Oops. Forgot to sign my ticket!

[RJLynn]

Hi guys. Pennsylvania here... first time poster.


Anyway, got in a really minor fender bender yesterday, and tapped some guy's bumper hard enough to break one of the plastic pins off at the corner so it sags a bit now.

Guy doesn't even wanna call the cops, but has to because its a company car. After 20 minutes of having the cop just write our info down for us (its not a reportable accident), I get a ticket for failure to yeild. Sucks, but fair. However, I never signed the ticket!!

Box 46, Defendant's Signature - Acknowledges Receipt of Citation - sits there, completely blank.

Now, I can't go to court and say I didn't hit the guy. But can I get it tossed because I never signed for my citation?

[moburkes]

Originally Posted by RJLynn

Hi guys. Pennsylvania here... first time poster.


Anyway, got in a really minor fender bender yesterday, and tapped some guy's bumper hard enough to break one of the plastic pins off at the corner so it sags a bit now.

Guy doesn't even wanna call the cops, but has to because its a company car. After 20 minutes of having the cop just write our info down for us (its not a reportable accident), I get a ticket for failure to yeild. Sucks, but fair. However, I never signed the ticket!!

Box 46, Defendant's Signature - Acknowledges Receipt of Citation - sits there, completely blank.

Now, I can't go to court and say I didn't hit the guy. But can I get it tossed because I never signed for my citation?

Nope. It just means that you are acknowledging receipt, not "guilty or not guilty".

[RJLynn]

Yeah, you're right.

And I'm assuming that if I don't respond to it, they'll just come take care of it the way they don't really need my signature, right?

[moburkes]

Originally Posted by RJLynn

Yeah, you're right.

And I'm assuming that if I don't respond to it, they'll just come take care of it the way they don't really need my signature, right?

I don't really understand your question. Its just a ticket. You either pay it (admit guilt) or go to court and plead not guilty, then get a court date for a trial.

[Jim_bo]

For most tickets, your signature at the bottom is acknowleging that you promise to appear in court. This is in lieu of you being being detained. If you didn't sign it, there is no written acknowlegement. However, did the cop tell you when to appear? If so, that is acknowlegement. He can testify to that and the judge may hold you to it anyway.

I don't think I'd just ignore it.

Jimbo