Q: I have a couple unpaid tickets in collections I want to noe how to pay them with out getting screwed
I have two not having license tag tickets but I had proof that I did but when I went to solve it my niece threw it out the receipt that the sticker came on. so I dnt now where to get proof that I did pay it.. I have a red light ticket in collections that I wasn't the driver at the time of the infraction but it was my car.. and I have a seat belt ticket from back in 09 that is now at 75 listed on my credit report but I dnt know how much it is now.. I need help wit how to fix all of this.. Cuz I have been taking care of my elderly mother and it's been hard to get all this resolved and even harder without a license.
A:
Hello Asker,
Thank you for taking the time to write out your question. I'd be glad to help. With regards to your license tag tickets, I would take the time out to speak to a traffic attorney who can diagnose exactly what value there is in relitigating the sticker cases. Sometimes the cost outweighs the benefits and you may dig yourself deeper in the hole. If you go the secretary of state (DMV), you can get a document called a court purposes abstract. This $12 document will show EXACTLY what holds are on your license and how to fix them. It is my professional opinion that any traffic attorney should, as part of a free consultation, read an abstract and give a diagnosis for resolving the license issues as part of any free consultation. To do less is to not truly offer a meaningful consultation. As an added bonus, it will also ensure that the attorney you are speaking with is actually knowledgeable about traffic tickets. Many attorneys do traffic on the side rather than as part of their primary practice. This is the first step to resolving your license issue.
As for the red light camera tickets, that suspension is in effect because you have 5 or more unpaid violations. Unfortunately, the defense you presented is not, to the best of my knowledge, a meaningful defense to the tickets. The fines are assessed against the owner of the vehicle, not the individual driver. This is the primary way all non-criminal fines are assessed (parking tickets, tolls, etc). You can however if it is in Cook County contact the Law Offices of Arnold Scott Harris and arrange a payment plan. During the duration of the plan, your suspension for this issue will be lifted after the payment plan is provided to the secretary of state. Be mindful that although this can lift the stop on your license, it doesn't necessarily fix other issues with it such as it being ineligible for renewal due to unpaid court fines.
As I mentioned, take the time to provide a court purposes abstract to a traffic attorney. They can identify the issues you've cited as well as some you may have missed which are preventing your license from being valid. In addition, they can use their knowledge to fix the issue as soon as possible getting you on the road sooner rather than later.
Hope that helps and let me know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Jason A. Wilkins
Attorney at Law in Matters of Traffic
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