Is it even possible to fight a seat belt ticket?

IMAROBIT · #1 02-03-2009, 09:28 PM

Well, first off, he caught me red handed. I was driving without a seatbelt

I just would have absolutely no way to pay it.I work for my mom for about 2 hours a week for gas just so I can drive to school, other than that I have no source of income.

BUT, I do have issues with my seat belt. It doesnt like to work sometimes, but It was working that day. My reason was my power steering is broken, and right when Im bout to buckle up and pull out somewhere my steering wheel locks up and I almost hit someone, and 10 seconds later I pull into college and there is the motorcycle officer

Any Ideas? I should have thought about this one, just drop a coin in the slot and show the officer that the belt wont latch.

didnt think of that one till i got te ticket

MaxRossell · #2 02-03-2009, 09:30 PM

If I'm at all familiar with traffic laws, having a busted seatbelt is not an excuse for not wearing one.

tplyons · #3 02-03-2009, 09:33 PM

I believe they would tell you it's your responsibility to maintain your car and a malfunctioning seatbelt should be repaired and the car not used until then.

I can't see any sort of way out of it.

Pilgrim · #4 02-03-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMAROBIT

Well, first off, he caught me red handed. I was driving without a seatbelt

That's the whole discussion, right there.

Point - set -match.

Not to be rude, but you did it - now you have the result. I sometimes back out of a parking spot and buckle up in the first second or two while I start moving forward, but even then I know I'm taking a chance.

About your only option is to take it to court and present the same argument you did here. My guess is that it won't make any difference, and that the judge will feel you should have buckled up before moving the car. In fact, if you admit in court to having faulty power steering, you might get another citation for driving with defective equipment.

The timeline isn't clear from your post, but it's pretty clear that you were driving with faulty equipment...at least the power steering (a very bad idea, and dangerous to both you and everyone on the road). that car should be parked until it's fixed, and I'm sure the judge would feel that way. Stay out of court - pay the ticket. You earned it.

You need to get that steering fixed - it could get you killed. And you'll be working more hours for your mom to raise the money to pay off the ticket.

MCBTunes · #5 02-03-2009, 09:36 PM

Yeah, some areas may require your car go in for inspection if it has safety issues. That could cost you a lot more than your ticket

.

On a side note I had a friend that won fighting a seat belt ticket about 5 years ago. His excuse was he was getting out of his truck. Funny thing is that it was stopped at a red light.

IMAROBIT · #6 02-03-2009, 09:37 PM

thanks guys.

Yeah, my car is pretty much a death machine, steering wheel locks up, gas peddlesticks sometimes, and the brake lock up(no anti lock)

what sucks is the only things I have that are valuable is my bass equipment

toytech · #7 02-03-2009, 09:37 PM

That's called paying the "stupid tax" we all do once in a while in different ways, it is your turn.

Deluge Of Sound · #8 02-03-2009, 09:38 PM

Show up to the hearing--the cop might not.

Also, you can arrange to pay the ticket in increments.

**peabody** · #9 02-03-2009, 09:41 PM

You might be able to try the sob story on the judge. He or she might show leniency because of your inability to pay the ticket....but I doubt it. The bottom line is you weren't wearing your seatbelt and you got caught....click it or ticket. You might see if they can set up a payment plan, but here in WI the ticket is only $25, so my guess is they'd make you pay it all at once. Good luck....

IMAROBIT · #10 02-03-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Show up to the hearing--the cop might not.

Also, you can arrange to pay the ticket in increments.

i heard my dad talking about this trick...If I keep changing the court date for good reasons, the officer might eventually get pissed and not show and if he doesnt show up for a while, the case is dropped? Also, the officer HAVE to show up? my dad has gotten out of a speeding ticket this way i think...

