A few days ago my driver side headlight burned out. I have had a busy week and just got a chance to replace it today. Well unfortunately, last night I got pulled over by the GTPD and got a standard $105 dollar ticket from them (yay). So I know I have the option of going to court and proving that I have since fixed the problem. Do any of you have experience with doing anything like this? Will a receipt for the headlight suffice? Will it likely get thrown out or reduced? Part of me just wants to pay the ticket and forget about it, but if I have a really good chance of getting it dismissed, I'd rather not shell out the cash. Any advice?
I recently got pulled over in Cobb county for late registration. When I went to court with my registration all they did was reduce the fine from $200 something dollars to $86. As far as mechanical shit goes, those are hit and miss. Usually they drop them all together, but you never know.
If its campus police, I dont know what to tell you. But the last time I had that happen, I just showed proof of reciept and that was it. You can allways call the Clerk of Courts and ask, they will be able to tell you.
You could go by the police station and ask. Most the campus cops are really cool but I don't know if they have the power to drop it there or not. I'm pretty sure one of the times I got pulled over the cop just wanted to check out my car.
They're campus police but it's a fulton county ticket. They aren't rent-a-cops, they're a true police department. Haha, I really was expecting just to end up with a warning. I was riding with a friend once that rolled through a stop sign, got pulled over, and got off with a warning. I got pulled over for a headlight being out and get a ticket. What's funny is the cop was super nice. He even pointed out that I might want to get a different license plate frame (it covers half of the registration sticker), because another cop could give me a ticket if they wanted to. It's not like he was looking for things to write me up for. Whatever, I'm really not bitter about it. I was in the wrong. And I honestly think GT cops are some of the coolest cops I've ever encountered (due to multiple previous interactions).
He didn't say anything about being able to do that. He basically told me my options were to pay the ticket or go to the court date. But yeah, ditto on campus cops being cool. This is the first time I've ever had an encounter with one that didn't turn out absolutely fine (and it's not like this is really even a big deal).
i have seen these normally get dropped specially if you fixed it the next day... try calling the solicitors office and talk to someone about it...
is it recently they started handing out real tickets? when I was a student they weren't real tickets. I used to get parking tickets all the time. parking in front of my dorm at 3am on a sunday morning, yep let's roll by and ticket the ONLY CAR ON THE STREET. douchebags. this was 7 years ago though. jesus that makes me feel old
If the car says police, they're real police. Being Georgia Tech police is no different than being Marietta, Georgia State Capitol, or Fulton County police. That ticket is most definitely a real ticket. And watch out for those Capitol police, they'll get you for anything. As far as what to do about the ticket, I've heard that if it's something like a burned-out headlight, proof that you replaced it will get it thrown out. I think the closer the date is on the headlight purchase receipt to the date on the ticket, the better off you are.
Parking tickets are a completely different department. GT Parking hands out those tickets, not the 5-0. And yes, the parking department blows monkey cock.
That's what I'm hoping. I called the traffic office (or whatever the number is for on the actual ticket) to get the price of the ticket, and apparently it doesn't get into the system for a week or longer. So I guess I'll hold off until then. (if you can't tell, I'm a newb at this whole traffic ticket thing). That would be great if that is the case. I got the ticket at around 1:00 AM last night (today) and bought the new headlight today. So the dates would be the same :naughty:
i wouldnt sweat it too much specially if your record is clean... dont just pay it though i would definitely go to court
I have PLENTY of experience in this. Go to court with a picture of your car with the headlights working. Most likely they will drop it, or just charge you court fees.
GTPD is an extension of APD. They have jurisdiction on campus and to a certain extent off campus...APD may come onto GT campus at any time to aid GTPD officers as I understand it. The parking tickets arent handed out by GTPD either, they're handed out by GT Parking Nazis. With that said, they do link your parking tickets to your GT account (assuming you are a student there) -- and I believe they now have the ability to talk with GA registration to find the owner of the car. Once the ticket is on your account you will have a hold that will prevent you from registering, graduating, etc.
What Alex said is correct. Also they have been giving out normal tickets since 2000 at least (my first year there). I had only one run in with one (speeding) and he let me go with a warning.
True story, big fat monkey cock. They wrote me a ticket for 5:01 at a parking meter that was only enforced 8-5 last week. I appealed and I'm pretty sure I'll win but its still a pita
Mechanical failures happen. I mean you can't help if you are somewhere and the headlight bulb blows. Walk in with proof that you got it fixed and get it dropped. Be nice and state that you just recently found out it was blown and you promptly got it fixed. They should drop it.
Alright, so my court date is tomorrow. I'm a total newb to traffic court and just wanted to get any last minute tips. I've got a receipt for the new headlights dated the day after the ticket, should this be enough? Should I dress up? I figured I'd at least rock some business casual. A few of you mentioned talking to the solicitor. Is that someone I'm going to talk to before the judge? Any other tips?
Good luck. Sometimes you don't need to speak to the solicitor, just plead guilty the light was out and show that you got it fixed.