Ticket Update

[George Selby]

At 04:47 PM 1/23/02, you wrote:
>   I can't believe mine eyeballs.  I made a request for a continuance based
>on my college schedule.  I filed a proper motion in writing with an attached
>schedule only to have it denied by the honorable Charon A. True (laughable
>name for a judge).  My schedule runs right through my court time and
>thensome, amazing!
>
>     Oh well I know it's time to try and make a deal on this one, or maybe I
>should be filing another motion with the court about the continuance denial,
>anyone?
>
>     Plus they've got my name wrong on all the forms involved in this case,
>my name is not A.L. Vangerbug.
>

I don't think that school is a valid excuse for court.  Maybe a final exam,
but not regular class.  You'll find that most courts and most schools
operate on approximately the same schedule (about 9 am to 4 pm, with the
courts taking 2 hours for lunch: no wonder the courts are so crowded these
days,) so if they excused you for school they would never be able to
prosecute you until you graduated.  Remember most officers only have 1 or
maybe 2 court days a month, they can't schedule around you, you have to
schedule around them (especially since they can throw you in jail, but you
can't do the same to them!)  Bad news is if you are found guilty (of
anything, however reduced it ends up becoming) it is an unexcused absence,
but if you get off scott free (dismissed or not guilty) then it is an
excused absence.  Basically, of the two governmental agencies, court takes
precedence over school.

The best excuse is the "I don't have the money right now, I'll have it in a
month" excuse.  Your money is all they really want, and they really don't
want to put you in jail (it costs them money.)  If you don't have the
money, you don't have the money, what can they say.  They will almost
always give you a month to come up with cash to pay.  They will schedule
for the officer's next court date.  Other than that, a previously arranged
out-of-town trip works well (should you have one planned, be prepared to
offer some evidence.)

As to the name thing, I think it's best not to mention anything about
it.  I'm pretty sure some items on my driving record never made it there
because there was an error between my name and my license number (on some
of my tickets the name is wrong, and one the license number is wrong.)  If
the officer recognizes you in court, that will be enough for the judge to
convict you.  But when they go to file it they might not be able to figure
out what is wrong (the name or number) and thus just not do
anything.  Another reason to let your insurance agent discover your
tickets, rather than telling him about them.


George Selby
83 Audi Coupe GT
gselby4x4 at earthlink.net