows the case status as matter set for compliance. | Call the DMV or the court.
If it says matters set for complaince, then it's more than likely in FTP status. If you're picked UP on the warrant, then yes, you'll do jail time ONLY if when you go to court, you mention that there are tickets and the tickets are calendared with the underlying offense. MANY TIMES people think just because they went to jail, then all of their tickets mysteriously go away because you did time served. Nothing could be father from the truth.
Years ago, the traffic courts had "jail windows." That was the line everyone stood in when they just wanted to do time for their tickets instead of paying for them. If you've noticed, those windows no longer exist - in any courthouse.
ETA: I just love it when people say "someone said..." or "this is what my friend said would happen" or "this is what happened to someone else in the same circumstance." I have very rarely seen two people come into court in all my years with EXACTLY the same circumstances.
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Originally Posted by sandyclaus CourtClerk is right. | |
06-15-2009, 09:26 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| | | Well I didn't think it was such a huge deal...I mean I just got pulled over and got a ticket and the cop ran my license and didn't take me in. I just mentioned it to my friend who did serve time for her numerous tickets and then started to hear different takes on this whole situation, which quite frankly freaked me out. I thought that in this new ticket the judge would only focus on the ticket in front of him, and give me community service because i have no $$....again I was told that a full background check is done before you arrive at traffic court. I didnt think they went to that much trouble for a traffic ticket, then again Im not too familiar with traffic court |
06-15-2009, 09:34 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sitting at the computer probably rolling my eyes at your post
Posts: 9,126
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by fresa3 Well I didn't think it was such a huge deal...I mean I just got pulled over and got a ticket and the cop ran my license and didn't take me in. | How do you know they ran your license? More often than not, they DON'T run your license. Shoot, I have a friend who has 2 misdemeanor warrants, who has been stopped and ticketed NUMEROUS times and never arrested. Why? Because the cop never bothered to run their license. Quote: |
again I was told that a full background check is done before you arrive at traffic court.
| Told by another one of these friends? Do you HONESTLY think that will all the people coming into the courthouse, we have the time to do a full background check? Whoever told you that has never been on the other side of a traffic court. EVER.
Another one of these "I'm sure they do it because someone told me they do" stories. A background check is NEVER done, however, they will run your DMV if you are ticketed for certain offenses. That is FAR from a full background check.
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Originally Posted by sandyclaus CourtClerk is right. | |
06-15-2009, 09:34 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Back in LA LA land
Posts: 1,636
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by CourtClerk Jail time hasn't been an option for traffic tickets in YEARS. | Isn't jail time mandatory for some misdemeanors? Quote:
Originally Posted by CourtClerk We don't want you in jail, we want your money. | Ain't that the truth!!! 
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Last edited by I_Got_Banned; 06-15-2009 at 09:45 PM.
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06-15-2009, 09:38 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sitting at the computer probably rolling my eyes at your post
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Originally Posted by I_Got_Banned Isn't jail time mandsatory for some misdemeanors? | Very few. VERY few. Also, the OP has made no mention of being cited for a misdemeanor. Both violations are infractions (see post 3) I gotta get paid, man. 
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Originally Posted by sandyclaus CourtClerk is right. | |
06-15-2009, 09:38 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| | | I didnt think they did a background check, To me it seems like a waste but so many people have told me so many things I am overwhelmed. I just got a ticket for speeding that I never paid, and now Im being told all kinds of stuff! |
06-15-2009, 09:41 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| | | Yes they are both infractions. BTW Thanks for your help...huge stress reliever to hear I wont be in jail or doing 100000 hours of c service... |
06-15-2009, 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by fresa3 doing 100000 hours of c service... | I never said you wouldn't be doing a load of community service - and by the way, you have to PAY for community service as well and no, you can't go to traffic school if you choose to do community service.
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Originally Posted by sandyclaus CourtClerk is right. | |
06-15-2009, 09:49 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
| | | Well I have a suspended license so having a strike wont really matter...I guess | |
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