Minneapolis, MN asked in Traffic Tickets for Minnesota

Q: can you be arrest for not sign a ticket in Minnesota and why?

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2 Lawyer Answers
Jonathan Matthew Holson
Jonathan Matthew Holson
Answered
  • Traffic Tickets Lawyer
  • Saint Cloud, MN
  • Licensed in Minnesota

A: This question is awfully vague and consequently cannot be answered intelligently. Can you provide more information?

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Licensed in Minnesota

A: Generally, no. A traffic ticket is sometimes called a uniform citation, but is a type of Summons to respond to a court action. Though misdemeanors can be tab charged by police and initiated with a "ticket" or citation Summons, most often people are charged with petty misdemeanors this way. Like any Summons, the initiating party (in this case the jurisdiction the police officer works for) must be able to show the court that it "served" the Summons. The defendant's signature shows that the Summons was served on the defendant. But the signature is not necessary. Most service of process is proved by word of the person making service. If the defendant wanted to, he or she could challenge whether proper service was actually made. However, in a petty misdemeanor or misdemeanor case, I have never seen anyone do that. So, in these cases it might be a theoretical issue, but it's not a real world issue. And that is why police officers do not normally arrest people who refuse to sign a citation. (Because it makes little difference whether they do, or refuse.) Some people fear that signing the citation is an admission of guilt. It is not. It is merely an acknowledgement that they received a copy. of it.

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