Traffic Ticket court questions, Cop didn't put ticket in system till less than a week before court Options

[JesterDC]

Hey guys, I need some help.

About two months ago I got a speeding ticket for 36 in a 30 and a failure to stop for rolling through a stop sign, all at the same time. The area I got the ticket is under the jurisdiction of Precinct 4 of Harris County, Texas. Also known as Humble/Atascacita. So I got the tickets, I waited a week for processing like the ticket says to do and tried to pay for them, only they weren't in the system yet, I tried again the next week, and the next week until I forgot to check every week. Last week I checked because I knew my court date was coming up. Still, nothing.

Now today, less than three days before the court date on my ticket I log on to the Justices of the Peace website again, and there my cases appear, and I got really ticked. I thought the officer must have lost my ticket or something, nope he's just amazingly slow.

http://web.jp.hctx.net/CaseInfo/GetCaseInf...se=TR42X2197342

If you scroll down you will see the ticket wasn't added until last Tuesday, the 22nd, less than a week before my day in court on the 28th. It should have been added over SIX weeks ago.

I was just going to pay for my citations and comply, but now I want to fight. And I was wondering if his lacking ability to process my ticket can be used to my advantage to have these tickets dismissed. Can I use this as ammo? Anyone have ANY experience in this situation? Or one like it? Or just experience fighting tickets at all? Please help

[GriffGirl]

I have no idea in this situation, but my guess is that just because he took a long time to enter it into the system doesn't mean you get off from your violation. His delay doesn't negate the fact that you were speeding and failed to come to a complete stop.

Now if this is your first ticket and you have an otherwise PERFECT record, you could appear in court and request the ticket be dismissed, or that you plead guilty or no contest and the fine be reduced to zero since this is your first infraction. Unless you're 16 or 17 in which case you have no driving history to speak of, and thus no real ground to stand on.

The other thing is that if the cop really IS a slacker, he may not show up in court, in which case your case will be dismissed and that's that.