I have to go to traffic court thursday. In short, if I lose and have to pay the fine, do I have to pay it right then and there? or can I wait say 30 days?
The court will offer you time to pay. If you give the court ANY excuse expect to pay. The court will usually reduce the penalty substantially just for appearing. To have the ticket thrown out you will need to tell the court you are completely innocent, make NO excuses. Best of luck. Seattle's worst traffic offender, Jeff
Thanks Jeff. I got the police report today and on it he says that he has no objective witness but the witness he does have says I "did" it. The 2 guys in the other car are brothers. (and collaborated their story) He also says he couldn't determine fault by the physical evidence but he gave me a ticket anyway.
DENY, DENY, DENY. If the witness', officer, do not appear in court and there are no affidavits submitted, the ticket should be dismissed. Remember, deny and offer no excuse. I have never seen a case dismissed where a defendant offered ANY excuse. Good luck. Jeff
Well heres an update. Went to court and blah, blah,blah... The judge said it was his sense that it happened the way the witnesses said BUT he was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt....as I took photos after everyone left of the scene... NOT GUILTY!!! The witnesses came with their mommy and the officer was there. He hung himself by stating that he had us pull off the road and then his witness said that he, the witness told us to pull off the road. It was me who told the other driver pull off the road. The officer then complemented the boys on their excellent diagram and then I produced the photos that contradicted the diagram. The officer looked incompetent. The witnesses lied or told it form their side and told different stories. I just kept quiet and let them say all they wanted. They kept interrupting my statements and I just sat there cool as a cucumber (and I am a very hot tempered person!). I was telling the judge a point about the rules of the road concerning the intersection and he stopped me and told me I was wrong. I told him I was making the point based on the police report and he said "I would like to see it". The officer then jumped up and explained his position. They went back and forth a bit. Out in the hall the officer was telling the young men that all sorts of stuff in a mentor like way and something like "Mr. Hermit wasn't found guilty because of a reasonable doubt and thats the American way. You need an independant witness." He was pissed and they were pissed and I said nothing as we rode the elevator down. Lessons learned: Carry a small tape player in the car as well as a instant camera! This is the second time I have done so and not lost a court case. And of course keep your mouth shut in court!!!