Q: Cop told me he wasn't going to give me a ticket. He didn't hand me any papers. 2 weeks later I got a ticket in the mail.
Cop pulled me over for going 60 in a 45. After running my license, he came back and told me he wasn't going to give me a ticket, just a citation. He didn't give me any papers or anything to sign. 2 weeks later I get a ticket in the mail for a speeding ticket from that night. Should I try to fight this in court or should I just pay the ticket and let my insurance go up?
A: It depends. First, a speeding violation is issued in a document called an infraction, commonly called a ticket, that only can require a driver to pay a fine and there is no possibility of jail time or other personal penalties. Citations are normally criminal citations, also called criminal traffic citations, and are issued for criminal traffic violations such as for DUI, Reckless Driving, etc. The officer is not required to issue or give the driver anything in writing at the time of the traffic stop. Also, drivers are no longer required to sign any document when either an infraction or criminal citation is issued to them at the time of the traffic stop. As to what you should now do with the infraction, your best course of action is to consult with an experienced traffic lawyer to see what your best course of action will be in handling this infraction. Just paying the infraction or ticket may not be the best course of action for you as it could raise your auto insurance rates and possibly affect your driving record. Good luck!
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