In the past, I didn't really fight traffic tickets because 1) they're usually speeding ones and numbers don't lie, and 2) I never thought it was worth it. But when I got a tix last fall for not yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, I had to attempt to fight it because that would have been point #2 on my record. Yes, 2 points, I know. I got a speeding tix by Venice and Crenshaw back in fall 07 (it was a speed trap, grrr) and did traffic sch for that, then in summer 08, I got another speeding tix on 101N (up by SLO) where 65 is the speed limit (I was going 80 while Jerry was napping). Now that we've established my terrible track record for getting caught, let's move on to violation #3.
I take the same route to work everyday and while there are crosswalks, there are rarely pedestrians. So picture this: I'm going northbound in lane #1. Southbound, both lanes have steady traffic. At the west end of the crosswalk there's a frozen yogurt place. People like to hang out there and eat their treats. So one day, I'm driving through the crosswalk and I get pulled over for not yielding to a fat lady with ice cream. (My words, not the officer's.) He says that since I was the first one in the intersection, I should have stopped. Bleh. There's no point in arguing. Plus I'm not sexy enough to flirt my way out of it. So I took my tix and went on to work.
Fast forward to when I got the letter telling me how much I owe. It was $189, which isn't too bad compared to other tix, but since it was going to be a potential point #2, I had to fight it. Jer's cousin recommended using ticketbust.com.
I don't recommend it. They are hella unprofessional and uncommunicative. Also, the defense they wrote in my favor was really weak. There was also alot of confusion with due dates and the court not receiving my payment. They were going to fine me $600 bucks! I was pissed that ticketbust neglected to update me, leaving me to figure out everything on my own. When I called them to get my refund back (since my written was denied), they said they were going to give it a second try, this time by trial. So I guess they did the paperwork for me, but I had to prepare for court on my own. They didn't even bother to tell me when my date was and how to prepare for it. If they had a yelp listing I would totally leave them a bad review. I gave them $150 bucks plus a $100 court filing fee. What a waste, I'd recommend doing it on your own. Don't go for a middleman, no need.
Okay, anyways, now fast foward to the night before my court date. Jerry was really helpful in doing printouts for me to show my case. The plan was to demonstrate that with me being in the NB lane, I can't always tell if someone has an intention to cross. Plus, if he/she were planning to cross, then the cars in the southbound lanes need to stop first! Since I saw the SB lane traffic going through steadily, I didn't think she was going to cross. Plus she was busy eating. We had google maps pictures and everything!
So the morning of I showed up along with everyone else. Quite a few officers were there too, I was so nervous while trying to scan the room, hoping that I wouldn't see my officer. Some ppl were really prepared like me, others had no idea that they should have prepared anything. Some people had an attorney or lawyer (I dunno the difference?) show up on their behalf. At first we're all outside in the waiting area and then they finally have us file into our respective courtrooms. There's alot of waiting inside too, this is a great time to people watch, but if you were nervous like I was, then you'd be flipping through your notes constantly and silently rehearsing in your head. So the clerk brings the paperwork in and after that the judge comes in. The judge that I had was a really nice and smiley lady. Not at all mean looking or intimidating. She had on lots of chunky jewelry, a bright colored top under her robe, and beach hair. This whole time, officers kept coming in and I kept hoping mine wouldn't show up. FINALLY, she does roll call. It's nervewracking b/c officers could come in anytime and if they do, you're hosed. The judge calls your name and then calls out the name of the officer. If she calls your name and your officer is not there, you're free to leave. If she calls your name, and your officer is not there in the room, but is there in the building, the security person will alert her, and you're still hosed. Soooo, before she called my name, she had called other ppl who had the same officer as me. LUCKILY, he hadn't shown up...and when she finally called my name, I seriously let out the sighs of all sighs of all reliefs. He wasn't there. (But he sure likes to pull people over. There were at least half a dozen other people before me with the same officer and who knows how many after that!) Needless to say, I didn't bother to find out.
And then I drove to work.
And then I got my refund.
And that my friend, was my trip to the courtroom, or how I escaped hiked insurance premiums.
Anyone else able to beat their tix?
