I do believe I dislike small-town cops, ..... Options

[95CelicaST]

Well last night after work (Tuesday 11:00PM) I come out to my car to find my front lisence plate on the ground. Someone had come in and taken the screws and left. Thats fine, I can live with that. I toss it up into my window and go home. When I get home I go onto the Washington DOL site to see if it is fine that I have it there. It says plates are required, however it doesn't say where it needs to be located, so I figure I will be alright until I can get to town. This morning (Wednesday 7:30AM) I am taking my girlfriend to school and then off to the hardware store. I pull into the school parking lot and pull to the drop-off spot when a police officer rolls up behind me, lights on. The conversation went something like this:

Cop: Where is your front plate?
Me: In my window for now, I wa..-
Cop: That is improper display. Lisence, registration, and proof of insurance.

So I give it to him. He's gone for 10 minutes. He comes back with a ticket. Now, being that I have never been pulled over before ask him:

Is this a fix-it ticket officer?
Cop: NO. I don't give fix-it tickets. If you don't like it, take it to court!

So I drive off, then I look at the fine.. $195 F***ING DOLLARS! I say, that can't be right..So I call the police station and ask what the fine is for not having a front plate and they tell me it is $101, so officer prickface decided to add 94 bucks for sh*ts and giggles.

I went to the hardware store and didn't know the size screw I needed, so we went out and the guy working there says that one of the holes in my bumper has been stripped, and he isn't sure if he can tap it. I say its fine, get me some zip ties. I zip tied it to the bumper, took a picture with the timestamp on, and also have my reciept from the hardware store. Pretty sure I'm taking this to court. On top of that I thought that if they fill out the ticket wrong they just throw it out, or at least around here. The ticket says I had no lisence plate, when I did. And the fine being so high, which it shouldn't have.

I had to post and vent.
END OF STORY

EDIT: Like I said before, this is my first ticket, clean driving record. Work full time, go to school full time. Do you think they will throw out the ticket?

This post has been edited by 95CelicaST: Jun 1, 2006 - 2:37 AM

[BlackCelicaGT94]

The vehicle license number plates shall be attached conspicuously at the front and rear of each vehicle for which the same are issued and in such a manner that they can be plainly seen and read at all times: PROVIDED, That if only one license number plate is legally issued for any vehicle such plate shall be conspicuously attached to the rear of such vehicle. Each vehicle license number plate shall be placed or hung in a horizontal position at a distance of not less than one foot nor more than four feet from the ground and shall be kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in cases where the body construction of the vehicle is such that compliance with this section is impossible, permission to deviate therefrom may be granted by the state patrol. It shall be unlawful to display upon the front or rear of any vehicle, vehicle license number plate or plates other than those furnished by the director for such vehicle or to display upon any vehicle any vehicle license number plate or plates which have been in any manner changed, altered, disfigured or have become illegible. License plate frames may be used on vehicle license number plates only if the frames do not obscure license tabs or identifying letters or numbers on the plates and the plates can be plainly seen and read at all times. It is unlawful to use any holders, frames, or any materials that in any manner change, alter, or make the vehicle license number plates illegible. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle unless there shall be displayed thereon valid vehicle license number plates attached as herein provided.


Thats the Washington Law - looks like it says you cant have it in ur window/dash area - the word HUNG sums it up that it cant sit on your dash. of course you could be a smart arse and hang it from ur window some how but make sure its not more than 4 feet high.


It does suck though to hear about your ticket. he should have given you a fix-it ticket! My friend had no rear license plate and a cop let her go! She also cut her license plate nearly in half so it would fit with her aftermarket bumper and a cop just told her to fix it.

This post has been edited by BlackCelicaGT94: Jun 1, 2006 - 1:26 PM