Traffic Court.

I confessed awhile back that I was given a speeding ticket on my way home from the pow-wow  on the Rez in Shakopee.  I am normally a cautious driver and drive at a reasonable speed, but on this particular day I had been in an unfamiliar part of the Cities and a cop was waiting in ambush just past where the speed limit was suddenly reduced by 15 mph.  I missed the new speed limit signs and was obviously going too fast without realizing it.  The officer caught me, pulled me over and gave me a ticket.  I made an honest mistake, but its one that I don't want to have to pay for in higher insurance premiums for the next 3 years.  Or is that junk on your record for 7 years? Whatever.  So I decided I would go to the pre-appointed court date to fight the ticket.

So I made my way to traffic court.  I am going to share my experience with you since many of you are probably as naive as I was when it comes to court appearances! LOL.  I honestly had no idea what to expect, as I had never before been inside a courthouse or courtroom.  I wasn't sure if the same police officer would be there or not!! (I was hoping NOT). I asked the receptionist what I needed to do and she just said that the courtroom would open at such and such time and I would need to check in.  So I made my way to the front of the line when the doors opened, and there were two clerks checking people's name off a master list they had.  I had to fill out a brief paper indicating my race.  It took about 20-30 minutes for the clerks to check everyone in, there were about 50 other people in the courtroom.  There was a panel of suits sitting there too, the prosecutors.  I wasn't nervous at all, but I was feeling a bit apprehensive at the thought of having to plead my case to a judge and to the prosecutors in front of all these strangers!! I didn't want to look like an idiot or anything! There were absolutely no instructions as to what to expect, so I just sat and waited.  So then the four prosecutors started randomly calling out names and then taking the individuals out of the courtroom, bringing them back to the clerks a short while later.  I was thinking, oh, this isn't so bad if I can meet with someone individually.  But then we were all asked to rise and the judge came out.  The first two cases he called were DWI's who had defense attorneys.  The defendants had to plea their whole case in front of everyone.  How embarrassing! (But its a well-known fact that I have absolutely NO sympathy for anyone who drinks and drives and the consequences they face).  At this point I wasn't sure if everyone was going to have to enter a plea before the judge, or what! Turns out he was only on the bench for about 15 minutes total, then recess was called.  About an hour and fifteen minutes after the courtroom opened, I was finally called to meet with one of the prosecutors.  He saw that my record was clean and offered either 1. reduced fine (ticket would remain on record)  2. Keep driving record clean for one year and this ticket will never go on my record 3. Have a trial in which the officer who gave me the ticket would be there to testify against me.  I opted for option #2. 

So to conclude this novel, I will be driving like an angel for at least the next year!

Comments

[Ang]

LOL Kristi, I did the same thing once and had the exact same experience. I was pretty young, so it was overwhelming for me.
Just proves though, if you are a good driver it pays to go to court!
(I would have picked option B as well!)

[heather]

Hmm... I've been to traffic court before (in Oregon) and it was nothing like that. We didn't all get to talk to individual prosecutors like that; it's been awhile now but I seem to remember everyone just got called individually up to the judge and stated their case/situation and the judge gave his "judgement" or really just our options. If it was something that required a trial of any sort later (like a DUI or something more serious than speeding, parking, plates, etc.) then they were appointed a future date in a different court.

Anyway, from what I've heard it really is always better to make an appearance if you can... it'll be greatly reduced from what you expect!

[Michelle]

Way to go! Didn't sound fun though!

[Mel]

NICE!!! Way to go chica!!! Drive safe:)

[Samara]

sounds like a long day but worth it! good for you! i'm with you -- i did this once and had no idea what to expect at all. i was nervous at the idea of what to say, who would be listening, etc. anyway, glad it worked out. and good luck for the next year!!

[Sandra]

Can you believe I've had almost this exact same experience in all three counties. Hennepin for running an orange :) light back in 96'; paid $40 court fee only and no record of it. Washington for speeding in 02'(only time at fault); paid another $40 court fee and w/o another moving violation w/in 12 months didn't appear on record. Ramsey in 04' for allegedly running a stop sign and I rolled the dice for a trial the female officer no showed and I won my case no payment made!