Unjustly ticketed

1) Go to your court date on May 28

2) Pay your tickets

3) Don't do it again

Claim that you were racially discriminated against. State will decide it's not worth the hassle

Annoying but not enough money to spend time fighting it. Unless you don't have a day job.

VPNGuy wrote:

Annoying but not enough money to spend time fighting it. Unless you don't have a day job.

Well I have a mandatory court date, so I have to show up anyway.

I was expecting to simply be ticketed (fined) and sent on my way. But the officer kept my license as to ensure that I appear in court.

What state is this? This sounds like a prepayable offense, the kind where the ticket is around $100. Do you have prior tickets and a bad driving record or something? I've never heard of a cop taking a license. That sounds very illegal. I feel like there is something you are not telling us. Either way you should get a lawyer.

Edward Teach wrote:

What state is this? This sounds like a prepayable offense, the kind where the ticket is around $100. Do you have prior tickets and a bad driving record or something? I've never heard of a cop taking a license. That sounds very illegal. I feel like there is something you are not telling us. Either way you should get a lawyer.

It happened in Chicago.

My thoughts exactly. I was expecting to simply be fined and sent on my way. The mandatory court date (and license revocation) was surprising.

I have a relatively good driving record (only a couple minor violations in the last 5 years).

You get a parking violation and a maggot on your sleeve...

Idk why your license was taken.. unless it was expired or suspended but then you car woild have been taken. Crossing a double yellow should be no big deal....you coild fight it....ask when the last time the road was surveyed this works for speeding tickets might work for double yellow.

Rme wrote:

Idk why your license was taken.. unless it was expired or suspended but then you car woild have been taken. Crossing a double yellow should be no big deal....you coild fight it....ask when the last time the road was surveyed this works for speeding tickets might work for double yellow.

I don't know why it was taken either. It's confusing and frustrating.

What is the relevance of when the road was last surveyed?

I wouldn't worry about it. This sounds like the kind of offense the judge will laugh at and chastise the officer for wasting the court's time.

surun wrote:

I wouldn't worry about it. This sounds like the kind of offense the judge will laugh at and chastise the officer for wasting the court's time.

I hope you're right. But the citation for an expired city sticker is legitimate. I'll own up to that on the court date.

What's a city sticker? You mean inspection sticker?

Tadpole wrote:

What's a city sticker? You mean inspection sticker?

The city of Chicago makes residents pay $100/year for a registration sticker to put on the windshield.

The state of Illinois makes you pay an additional $100 for a sticker to put on the license plate.

If you were black you'd be sitting in jail on a bogus murder charge, I'd count yourself lucky.

Help with a traffic violation wrote:

Tadpole wrote:

What's a city sticker? You mean inspection sticker?

The city of Chicago makes residents pay $100/year for a registration sticker to put on the windshield.

The state of Illinois makes you pay an additional $100 for a sticker to put on the license plate.

Never heard of that before. What's the purpose for it do they claim? Sounds like a typical money grab to me.

I dont know the laws in Chicago but in Ma where I'm from a police officer cant just grab your license or force you into court for a civil infraction, unless your license has expired or you have a warrant for your arrest or some other justifiable reason.

Also, if he took your license he couldn't let you drive away. Who drove your car for you? Did you have it towed? Are you a troll?

Tadpole wrote:

Also, if he took your license he couldn't let you drive away. Who drove your car for you? Did you have it towed? Are you a troll?

The ticket that he issued is now my license.

surun wrote:

I wouldn't worry about it. This sounds like the kind of offense the judge will laugh at and chastise the officer for wasting the court's time.

Not really. Unsafe passing is far more dangerous than run of the mill speeding.

I am rusty on my traffic laws (and they might vary just enough) but I thought that passing had to be completed before the double yellow line.

As for taking your license, I remember that happening in the past. I would use the ticket as my license if I needed it.

It might be worth a call to see if you can pay it.

If you have to go to the court date, you might get offered a plea down for the points but not the fine. You could always tell the magistrate your side that you started passing before but did not complete the pass in time.