IMAROBIT · #11 02-03-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peabody

You might be able to try the sob story on the judge. He or she might show leniency because of your inability to pay the ticket....but I doubt it. The bottom line is you weren't wearing your seatbelt and you got caught....click it or ticket. You might see if they can set up a payment plan, but here in WI the ticket is only $25, so my guess is they'd make you pay it all at once. Good luck....

thanks, my mom got one bout 2 months ago, she said it was almost 100

Stigs · #12 02-03-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMAROBIT

my steering wheel locks up and I almost hit someone, and 10 seconds later I pull into college and there is the motorcycle officer

Any Ideas? I should have thought about this one, just drop a coin in the slot and show the officer that the belt wont latch.

didnt think of that one till i got te ticket

Were you pulled over/ticketed for almost hitting someone when your steering wheel locked up?

In Virginia where I live not wearing a seatbelt is a secondary offense, which means he could not give you a ticket if he saw you not wearing a seatbelt and must have a primary reason for pulling you over.

If your state has a similar law you may be able to push that since it is a secondary offense he had no reason to pull you over and therefore issue the seatbelt ticket.

Deluge Of Sound · #13 02-03-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMAROBIT

i heard my dad talking about this trick...If I keep changing the court date for good reasons, the officer might eventually get pissed and not show and if he doesnt show up for a while, the case is dropped? Also, the officer HAVE to show up? my dad has gotten out of a speeding ticket this way i think...

Here if the officer doesn't show up the case is dropped. The cop doesn't have to show up, but it is his job to try and make it...

To be honest, this is looking pretty open and shut. If he shows up, you've got to sack up and pay it. Get a job, or sell some gear.

MaxRossell · #14 02-03-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMAROBIT

i heard my dad talking about this trick...If I keep changing the court date for good reasons, the officer might eventually get pissed and not show and if he doesnt show up for a while, the case is dropped? Also, the officer HAVE to show up? my dad has gotten out of a speeding ticket this way i think...

Nah, sorry man, but no way. Go to court, pay the ticket, suck it up. You were driving a broken car. You shouldn't have been doing it. You know you shouldn't.

If you need cash, get a job. And walk or take the bus until you can afford to get your car fixed.

Pilgrim · #15 02-03-2009, 09:54 PM

What about the guy you almost hit? You're missing the fact that you were driving dangerously.

Pay the ticket and get the car fixed. And as for the idea of stringing out the court dates - how much of your life do you want to invest in this? Get it over with and move on.

IMAROBIT · #16 02-03-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stigs

Were you pulled over/ticketed for almost hitting someone when your steering wheel locked up?

In Virginia where I live not wearing a seatbelt is a secondary offense, which means he could not give you a ticket if he saw you not wearing a seatbelt and must have a primary reason for pulling you over.

If your state has a similar law you may be able to push that since it is a secondary offense he had no reason to pull you over and therefore issue the seatbelt ticket.

I wasnt pulled over for almost hitting someone, I pulled into school right after my steering wheel locked up and there was a cop right there and we made eye contact and he pulled right up behind me. sorry, im confusing

IMAROBIT · #17 02-03-2009, 09:58 PM

Get a job, or sell some gear.[/quote]

haha, the economy is terrible here, I apply to places like wal mart, mc dees, burger king weekly, and they wont even talk to me when I call or show up to check in, even temp agencies dont have any work.

I htink the unemployment rate in chico ca was 13% last I checked

MaxRossell · #18 02-03-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMAROBIT

Get a job, or sell some gear.

haha, the economy is terrible here, I apply to places like wal mart, mc dees, burger king weekly, and they wont even talk to me when I call or show up to check in, even temp agencies dont have any work.

I htink the unemployment rate in chico ca was 13% last I checked

Well it looks like you're on foot from now on, then. You can take the gas money your ma gives you to pay the ticket and save up to get your car fixed. Or pay bus fare.

IMAROBIT · #19 02-03-2009, 10:04 PM

^^^good idea, looks like I might be biking it for a while

What if I choose to contest againt the ticket, then wouldnt the officer have to show up?

MaxRossell · #20 02-03-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMAROBIT

^^^good idea, looks like I might be biking it for a while

What if I choose to contest againt the ticket, then wouldnt the officer have to show up?

Why would you choose to contest it? You committed the offence. Take responsibility for your stupidity, man. You could have killed someone.