Deceptive traffic citations
First, let me introduce myself; I am a 69 year old man that has been driving since I was 16 years old and have never received any driving citation or ticket except in Louisiana, specifically the Lasal...
Forum Discussion
A couple of thoughts:
First, for minor tickets like this, many jurisdictions have a means of allowing you to pay your fine, and be put on traffic “probation” so to speak. If you don’t get any more tickets in X months, the ticket doesn’t go on your record. The LEO may be able to tell you how to do it, or whoever answers the phone at the number that’s on the citation.
Second, the very same thing happened to me in some town along the Mississippi River several years ago. I was slowing down as I approached town, and one of the town police officers driving the opposite direction said I didn’t slow down fast enough. He wrote me a ticket, and wanted to hold my drivers license since I was out of state. I didn’t like the sound of that, so I asked if there was any way I could just pay the fine and keep my license. He said sure, follow me to city hall.
I just want to note here that he drove off so dadgum fast that I totally lost sight of him and had to find city hall myself. Fortunately, it was a small town. Anyway, I found him inside, wrote a check for the fine (about $100 IIRC), and he gave me back my license. I gripped about that for weeks afterwards, but you know what? They never cashed that check!
I carried that “Paid” receipt around with me in my wallet for years after that, just in case I ever got stopped in MS again and discover that there’s a bench warrant out on me! That was at least 20 years ago, so I don’t worry about it any more.
:):)
First, for minor tickets like this, many jurisdictions have a means of allowing you to pay your fine, and be put on traffic “probation” so to speak. If you don’t get any more tickets in X months, the ticket doesn’t go on your record. The LEO may be able to tell you how to do it, or whoever answers the phone at the number that’s on the citation.
Second, the very same thing happened to me in some town along the Mississippi River several years ago. I was slowing down as I approached town, and one of the town police officers driving the opposite direction said I didn’t slow down fast enough. He wrote me a ticket, and wanted to hold my drivers license since I was out of state. I didn’t like the sound of that, so I asked if there was any way I could just pay the fine and keep my license. He said sure, follow me to city hall.
I just want to note here that he drove off so dadgum fast that I totally lost sight of him and had to find city hall myself. Fortunately, it was a small town. Anyway, I found him inside, wrote a check for the fine (about $100 IIRC), and he gave me back my license. I gripped about that for weeks afterwards, but you know what? They never cashed that check!
I carried that “Paid” receipt around with me in my wallet for years after that, just in case I ever got stopped in MS again and discover that there’s a bench warrant out on me! That was at least 20 years ago, so I don’t worry about it any more.
:):)
