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

[fastcelica20]

yes. if you go to college, work, good guy then the judge will let you off. they also will look at your record and if it's clean you're good to go. i've been through that, but not with the license plate, with a knife. best of luck to you bro

[97lestyousay]

That is a stupid law IMO. Why don't Bikes have to have one too?
It looks ghey on our cars think how it would look on a bike.

[presure2]

daymn 100+?? thats nuts.
you shouldnt have a problem @ court if you fight it.

[BBoYRuGGeD]

holy crap thats one expensive ticket just for the license plate. over here ive gotten one of those tickets but it only cost me 55 bucks. and yah small town cops are jack a$$es...they'll catch you for anything stupid just cuz they've got nothing else better to do and theyve got the worse attitude. i had one almost pull out a gun on me just cuz i reached into my pocket to get my license and registration. lol...i was like WTF HOLD IT MAN! haha and he was like "im just trying to protect mywself"..? hahah crazy coppers

bboy

[GramGreg]

i dont know how your court system works... but the picture you took with the timestamp... hopfully its not a digital pic and its a normal camera pic with a negative. i got into an accident and took pictures of the scene with my digital and when we went to court like a month later.. the other guy was like "no no he hit me" n i got LUCKY as ever because i had at least some picture to back me up. so if it comes down to your word against the police officer's you may need to have an actual picture so he cant say that you just photoshopped the plate on, or you just photoshopped the date on

dont know if that helps any, but like everyone else says, im pretty sure you'll get off, n the cop prolly wont waste a day to show up at court to fight a stupid fine like that

[celi818]

[/quote]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?
[/quote]

Did u take a picture of the liscense plate in the window around the time of the ticket? Cause if u didn't it will be extremely hard for you to convince and prove that u had it there. So the only way the judge will let you off is if he/she likes you, and see's that your a good person. but good luck!

[ILuvMyCelica95]

The ticket might have been 101 but you also have to understand there are fees from your town court as well. I doubt the officer added onto your ticket.

I would fix the place and take a picture of it fixed and go to court. If you have a clean record and whatnot you should be fine.
It can't hurt to go. Just don't cop and 'tude with the cop in court or the judge for that matter. Explain the situation and go prepared. Bring a picture of the plate on, if u have one the plate inthe window, a pic of the damage to the bumper ie: the screw hole being stripped.

daymn 100+?? thats nuts.
you shouldnt have a problem @ court if you fight it.

thats not that bad.
i got a ticket for no turn sig and it was OVER 200 with the court fees and everything

[Smlogg]

That sucks. I've had my plate off for over 2 years now and don't even keep it in the window, no one cares around here.
But your case sounds pretty sound.

[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

[CelicaGT04]

Yeah man sorry to hear about your ticket. Some cops just abuse their power!
Ive gotten warned for having my license plate off the front of my car but its
not a big deal. I have been to court many times and that is just a fix-it ticket.
Dont worry everything will work out. Good luck man.

[m0dd3d1]

dude! that's high as sh**...i've gotten a fine for that too...and for the same thing, only both my holes are stripped in the front, kinda bought it like that. so i throw it up in the dash (plus i like the look!) and i get pulled over and i get a $60 ticket. either way, you can see it. it doesn't matter if they're small-town or city (and believe me the laziest cops in the world are the baltimore city fuzz 'round my area) they're all worthless. peace!

[Manta5x]

dude! that's high as sh**...i've gotten a fine for that too...and for the same thing, only both my holes are stripped in the front, kinda bought it like that. so i throw it up in the dash (plus i like the look!) and i get pulled over and i get a $60 ticket. either way, you can see it. it doesn't matter if they're small-town or city (and believe me the laziest cops in the world are the baltimore city fuzz 'round my area) they're all worthless. peace!

make that the whole state of Maryland.

[Cutrara]

If I was a small town cop, and my salary was a bag of Twizzlers, I'd be a dick, or a dirty cop.

[JFrost9]

i didnt think they put court fines in the initial ticket, cuz they always tell people its X amount of dollars for the ticket, plus court fines which may vary. The cop wouldnt of just put the court fines in the ticket. In Texas as long as you have it in your front window your fine, or atleast around here. I think you'll be able to fight that one pretty easily.