I understand. It is worth a try to ask the officer to reduce the consideration ticket to following too closely or unsafe pass on the right In my view and that is what I will try and do, see if he gives me a huge break. If he is unwilling I suppose I will not show up to court.

Thank's for all your time and all your replies everyone.

Not showing up to court will only make things worse.

When you dispute it, can you post here your court date, time and location? I'd like to come and watch you perform on the stand.

Isn't not appearing in court just an admission of guilt? Isn't that what It equates to?

Please explain how this will worsen the situation. A statement with no elaboration helps me very little. Thanks!

Please don't speed anymore. "Tunnel vision" is not an opinion.

I'm no angel, I have done 200+ on highways, its not hard to check your mirrors even at that speed.

Google.

Its OK to ask questions, yet you've gotta do some research yourself. We're not here to check your mirrors for you.

If you don't show up to court, it is a an automatic guilty plea. Yet the judge can change the fine, adding surcharges for wasting the courts time.

Or issue a bench warrant IIRC.

"Isn't not appearing in court just an admission of guilt? Isn't that what It equates to?"

What a non-appearance in Court means is that the disputant (you) has abandoned the dispute and a finding of "deemed convicted " is made. The penalties imposed are those on the face of the ticket. Same as if you appeared in Court and entered a guilty plea and no evidence was physically given by you or the Police. Everything is taken at face value.

If you contest the tickets by appearing in court then ALL the circumstances are before the JP. The fines can go up or down...unless it is one of the charges with a mandated minimum $ figure. I have seen fines get jacked towards the $2000 when the full circumstances were discussed. Sometimes it's better to take your losses and skulk away, rather than risk the wrath of Khan ! :(

Nicely put sir! Too many people here would be "in your face" and I appreciate your response.

The money you will be saving by having the Drive Without Consideration ticket reduced to an Unsafe Pass on the Right ticket is about the equivalent to having paid both tickets within the 30 day time frame, give or take a few bucks. If I had served that ticket, I would not negotiate based on that alone.

Hi!
I have already disputed the ticket not because I believe I am innocent, (that is up to the court to decide) but so I may have a chance to talk to the officer. The driving without consideration ticket is 6 points whereas following too closely is 3 and an unsafe pass on the right is 2. My worry is not the initial fines, but the license suspension that accompanies a 9 point ticket!
Also with the new penalty point premium, I will end up paying dearly every year!

Again thank you for all your support RS. The lesson learned here is be late for work rather than be an idiot. It's better losing your job than your license and possibly your life.

You didn't need to dispute to talk with the officer. He listed his badge number on the ticket and all you have to do is either call the detachment and ask for him then set up a meeting. Then after that, go down to the detachment and talk things over. No need to dispute.