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'Defective Ticket'?

Key007

Key007

Special Agent
Joined
Jul 8, 2009
Location
SJ
Moto(s)
'09 Ninja 250
Name
Key
So I got a citation for running a red light; I waited 2 cycles for the light to pick up my bike but it was to no avail, so I treated it like a stop sign (It was ~11:30pm, I usually just sit and wait for a car to come up behind me but it was at a pretty dead intersection, and I wasn't hopeful that anyone would be coming up anytime soon).

I tried to explain to the fuzz what my logic was for runnin' the red, but he said: "I have no proof that you waited, I just saw you run the red, so I'm going to have to give you a ticket". Which makes sense...even if its annoying:thumbdown

Now oddly enough, the ticket itself is pretty much blank. It's got my electronic signature, along with that of the officers, and it does say to attend traffic court on 10/13. Other than that, however, there is nothing written down. Under NAME it just reads "Test Test Test", and same with ADDRESS. All the other slots are blank (No Lic. Plate, Drivers License info, etc).

I'm pretty sure I completely lucked out:teeth, but what would be the best way for me to approach traffic court with this to ensure I don't have to pay any fines?
 
It's got my electronic signature, along with that of the officers, and it does say to attend traffic court on 10/13.
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That's all they need. You'll be arraigned (informed of the charges against you) then and by the time of your trial, should you choose one, you won't have the excuse that you are unaware of the charges and couldn't prepare a defense.

what would be the best way for me to approach traffic court with this to ensure I don't have to pay any fines?
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Hire legal counsel.
 
Take a video of the light changing for a car and not a motorcycle.
If it does not work for a motorcycle it is not working, therefor inoperative / broken.

21450. (a) A traffic-actuated signal is an official traffic control signal, as specified in Section 445, that displays one or more of its indications in response to the presence of traffic detected by mechanical, visual, electrical, or other means.

(b) Upon the first placement of a traffic-actuated signal or replacement of the loop detector of a traffic-actuated signal, the traffic-actuated signal shall, to the extent feasible and in conformance with professional traffic engineering practice, be installed and maintained so as to detect lawful bicycle or motorcycle traffic on the roadway.

(c) Cities, counties, and cities and counties shall not be required to comply with the provisions contained in subdivision (b) until the Department of Transportation, in consultation with these entities, has established uniform standards, specifications, and guidelines for the detection of bicycles and motorcycles by traffic-actuated signals and related signal timing.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.
 
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Go there with a camera and tape the light will not pick up a bike. make sure both the bike and the light are visible. 5 min clip late at night should do. If you really want to make it bulletproof move the bike after 5 mins and tape a car going though the light.
 
Sasquatch, thanks for the info/pm. I'm curious though, where did you get that information?

Several of my friends also gave me advice to go and film the light not changing, so I definitely plan on doing that, but I was hoping there was a way to use this unfilled ticket in my advantage so I wouldn't have to go through the trouble. Is there some way that I could just go court and show them the ticket and they'd toss the entire thing out? Maybe thats being too hopeful...

Edit: Kinda like what ewok said, just have 'em forget the whole thing since there is no name, lic. #, etc.
 
Is there a violation on the ticket?

My friend has had several tickets thrown out because they mispelled his name. So my guess is that you have a pretty good chance for this to be thrown out, but I'll let the LEO's here confirm that.
 
eWok13 said:
Is there a violation on the ticket?
Click to expand...

Thet ticket is 100% blank other than:

-Name: Test Test Test
-Address: Test Test Test
-Officers name, badge #, date, and signature
-My signature under where it says "Without admitting guilt, I promise to appear at the time and place indicated below", and under that it has the date for my court day.
 
I have 2 lights around my work that do not change for my motorcycle.
I looked it up online.
Some have a question about the whole inoperative part of the signal law.
 
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Key007 said:
Thet ticket is 100% blank other than:

-Name: Test Test Test
-Address: Test Test Test
-Officers name, badge #, date, and signature
-My signature under where it says "Without admitting guilt, I promise to appear at the time and place indicated below", and under that it has the date for my court day.
Click to expand...

