Q: Do I still need to appear in court even though the ticket contradicts what the officer said?
I got pulled over for two traffic violations in NJ. The cop told me I needed to appear in online court for one, however both tickets say that I can plead guilty and pay online without going to court. When I payed online, both online tickets then said that "the matter has been resolved through payment or in court". Do I still have to appear? Both tickets also don't have a box that says "court appearance required". I asked her which offense requires the summons and she just vaguely gestured to one of them.
A: Ordinarily a defense attorney would advise against paying a ticket online. This is because paying the ticket has the legal effect of pleading guilty. And the monetary fine is not the only penalty one faces. Depending on the charge, one might also face license points with the Motor Vehicle Commission, which can accumulate and lead to surcharges and license suspensions. Additionally, a plea can result in the accumulation of Insurance Eligibility Points, and exceeding a particular number can disqualify a person from rigid unity for comprehensive insurance. Furthermore, some motor vehicle offenses require license suspensions and forfeitures irrespective of points. These are only a few reasons defense attorneys advise against paying a ticket online. To find out the answer to your question, a call to the municipal court should provide the answer. Good luck.
A: Based on what you have said it appears the officer is wrong and you don't need to appear in court because the court accepted your online payment. That being said I would still check with the court and ask.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
