Q: Why do tickets for no helmet and no light on a bicycle for a minor require a court apperance in New Jersey?
Over spring break my 13 yr old son was sleeping at a friends house. They were out past curfew riding bikes, the dad was in the driveway doing something and let them go out by the house. A police officer picked them up, said nothing to the father and took them to the police station. When the officer brought him home he was only talking about them being out so late. Days later we received 3 tickets in the mail. Two for my son, no helmet and no light on his bike. I got one for allowing him to ride w/out a helmet. He made no mention of these things the night of the incident! I went to pay the tickets and was told we had to appear. None of the boxes were checked for appearance required. Now I have to miss work and my son has to miss school. This seems ridiculous to me. What are the penalties?
A: Generally a ticket has a mandatory court appearance because the judge needs to set the penalty.
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