Quote:
Originally Posted by S.J.SLEEPER
i understand the sob story, but i am tellin you its 250.00
the courts don't care about your points anymore, they want the money !!!! this unsafe operation ticket is what they came up with to prompt higher $ in fines and bring more $ into the system.
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It's $250 for the charge, but then there's another $200 surcharge on that. It comes out to about $450. I just did this in December.
Only difference is I did never had any points and no tickets in my driving history. Got a 3 point ticket for illegal left turn. I went to court (call up ahead of time and tell them you are pleading not guilty, and they will most likely give you a new court date), and stood in the line to speak with the prosecutor. When it was my turn, I walked in, and I never even gave a story or anything. He looked at my history and said "I can either drop it to 2 points or no points. The costs are XXX and XXX." I took the no points. Signed something, walked back into the court room and waited for my name to be called. When it was, I stood in front of the judge (always yes sir or ma'am, an occasional "your honor" as well), he stated the charges, asked me a number of questions (did i plead guilty to the new charge on my own will, was I coerced, etc), and said "fine is blah, are you paying tonight?" Stupid me, I only brought credit cards since I thought all courts took them (this town did not, of course), no check book, so I asked nicely if I could return in the morning with a check. He said ok, but that if I wasn't there by 4pm a bench warrant would be out for my arrest.
But the judge was not as nice to someone else just before me in regards to paying tomorrow, but the kid was in for 15+ over speeding ticket I believe (without a lawyer) and trying to drop it to 14 over. The judge made him go make some phone calls to get the money.
Moral of the story: wear nice clothes (slacks and nice collared shirt), address as sir, ma'am, or your honor, and bring cash/check in case the court does not take credit cards.
Good luck!