Can you take a pic/scan of the ticket for us?

Mr. Test T. Test may have warrants out for FTA's so be careful.:laughing

-Get video of the light not changing for a bike.
-Contact the agency responsible for the traffic light and report it as malfunctioning for motos. Get names and numbers of who you talk to and find out if they take any corrective action.
-Go to court w/ the above documentation.
 
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eWok13 said:
I don't get it, how can that be all they need? There's no name, address, lic. plate #, or lic. # to pin it on him.
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But that information may be in their system and may be used to charge him with Failure to Appear.

It's an easy win for the defense, whether or not their stupid revenue enhancement device spit out a pretty receipt.
 
Defective Ticket

For 19 over you are looking at approximately 400 including all the traffic school fees payable to both the court and the school. It will keep your record clean. If you google for California Uniform Bail Schedule you can figure out the base fine fees to get the exact number.

If you win, you pay nothing. However, if you contest the ticket and lose, while you _may_ request traffic school, the court is under no obligation to give it to you. You may wish to attend some sessions at that court to see what they usually do in this situation.

If I were in your shoes and decided to fight it, I would try to demonstrate to the judge that you feel you have a valid defense as the officer clocked the SUV, not you. If you try to argue a valid legal point then I think she may be more liable to understand why you contested the cite and still allow you TS if you lose. If on the other hand you dont have a good argument and show up hoping the cop doesnt, or argue something non-legal such as its not fair - other people were going faster than me she may be unlikely to allow you TS if you lose.
 
skolapper said:
For 19 over you are looking at approximately 400 including all the traffic school fees payable to both the court and the school. It will keep your record clean. If you google for California Uniform Bail Schedule you can figure out the base fine fees to get the exact number.

If you win, you pay nothing. However, if you contest the ticket and lose, while you _may_ request traffic school, the court is under no obligation to give it to you. You may wish to attend some sessions at that court to see what they usually do in this situation.

If I were in your shoes and decided to fight it, I would try to demonstrate to the judge that you feel you have a valid defense as the officer clocked the SUV, not you. If you try to argue a valid legal point then I think she may be more liable to understand why you contested the cite and still allow you TS if you lose. If on the other hand you dont have a good argument and show up hoping the cop doesnt, or argue something non-legal such as its not fair - other people were going faster than me she may be unlikely to allow you TS if you lose.
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confused.jpg
 
lol ^

The printer may have had an error, but the electronic ticket book may have all the information in it. Make sure you check with the court.
 
When my friend's name was misspelled on his ticket, it was thrown out before he even had a chance to plea guilty or not guilty in front of the first judge; that's what I think will happen with this one. But do show up on your court date though.
 
Key007 said:
So I got a citation for running a red light; I waited 2 cycles for the light to pick up my bike but it was to no avail, so I treated it like a stop sign (It was ~11:30pm, I usually just sit and wait for a car to come up behind me but it was at a pretty dead intersection, and I wasn't hopeful that anyone would be coming up anytime soon).

I tried to explain to the fuzz what my logic was for runnin' the red, but he said: "I have no proof that you waited, I just saw you run the red, so I'm going to have to give you a ticket". Which makes sense...even if its annoying:thumbdown

Now oddly enough, the ticket itself is pretty much blank. It's got my electronic signature, along with that of the officers, and it does say to attend traffic court on 10/13. Other than that, however, there is nothing written down. Under NAME it just reads "Test Test Test", and same with ADDRESS. All the other slots are blank (No Lic. Plate, Drivers License info, etc).

I'm pretty sure I completely lucked out:teeth, but what would be the best way for me to approach traffic court with this to ensure I don't have to pay any fines?
Click to expand...

Show up to CYA and keep your mouth shut. Smile when it's either not mentioned or laughed at. Frame the ticket and hang it on your office wall at work. It'll make a great conversation piece :laughing
 
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