question about ticket

[spiritfild]

What is the name of your state? California

I'm so confused. I appeared in court before the due date on my ticket, and set a trial for next month... do I still have to pay the ticket amount? Nothing I read about it makes any sense. I don't know if I pay now and get it back later if I win the trial, or if I don't pay until I know if I won or lost the trial.... Help!

[Litigation!]

Originally Posted by spiritfild

What is the name of your state? California

I'm so confused. I appeared in court before the due date on my ticket, and set a trial for next month... do I still have to pay the ticket amount? Nothing I read about it makes any sense. I don't know if I pay now and get it back later if I win the trial, or if I don't pay until I know if I won or lost the trial.... Help!

My response:

You pay when you lose. And believe me, you will lose. Also, you'll be paying the base ticket amount plus all the enhancements. So, if your ticket was $150.00 base, figure on whipping out your wallet for about $600.00 or more.

IAAL

[lwpat]

I thought in CA you had to go ahead and pay the fine amount as a bond when you plead not guilty. Where's Carl?

[spiritfild]

I'm using this thing called CaseDismissed which a friend recommended to me to use to fight tickets. If I chicken out, I have a lawyer I might be able to call.

See? You don't know either... Lol. Where's Carl? He has the answer? I need Carl...

[sukharev]

Originally Posted by Litigation!

My response:

You pay when you lose. And believe me, you will lose. Also, you'll be paying the base ticket amount plus all the enhancements. So, if your ticket was $150.00 base, figure on whipping out your wallet for about $600.00 or more.

IAAL

Hey, IAAL, not everybody is a looser like you

And obviously you don't have much experience with tickets either, cause I hate to break it to you, but frequently people pay less just for showing up - the judge reduces fines, and adds court costs - so $150 ticket would become $100 fine + $20 court costs...

OP: everything depends on the state and particular court, as well as particular judge. No general rules exist, and no need to try and predict who gets what - the way to find out is to go to the court a few days in advance, and see for yourself.

FYI, same applies to CaseDismissed or any other book/website out there. The way to work it is to gather every bit of information you have, then figure out what you can use in particular case. Maybe it's the speed trap law, maybe your best chance is TBD (California special), only you will be able to figure out. We can just give pointers, unless we know the court or the judge. Alas, and always consider if you have budget for the lawyer - in case you do not feel like you can defend yourself or if you just want some break, but not ticket dismissal (AKA taking responsibility for your actions, etc. etc.)

[CdwJava]

To add to Sukharev's reply, and to address lwpat's inquiry, the fine generally only has to be paid in advance if the local court requests it prior to a written declaration. This is not universal but it does happen in some counties. Otherwise, I don't think ANY county requires payment of bail up front for a plea of 'not guilty' at arraignment.

Spirtfld: If you have a question about whether you have to pay up front or not, call the court; better yet, go there and ask. I have never heard of anyone having to pay up front for a 'not guilty' plea, but I cannot say that it will not happen ... though it doesn't sound proper to me.

- Carl

[lwpat]

Thanks. I knew I had heard of some places in CA requiring a bond so it must just be when they are filing a TBD.

[spiritfild]

I'm pretty sure the judge was telling people to go straight to the clerk's office if they needed to pay, but she didn't tell me to go there. i just didn't really understand what on earth she said to me. I was trying to figure it out all the way out to my car when I realized I just had no clue. :-)
What is a TBD?

[sukharev]

Originally Posted by spiritfild

I'm pretty sure the judge was telling people to go straight to the clerk's office if they needed to pay, but she didn't tell me to go there. i just didn't really understand what on earth she said to me. I was trying to figure it out all the way out to my car when I realized I just had no clue. :-)
What is a TBD?

TBD, otherwise known as Trial by Declaration. Google it, and you will find the appropriate form to file, as well as explanation and instructions. Search this site for further details, there were plenty of threads on TBD topic in the past.

That said, you may not have this option, if you already have a trial scheduled. Call the court to find out. In general, don't be bashful and do ask court clerk all of your questions, and make sure you understand fully when and how things happen. Good luck.