Quote:
Originally posted by tigercanada
I got a traffic ticket last septemeber ...$85 fine with 3 demirits points....
I went to a paralegal(SOS Paralegal) he took $120 dollars..
last week was my court date, ... Now i have to pay only 30 $ in court fees and no demirit points...
So in total it cost be $150 (120+30) dollar to save my points.
I personally attended a speeding ticket conviction today. It is a very common method to settle the case by pleading guilty to a lower offence in place of the original offence, there by reducing the fine and getting rid of the demerit points. Infact this offer is made by the crown prosecutor, just before the court is about to begin and will also ask you for your defence if you do not wish to accept this offer. It might look attractive at first, but remember, you have to admit 'guilty' to a lower fault and conviction IS still a conviction - whether you overspeed by 1Km or 200Km..it will only show as convicted on your driving record - enough for your insurance company to notice. It is a different story that the premium may not increase for the first offence, but you are "convicted" and have been fined.
So, tiger, I believe you got a raw deal - this very thing you could have done it yourself, there was no need to pay the paralegal guy. If you dont believe, please sit on the visitors bench of any court and observe. Within 1/2 hour, you will realise what I mean.
On the otherhand, here is my advise :
1. On the date of your hearing, check the list outside the court room and see how many cases your officer has..if he has many cases, 9/10 times there is a possibility he will show up.
2. In such a case, send one of the friends/relatives inside the court and request for a new date. They might ask for identification, so dont go in yourself. They will also ask for a reason, the simplest one is did not get time- off from work. They will try to work another date in consultation with the police officer present. DONT agree to any date which HE offers. Pick an random date of your choice. If he doesnt has any other cases on that date, he will not appear, your ticket will get thrown out.
I watched all the paralegals appearing today and felt sorry for the people who hired them.
Just my 2 cents....
Hiren
Quote:
Originally posted by benparsad
Dear Fellow CDs
My son got a traffic ticket for over speeding (120 kmph in 100 kmph zone). Traffic cop told him that he has reduced this from the actual 140 kmph. His ticket is for 100 $ in fine and 3 demerit points. He wishes to contest the ticket but have his exams in very near future. Even to get a court date he has to go Cambridge (he is in Windsor). What are the implications of accepting the charge as it is, on insurance and others? Can he get a court date on phone?
Ben
Your son will probably spend 1 hr to file his appeal and return back to windsor. I dont feel you should pay even $100 to paralegal guy to save that 1 hrs hassle - even if it means taking time off from study. If he has a friend who can drive him to cambridge, he can still study in the car.
It is generally the fear of the unknown which makes us run to the paralegal - if you experience it personally once, you will note the uselessness of these guys...
All the best,
Hiren
Thanks Hiren,
The last date for him to take any action is 30 August. So will he get opportunity to plead guily with option of lesser fine and lesser (or no) demerit points, when he appears before this date? Or will he get another date to go back and plead guilty? Going for a trial is not a good option, I guess.
-Ben
Before Aug 30 he will go to court and file appeal. After few months around 3, he will get a notice in mail mentioning new date of after a month or so...on which date he goes to court again and can plead guilty or fight the case.
Quote:
Originally posted by benparsad
Thanks Hiren,
The last date for him to take any action is 30 August. So will he get opportunity to plead guily with option of lesser fine and lesser (or no) demerit points, when he appears before this date? Or will he get another date to go back and plead guilty? Going for a trial is not a good option, I guess.
-Ben
Quote:
Originally posted by benparsad
Thanks Hiren,
The last date for him to take any action is 30 August. So will he get opportunity to plead guily with option of lesser fine and lesser (or no) demerit points, when he appears before this date? Or will he get another date to go back and plead guilty? Going for a trial is not a good option, I guess.
-Ben
Call the number at the back of the ticket (or visit MTO website) and find the nearest Provincial Offences Court location for appealing the ticket. After that, as Aashu mentioned above, he will get a letter in mail regarding the date to appear in court. On that date, its your call - to appeal for another date, whether to plead guilty to a lesser offence or fight the case. If you do decide to fight the case, please start preparing in advance. Have a look at the FYST (Fight Your Speeding Ticket) website...it is quite informative.
All the best.
Hiren
Dear Friends,
My son, when called court, was told that personal appearance is must and trial date setting is not possible on phone. He is struck in his exams till then. Can someone advise how the trial date can be asked then. He can follow the case later.
Also on trial date; option of accepting reduced fine with no demrit points (if offered) is better or going in for trial is worth the cost and efforts.
Ben
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 19-08-07 01:32:08
Ben,
if you had read this thread from start to finish, you will not be asking such questions which have already been answered.
You son should send a friend or hire a traffic ticket specialist to file an appeal. Some one has to be there in person to do it. There have already been many suggestions as to how to do it (ask a friend to drive the car so that you son can study on the way to court etc...). At the back of the ticket all instructions are given even speaking with a public prosecuter.
You canot set a trial date as per your convinence. The court office decides the date. Read Hiren's post to see what you should do to either appear or postpone a trial date.
Hope this helps.
TK A
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