Tuesday, August 16, 2011

How To Fight a Traffic Ticket

Here is a list of reliable facts on traffic tickets and traffic schools for California.

City of Pasadena phone number is 626-744-8723.  The receptionist explained to me that the only way to obtain a copy of the Traffic & Engineering Survey is to go into the offices and show them a copy of my citation.  She was very nice, helpful, and willing to address all of my concerns and answer all of my questions.  She referred to the survey as the ENT Report.  The address to the City of Pasadena Department of Transportation is 221 East Walnut Streeet at Marengo on the Northeast corner of Marengo and Walnut on the 2nd Floor, Room 210.  Walk up the stairs and turn left; it's just down the hall on your right.  The head of the department is Mary Bedrozian.  They close at 5:30pm.  

courtesy notice from the Courthouse is mailed to you within 21 days.  When using the mail, allow 10 days for PROCESSING.  That means that it takes 10 days for the courts to process your paperwork.  It does not mean that your bail takes 10 days to get to the courts.

The Pasadena Police Station phone is 626-744-4241.
LA Superior Court Directory.
The Pasadena Courthouse phone is 626-356-5265.  The courthouse is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon through Fri, except court holidays. Their phone hours are 8:30 to 10:30 and 1:30 to 3:30, Monday through Friday.  Well, this is unbelievable, or should I say exactly what is to be expected by a government agency: not only are the hours limited on the Courthouse phone, but when I called here at 8:56am on Wednesday, the phones are busy.  So they say they have phone hours, but there is still no access.  I've redialed 6 times--still busy.  So far, the line has been busy for 30 consecutive minutes.  Well, at 10:01 I finally got through.  The receptionist was pretty helpful and thorough.  I asked if by asking for an extension that I would lose traffic school privileges.  She said  no.  I asked her if I could take care of the insurance card requirement prior to my appearance date of 10/24.  She said no, that I would have to bring proof of insurance to my court appearance.  Oh, well . . . .
Bail amount & Non-refundable administrative fee.  Traffic school is eligible only once every 18 months.
What happens if you choose to apply for a . . . ?
I did receive an extension by phone on Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 11:45am.  I need to pay my ticket by Monday, October 24, 2011.
My signature on the ticket is a promise to appear.  A courtesy notice is sent within 21 days.
Proof of repair has to be done by a specific date.

Fight Your Speeding Ticket via TBD or  Trial By Declaration 

Trial By Declaration #2

#1  Begin the steps to take care of your ticket now.  Waiting to process the ticket and organize your defense two weeks before your appearance date imposes a stupid disadvantage on you.  Don't do that to yourself.
#2  Never use the Ticket Assassin that you find online.  He is a con-man.  Even if you follow the free downloadable forms he sends you for "free," the actions that he suggest could burn you and get you into legal hot water.  His big "difference" is that he tells you to fight your ticket by mail, using the "Written Declaration of Not Guilty" to fight your ticket in court absentia.  It feels like a set-up because you're not there if there is a misunderstanding by the clerks, the officers, the judge.  By fighting the ticket by mail as Mulroy suggest and sells it that you'll be saving time, you may be doing time if your letter misrepresents the law, your actions, or the citing officer's testimony.  Be careful, and avoid this scam.  It sounds tempting.  He's got a nice website, and people complaining about him appear as only losers.  You're not a loser and much smarter, and therefore you, your intelligence, your persuasive skills, and rhetoric will kick ass in court.  Okay, go with that, Sparky.  He charges $25 and guilts you into paying appealing to your moral principles, and then the guy fails to keep his end of the bargain.  Check the gadget column to see what others have said about him.

#3  This is a helpful site.  I wished I'd have known this:
When you are pulled over by the cop and want to beat a speeding ticket in California, ASK THE COP TO CHANGE THE COURT VENUE TO THE COUNTY SEAT, explaining that it is more convenient for you and write down "COUNTY SEAT PLEASE" next to your signature on the citation.  If you know the county seat isn't the address listed on the ticket, write "COUNTY SEAT REQUESTED BUT REFUSED BY OFFICER."  When asked by the cop about your driving, the only thing you should say is, "I was driving safely."  Do not say anything else to confirm any alleged traffic offense.

#4  Next, get an engineering and traffic survey for the street where you were caught from city hall. There will be one for every street where RADAR or LIDAR tickets are permitted. You will use any mistakes found in the traffic survey at trial to fight the speeding ticket.

No comments:

Post a Comment