Costs and Fines

[kinthenorthwest]

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

I have decided to fight a traffic ticket due to many circumstances, but mostly due to the fact that I was not speeding at that time.
On that night if anything I was under the limit by several miles.

When I went in to find out what I had to do, the clerk though pleasant, was very heavy on the fact that I would no longer be able to pay the extra $30 to get it wiped off my record in 6 months.
Total cost would have been $155.

She then informs me that if I was found guilty I would then have to pay the new fine and the court costs.
I asked her if she could tell me what the new traffic and court costs might be if I happened to be found guilty.

Her response was it would be entirely up to the Judge on the ticket and the court costs.

I did ask about the ticket fees again, wondering if it could be even more than what it was if I just pleaded guilty. She seemed to answer that it just very well could be.
Something very wrong with this picture...Either plead guilty to whatever and cough up the money in the first place or take an extra lost...

 

[Silverplum]

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

I have decided to fight a traffic ticket due to many circumstances, but mostly due to the fact that I was not speeding at that time.
On that night if anything I was under the limit by several miles.

When I went in to find out what I had to do, the clerk though pleasant, was very heavy on the fact that I would no longer be able to pay the extra $30 to get it wiped off my record in 6 months.
Total cost would have been $155.

She then informs me that if I was found guilty I would then have to pay the new fine and the court costs.
I asked her if she could tell me what the new traffic and court costs might be if I happened to be found guilty.

Her response was it would be entirely up to the Judge on the ticket and the court costs.

I did ask about the ticket fees again, wondering if it could be even more than what it was if I just pleaded guilty. She seemed to answer that it just very well could be.
Something very wrong with this picture...Either plead guilty to whatever and cough up the money in the first place or take an extra lost...

Okay.
.....

 

[Silverplum]

Some potentially helpful sites:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/enforce/speedlaws501/toc/orspeed.pdf

http://www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/1272_TrafficTix.htm

 

[kinthenorthwest]

Thank you all..

 

[kinthenorthwest]

I went to court a few days ago.
The officer was there and gave his testimony, making sure that the judge understood that he had calibrated his radar before and after, along with using another method of gauging my speed.

I was allowed to ask questions.

I first asked for him to repeat the time of the incident which he had wrong. He still stated it wrong. So I asked if it was dark at the time..He could not answer. The incident was 9 pm not am.

I then asked him to repeat the license plate number which he also had wrong. He could not give the right plate number either.
He asked for a dismissal due to not being able to read his own ticket...

I asked if I could at least state the reason I was fighting the ticket. I was warned not too cause cases like mine end up not being dismissed due to testimony. So I just left it alone.

I did find it strange that this officer could not state information that should have been in his daily log. At least this is my understanding from officers I have known from other cities.

At least the officer was very pleasant during the trial.
That was until the judge left the room.
I truly respect our law enforcement for all that they do for us.
I and am so glad that officers like this are few and far between.
Although I would like to file a complaint I will just leave it alone.