PRNDL

My son got a ticket this evening. None of us have EVER gotten a ticket for a moving violation so I don't know how to proceed. The kid is going back to college tomorrow, an 8 hour drive, so I don't know if a court appearance is required for a guilty plea, and what his options are for not pleading guilty. He was passing a doubleparked van that was right in front of a crosswalk. The police car was behind my son. Supposedly there was a pedestrian in the crosswalk, but my son didn't even see the pedestrian (the van would have blocked his vision). Noone was hit, or even a "close call" but he got ticketed for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. My son says the cop told him it was no points, but I looked it up and it appears to be 2 points.

We will call the police tomorrow to find out what our options are, but probably will have to hire a lawyer. Several pedestrians have been hit by cars in our town over the past few years, so of course there is a big public outcry and the police response is to give BS tickets.

So for you experienced New Jersey ticket receivers, what's the drill?

sefa01

Don't just pay the ticket. In New Jersey, there is a way of sort of pleading "no contest." I forget the exact code section. But you go to court and meet with the prosecutor. The fine and court costs will be much higher than if you just paid the ticket. But you will get no points. You do not need a lawyer to do this.

Your son will have to be the one to go to court (although you should probably go with him). But you can get a continuance until he's home from college (Thanksgiving?).

I did this last year with my college-age son.

Mr Mojo

If you plead guilty, you can usually mail it in, but as mentioned, go to court and talk with the prosecuter, lots of times if the cop doesn't show, the ticket is thrown out.

This happened to my buddy in Seaside, a cop tried to pull out in traffic, but he was on a side street and vision was blocked by a van parked illegally on the corner.

When he attempted to pull out, my buddy swerved to avoid hitting the cop who was now blocking half of our lane, so h ethen turned right instead of left and pulled us over for careless driving.

I went to court with my buddy and since the cop didn't show to prove otherwise that we were guilty, the judge threw it out.

Humanoid 2.0

The ticket should say if a court appearance is required, if not you can mail it in and pay the fine. If you plan on pleading not guilty then you need to contact the court. The ticket should have the instructions printed on it. Also you should be able to look the fine up on the Web once it is in the system.

Crusher

Wife got a ticket and I done something unthinkable on this forum. I PAID IT...............

dabsplaza

If the ticket proves to be no points, just pay the fine and send it in unless a court appearance is required. If so pay the fine in court. If the ticket is 2 points you still may just want to pay the fine. The prosecuter may agree to reduce the charge, however, they always use the "unsafe driver" charge which is no points, however, it carries a fine plus a $250 sur-charge to the state. I have 2 youngs drivers and have been to court no less that 6 times.....

Mr Mojo

Man you are tough!

PRNDL

Follow up. My son was able to easily postpone his court date to the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. He went back to school in Virginia last weekend. They told us at city hall they postpone all the college kids to that day. One day after the ticket we got 2 unsolicited letters (advertisements) from lawyers and within one week had eight letters!! His ticket is for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, which is 2 points. We could mail it in (pleading guilty) which would make sense because he will be at school with no car for a year, but we may do the pay up and no points thing anyway. I guess we have time to decide... until November 20-whatever.

Ikester

Yes, plead not guilty and go to court. that will help getting it reduced to no points.

mydreamcametrue

If you paid a local lawyer, all of your worries will go away. They will plead it down to a non moving violation and get the points thrown out. No need to show up, have the lawyer call the Da and have them discuss the ticket,


Larry

spdislife

The cost of the fine will probably triple.

Vettez16

Isn't this funny! My daughter just got a ticket for a burnt out bulb. Yes she is very pretty and was probably doing 90 mph. Anyway, www.njmcdirect.com for NJ or the web address on back of ticket. Follow diections, plead guilty, pay with Visa or MC and your done. Hold your breath, they are not cheap.

VenkmanP

It's always better to get a lawyer, unless you're in a state where you can just take some online class to make the ticket go away (like CA).

Cost of a lawyer << cost of increased insurance.

The fact that your son will be 8 hours away at college when the court appearance happens just makes it all that much smarter to get a lawyer to stand in for him.

mvcrash

You did not state if there was a traffic signal at the intersection. If there was, it makes a huge difference in the issuance of a summons.

dabsplaza

Don't waste your money on a lawyer. Just send the money in and forget it. Your insurance doesn't go up until you exceed 7 points. If you plead not guilty your son has to be there in person. The DA will reduce the charge without much arm twisting, however, the reduced ticket has a $250 surcharge plus the fine (as I mentioned in a previous reply). I have been down this road too many times with my kids, so take advice from someone who has been there done that...

Good Luck......

BAD AZZ C5

Tear it up & throw it away!!!!!!!!!!!!

EHS

The cop gave your son a ticket for failing to yield to the pedestrian, but not to the double parked van that was right at the crosswalk.

Nice.

mooneyd

I've been there myself with kids, for 2 points, don't worry about it, just sent it in.