roots

Hi,

Got a speeding ticket for doing 20 over the limit. I have to appear in court. Do I plead gulity or how does the system work? Never every had this sort of an experience here or back home. How does it affect my insurance?

Cheers

Steve_P

Why do you have to appear in court? Can't you just pay the fine?

There's usually instructions on the ticket somewhere telling how you go about paying.

Mr Bean

Tha last one I got the copper told me to go to court and plead guilty where he wouldn't contest it. They then dropped the fine and I got away with $65 and no points. I also got stopped doing 135 in an 80 where the copper gave me a ticket for $50. Depends on the copper really. other times I've been stopped and they've been like the gestapo. You have to be lucky. I've been told never to pay but to go to court and don't accept the first date they give you. Tell them you can't make the first date for whatever reason and then go on the second date. If the cop doesn't turn up they "apparently" throw the cases out. Not too sure about this though. I also read if you pay a fine by cheque, make out the amount for more than the ticket is worth e.g for a $50 fine pay them $55. Then they have to reimburse you the difference but their system doesn't allow it so they quash it. Not too sure about this either.

Tangram

You ought to be banned.

Mr Bean

I have since seen the error of my ways and now drive everywhere with the cruise on.

Alan2005

In BC he would be. They've got this 40kph over the limit = 1 week ban rule. Consequently I now only drive 39kph over the limit.

GavinR

BTW if you didn't know (which I didn't) photo radar vehicles now have video capability. I have a video of me turning right on red without coming to a complete halt. $285 fine. The truck looks great in the video though! I'll remember to stop on red next time I see a photo radar van.

scrubbedexpat133

I would argue that the Police are icompetent and inconsistent

Yesterday on the 401 near Cardinal idiot in a Cadillac was tailgating the car in front and flashing lights, generally being aggressive, I thought to myself if only there was a copper when you need one - wonders never cease an OPP chelsea tractor comes up behind him - I thought great - he is about to get pulled - what does the copper do??? TAILGATES the Cadillac

MORON!!!!!!! :curse:

keznjj

I never heard of having to appear in court but wait to you hear this. I was driving down the Danforth in Toronto with a cop car in front of me. Naturally you show caution.
The lights went green an the few cars in front of us rolled on, the light had turned to AMBER when I rode over the lights, however the copper pulled me over to tell me that I am not allowed to enter an AMBER light if I think the RED is going to come up before I reach the other side of the intersection. NEVER HEARD OF IT...He reckoned he could fine me $180 yes folks $180 for breaking the law.
I was gobsmacked and told him I have never heard of it. Told him in all the countries I have driven in, never heard of this ridiculous rule
Turned out he was a pretty decent guy and we had a 35 minute chat about his impending wedding and how he came about to meet his wife after 25years of them splitting the first time.
Has anybody heard this rule, if you havent beware!!

magnumpi

Gosh thats weard ehh. I have never heard of the 25 year splitting up rule before you get married rule.

Learn sumat every day ehh

Mr Bean

Yes I'd heard of that one. That's why I no longer jump the lights either

Dave n Ailsa

That rule is a bit vague is it not?

"But officer, I thought I would be through before the lights went red"

So in that case I didn't break any law, and off I go.

Steve_

Which province are you in? A single ticket doesn't usually have any impact on your insurance unless it's a really bad one.

In Alberta the whole thing is a farce, you have to get 15 points to get banned and the crown generally will cut the number of points awarded in half if you tell them you want to go to court, to prevent having to go to court. Up to 15kph over is only 2 points and 15-30 I think is 3 points. If you're caught by a camera, you get no points. (Bear in mind we have a 110 kph limit unlike other provinces).

Essentially you have to be an incredibly bad driver to get banned.

canadian_critic

You should ask for a copy of the vid, in case you want to ever sell the truck. Would look really good and I'm sure the prospective purchaser will be grateful, and you can hike up the sell price accordingly.

canadian_critic

Sounds a bit crazy to me. I didn't think it was illegal to go through on amber and you're allowed to complete the manouver if you're in the junction. So if you're waiting to turn left and you're stopped in the junction, then you're probably going to make the turn when the lights turn red, if you don't get a break earlier. The rule is to give way to any traffic already in the intersection (junction) before proceeding when the lights change green. So how can that copper be right? Also, as you don't know when the lights are going to change to red as they are on different timings, if that copper was right, he is effectively saying that amber means red. No law comes down to proving whether you thought something or not. You could be accused of misjudging it, but that's all it would be. I'm amazed that he made a point about that though. Sounds like a decent enough bloke, and it's nice that there are some decent coppers out there. But really it's the people blatantly running red lights that pisses me off and really should be the focus of the attention of coppers. I mean people who go through when the lights have been on red for a while. There are so many of them. Perhaps this copper thought you were not playing on the side of caution enough, and that was his issue with you.