officer said she wasn't charging, tickets not signed...

[mirandaranda]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
South Dakota

i was pulled over for expired tags last week.
had no proof of insurance (and no insurance).
officer put me in cuffs and took me down to the station because i had a warrant.
this warrant was for a driving with a suspended license charge that supposedly had not been taken care of, dated 2001 or 2002! (i can't remember exactly, because they didn't provide me with the info in writing.
i had no idea that i owed money.
officer told me that she WAS NOT CHARGING me with anything, that i should just think of it as going in to take care of the fine.
was booked, had to change into the jail clothes, and three hours later, they finally got around to getting me out of there (my boyfriend was there with the bond for almost three hours). i had my debit card on me, and was not allowed to use it (i was told by the officer that they had an ATM available to use), because shift change took place while i was there.
here's the part that really confuses me:
when i left, i was presented with two tickets, one for no proof of ins., and the other for expired tags. neither one was signed by the officer. no court dates, times, dollar amt. of ticket, the boxes for "court appearance required" are checked neither yes nor no.
before they let me out of jail, i was given two printouts that both said "bond receipt." one had some info about the bond (and the only info about the previous charge was "B.W. FTC driving susp"). no date of previous charge. no other identifying info of the charge.
the other "bond receipt" said i was charged with expired plates/no ins. it included a court date and time. i signed both papers because that was the only way i thought i was going to be able to get out of jail (for a fine i failed to pay, seven years ago)!! i asked lots of questions, and they were not answered to my satisfaction.
so today i called the clerk of courts. they have on file that i have to appear in court. same date and time as on the "bond receipt." the clerk of courts said that i would still have to appear for the no insurance, and bring in my new registration to the clerk of courts and pay a fine. but with no signature from the officer??? and no info on what the fines are?? she said that this is common when they take you to jail. she also said that if it was a warning, it would say "warning" at the top, and not "uniform complaint and summons."
i'm wondering if this is legit.
it seems to me that there is something that is not right.
any advice or thoughts???
thanks so much!

p.s. i did get insurance the very next day, and got my tags the day after that.

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by mirandaranda

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
South Dakota

i was pulled over for expired tags last week.
had no proof of insurance (and no insurance).
officer put me in cuffs and took me down to the station because i had a warrant.
this warrant was for a driving with a suspended license charge that supposedly had not been taken care of, dated 2001 or 2002! (i can't remember exactly, because they didn't provide me with the info in writing.
i had no idea that i owed money.
officer told me that she WAS NOT CHARGING me with anything, that i should just think of it as going in to take care of the fine.
was booked, had to change into the jail clothes, and three hours later, they finally got around to getting me out of there (my boyfriend was there with the bond for almost three hours). i had my debit card on me, and was not allowed to use it (i was told by the officer that they had an ATM available to use), because shift change took place while i was there.
here's the part that really confuses me:
when i left, i was presented with two tickets, one for no proof of ins., and the other for expired tags. neither one was signed by the officer. no court dates, times, dollar amt. of ticket, the boxes for "court appearance required" are checked neither yes nor no.
before they let me out of jail, i was given two printouts that both said "bond receipt." one had some info about the bond (and the only info about the previous charge was "B.W. FTC driving susp"). no date of previous charge. no other identifying info of the charge.
the other "bond receipt" said i was charged with expired plates/no ins. it included a court date and time. i signed both papers because that was the only way i thought i was going to be able to get out of jail (for a fine i failed to pay, seven years ago)!! i asked lots of questions, and they were not answered to my satisfaction.
so today i called the clerk of courts. they have on file that i have to appear in court. same date and time as on the "bond receipt." the clerk of courts said that i would still have to appear for the no insurance, and bring in my new registration to the clerk of courts and pay a fine. but with no signature from the officer??? and no info on what the fines are?? she said that this is common when they take you to jail. she also said that if it was a warning, it would say "warning" at the top, and not "uniform complaint and summons."
i'm wondering if this is legit.
it seems to me that there is something that is not right.
any advice or thoughts???
thanks so much!

p.s. i did get insurance the very next day, and got my tags the day after that.

My advice for you is to go to court, pay your fines and consider it lesson learned. My thought is this: Why do believe it is out of line for your fine from 7 years ago to be paid?

...oh and you're welcome