I wasn't sure where to post this...My friend got a ticket yesterday in Oakland County, MI. she is very low-income and does not have the funds to pay for it...What can she do? Would the police be willing to work something out for her or is she SOL? I told her to call them but she is ashamed and thinks that they will assume she is a loser.

She could appear for trial instead of paying the ticket. There, she could plead her own case. If the policeman doen't appear, (that is very often the case), there is no one to testify against her and the case would have to be dismissed. Even if the policeman appears and tells his story, if he remembers it, she is still entitled to defend herself. She could get off with a hard luck story. Most traffic tickets are a good source of revenue for the county because most people mail in their fines rather than take the time to appear in court.

I think her biggest problem will be her insurance rates. I think she should write a letter asking the court to take the ticket under advisement. While she still has to pay the fine, the ticket won't be sent to Secretary of State. If she doesn't get another ticket within a certain period of time (usually a year), the ticket will be erased and her insurance company will never know about it. If she does get another ticket, they report it to SOS. She can do a payment plan at the court.

She should plead guilty with explanation and write the letter like this:


Dear Judge _____ (or) To whom it may concern,

I recently received a speeding ticket at ______. I want to say that I am 100% at fault and I was thinking about some personal issues and wasn't paying attention to my speed. I know this was wrong and I am very sorry. I understand the seriousness of driving the speed limit and I promise to drive more carefully in the future. I am currently trying to get a position at my work which requires me to have a clean driving record. This job would greatly affect the welfare of myself and family. Would you please consider taking this ticket under advisement? I understand that I would have to pay the fine but the points on my record could prevent me from this job offer. I really am truly sorry and I promise to drive more careful. I appreciate your consideration in this matter. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

____________

Thanks guys...I am not sure what she will do...she just doesn't have the 140 dollars to pay for the ticket within the alooted 14 days...so she may have to go to court.

Gee Frank, I had no idea there was an option of a 'hard luck story' to get out of paying a speeding ticket.

Kitty, if it's the same in MI as it is here, she can make arrangements to pay in installments. That's done through the Judge, and might be the best option that she can get.

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Gee Frank, I had no idea there was an option of a 'hard luck story' to get out of paying a speeding ticket.

The only thing for sure is that if one mails in the fine, the case is closed. The speeder has pleaded guilty. Appearing for trial puts the burden of proof on the court. The judge is the sole power to reduce the fine, dismiss the case, arrange for installment payments, etc. If he feels charitable, because today's his birthday, he likes your looks, or buys your sad story, he can act accordingly. The one thing you're guaranteed, it can't cost any more than pleading guilty and mailing in the fine.

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The one thing you're guaranteed, it can't cost any more than pleading guilty and mailing in the fine.

Maybe, maybe not. You should research to see if they charge for court costs if you go to trial and lose. If so, that would add to the fine.

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You should research to see if they charge for court costs if you go to trial and lose.

They do charge court fees in New York so it is a good idea to check into it. Like mentioned before the judge can waive these fees, but it depends on his / her mood.

The way it works about the officer appearing here (in New York) is the officer is allowed to miss one scheduled court appearance when you are fighting a ticket and reschedule it. If the officer fails to appear on the second appearance the case is dismissed.

I can cost your friend more by appearing in court over mailing in the fine if there are any lost wages involved for taking time off of work. Sometimes it is not worth fighting.

I only got one ticket in my life. It was many years ago and I was new to Vancouver and drove an old junker and couldn't afford new plates. I was horrified to find a BIG $ TICKET on the windshield the very next morning! for having an unlicensed vehicle parked on a city street. I went to court, pleaded guilty, showed the judge my pay stubs, asked that he reduce the fine. He did. But there was no fee for going to court.

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But there was no fee for going to court.

It varies from place to place. Which is why I suggested she research it.

I have gotten a lot of tickets over the years . (I have been good lately) Here in New York there are “surcharges” and “fees” associated with going to traffic court and losing your argument. If you are found innocent (as I was the last couple of times in New York ) there are no fees or charges whatsoever.

A couple of times I was caught speeding in Virginia and Delaware. (70MPH in a 55MPH zone) I just plead guilty and mailed in the check. There was a minimal “processing fee” for the Virginia ticket even pleading guilty through the mail.

It would not have paid to go back there and fight them, especially since I was going 70MPH .

I got a ticket in Oakland County. I did what my post said and paid the fine. (the story was true) No points. She should focus on not getting points or she will have to pay a 20% surcharge for a speeding ticket on her car insurance. She should write the letter.

They used to have high speeding fines in Pennsylvania. They even had billboards posting them, and cops in unmarked, 15 year-old cars patrolling. Then they noticed that tourists from out of state weren't going to Pennsylvania anymore, avoiding it like the plague. Guess what happened?

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Guess what happened?

You found out that the profit motive rules?

By the way I accidentally lied before. I should have said I only got one moving violation ticket. I've had some parking tickets. (I know nobody cares, still I thought I should correct it. That'll teach me to brag.)

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You found out that the profit motive rules?

Yup. When it was realized that a family willing to spend a $1000, would travel through Maryland or NY instead to avoid a $100 ticket, things changed.

I think Ohio cops give a lot of tickets. They love to ticket people from Michigan. I think you pay the ticket right on the road!

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I think you pay the ticket right on the road!

Years ago, when the Federal Govt mandated a 55 mph speed limit on the interstates, and threatened states with suspension of highway funds if they didn't comply, Montana instituted a $5 fine for speeding, collected by the trooper. This was not reported to insurance companies nor put on the driver's record. Mainly because 55 mph in Montana on I94 will get you nowhere. Of course, the Federal Govt is in DC, where you can drive through 7 states in a couple hours.

I've never had a speeding ticket or moving violation of any kind, but am wondering...with most offenses that involve a "fine", especially when low-income can be shown, there is often an option to work it off with community service. This may be worth looking into, although I don't know how it may affect the insurance issue.

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Oakland County, MI

Pontiac is the county seat of Oakland County so I went to the Pontiac Court website to get this info:
Michigan Court Rules require fines & costs due must be paid at time of assessment. Late charge of $30.00 assessed after appearance date. After 56 days–20% late penalty added (per MCL 600.4803)The City of Pontiac Court Fines