Got my first ticket ever (in my cage)

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jonnythan · #1 Unread post by **jonnythan** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:04 pm

So I got a ticket for driving an uninspected car. I had no idea the inspection had expired. It was my first car registered in NY and I'm from LA. In NY there's a registration sticker that lasts two years and has the date clearly visible from inside the car, and a second inspection sticker not readable from inside the car. I guess the inspection only lasts a year

Anyway, I got my ticket, apologized, and thanked the officer. I actually got pulled over *again* by a different cop on the way home for the same reason

So, the next day I got my car inspected and got a new sticker and that's that. But of course I still have the ticket (which the officer did not sign).

Should I bother going to court? I thought that maybe if I told the judge I was clueless and got the car inspected the very next day, he might drop it or lower the potential fine since it was my first ticket anywhere ever. No idea how likely that is though. I don't want to waste the officer's time in court if I don't have to. There's also the thing with the ticket not being signed though I doubt a judge would really care.

So, anyway, should I go to the court date? I'm new to this.

shalihe74 · #2 Unread post by **shalihe74** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:09 pm

Hehe; two ticket posts in 10 minutes. As I said to the other guy: 1) I'm not a laywer and 2) I don't know how it works in NY, but... I've had a lot of tickets in NC.

I got nailed for having an expired inspection one time (along with an expired license and expired registration

). I got all my stuff back to being valid, went in to court, showed the DA that everything was legal again and he just threw out all the tickets. I still had to pay court costs, but I don't THINK I had to pay a fine. (Can't remember now... there've been so many trips to traffic court...)

It may work differently in NY; you might try calling up a traffic laywer and seeing what the deal is (should be free) or calling up the court itself and seeing what the procedure is.

Good luck.

BlueBomber · Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:50 pm

The inspection ticket isn't very expensive is it? I had one years ago, but I can't remember the price.

But if you go, they wave it, you're still paying 35-85 (generally 50) for a court fee.

I'd just mail it in, it's not points on your license or anything.

\/\/

ofblong · #4 Unread post by **ofblong** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:13 pm

wow inspections...... glad I dont have to deal with those yet lol.

flynrider · Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:11 pm

We used to have those when I was growing up in NM. It got to be such a racket that the state dropped the whole inspection requirement.

anarchy · #6 Unread post by **anarchy** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:24 am

weigh off the cost of the ticket with the court fees... it may be cheaper to just pay the ticket and be done...

Loonette · #7 Unread post by **Loonette** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:54 am

Most judges don't want to hear "clueless". It won't help you. However, you could ask the judge for leniency (based on you getting the inspection done right away). Still though... I wouldn't count on getting out of this sort of ticket. It's not quite as subjective as, say, a speeding situation. Good luck.

Cheers,
Loonette

Ian522 · #8 Unread post by **Ian522** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:01 am

In jersey a no inspection ticket is a pretty hefty fine, like $250 or so. Not sure how much it is for NY though, but probably in the same ballpark. Id just pay the fine, I think its only worth going to court if you got a moving violation (speeding, etc.) and you are facing the possiblity of points on your liscense...since they will usually work with you to avoid getting points, usually by having you plea guilty and pay a slightly higher fine.

However for a non-moving violation with no points, there isnt really much point to going to court. Im pretty sure you wont beat the ticket.

As you can tell, ive had my share of tickets in the past.

jstark47 · #9 Unread post by **jstark47** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:34 am

Ian522 wrote:In jersey a no inspection ticket is a pretty hefty fine, like $250 or so.

Really??!!!

Last time I got one (1996 I think) it was $42. There was no point fighting it for pocket change. I just saw it as a tax on my stupidity/laziness, and paid them their dough.

Ian522 · #10 Unread post by **Ian522** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:44 am

jstark47 wrote:
Ian522 wrote:In jersey a no inspection ticket is a pretty hefty fine, like $250 or so.
Really??!!! Last time I got one (1996 I think) it was $42. There was no point fighting it for pocket change. I just saw it as a tax on my stupidity/laziness, and paid them their dough.

actually, im wrong. I just checked and its $130. I must have been thinking of thinking of something else. Still painful though.