Can't make it to traffic court

If you're looking for sympathy, I don't think you'll find it here.

 

I have a feeling that you've been ticketed for breaking the law, not for being rude to a policeman. Being polite might work in your favour, but they're not going to let you off because you asked nicely.

 

I'm confused. You have a court date. Why exactly can't you make it?

You might be polite to the cops, but stringing along the court system doesn't seem like a good idea.

Make time, find a way, and attend your court date.

 

What's that old saying about if you're not being able do to the time...?

 

arrest warrant.

 

Might have something to do with that.

 

Can't make the date? The date is preset, arrange something and go to court.

You have already rearranged it twice and now want a third time, what exactly are you doing that means you can not make it to court.

If you string them along the are going to get less and less lenient and your chances are going down and down.


What I don't understand is that you didn't pay the fine due to insurance however surely go to court over the matter and getting done for speeding is the same admission from the insurances stand point, i.e. you are a speeder and thus the end point is the same.

 

Agreed, what ever is conflicting with the court date is not as important.

 

If you don't make it to court and are not excused, the judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest for "Failure to Appear". They never come looking for you, it is a traffic citation, after all, not capital murder. Unless you're in Mayberry or something and there's literally nothing else to do.

However, anytime you get stopped for any reason and a wants/warrants check is done (or any other encounter with law enforcement that is cause for a check), you will be sporting new jewelry. Oh, and the traffic cite is typically just an infraction, but the FTA is usually a misdemeanor. That means up to 364 days in the hoosegow in many jurisdictions, if you manage to piss them off enough.

Make. The. Time.

 

Explain the situation to your boss. I'm sure they will allow you to go. Of course you won't get paid for the time you miss, but it is better than the alternative.

 

Are you intending to plead guilty or innocent? At least in the UK I think you can plead guilty by letter in advance of the court date as long as the sentence is going to be non-custodial. In that case I believe you can not attend, although you are more likely to get a larger fine this way I think...

 

Do you think the alternative will be any cheaper?

 

He deals pot.

Just go to court man I'm sure the bus goes by it if you can afford gas. Your boss will understand, he has to!

 

Both are cheaper than time in jail when the Judge issues a bench warrant for you, and he won;t be as sympathetic with you then either, plus you get court costs, and you girl friend still has to drive there to pick you up after you do your time, and money lost from work for being in jail. Cheaper by far paying the fine, or going to the court.

 

The longer you string this along, the worse it's going to get. Take the day off work and deal with it. Also, drop your GF off at school (or get her to take public transportation)...at this point, you need the car more than the school's parking lot.

Advice for next time, don't speed.

 

+10

How many days will you miss if you get arrested?

Just go.

 

They won't put you in jail for not showing up to court for a speeding ticket. That seems pretty excessive for a speeding ticket and they would run out of room pretty quickly. They will just suspend your license and let you deal with it next time you run into a traffic stop. That's what would happen in my country.

 

I don't know. Failure to attend court could well end up in an arrest. Maybe not jail: you'd probably be arrested and either taken to court or simply bailed to turn up (starting the whole process again). But if you keep doing it, in this country at least, I imagine you would end up in contempt of court in addition to the initial offence...

 

Where in MO do you live?

 

Sell the other vehicle?

Get another job?

With or without the traffic ticket, how are you going to manage when the child is born?