Cant Attend My Traffic Court Date
 

Hello RS,

So I have a traffic court date coming up and a family emergency just occurred resulting in me leaving overseas on the assigned date. I was wondering what steps or options should I take in order to successfully deal with my situation? I was planning to go to court tomorrow to discuss but would appreciate your advice beforehand.

Thanks in advance.

There's a form requesting for adjournment

http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/ticke...info/forms.htm (PTR818)

Probably pay the ticket

Are they generally lenient with the reason of not being in town due to emergency?

Thanks in advance

Since its a family emergency, I'm assuming it's coming up pretty soon? Do note the form say:

Best to just call them up and see what can be done.

The things people do to save $139 on a speeding ticket, when they were probably actually speeding...

138 :). And they could have saved 25 dollars too if paid within 30 days.. BUT we can't assume OP had a speeding ticket... But regardless, the vast majority of those who dispute, aren't doing it because they didn't commit the offence.... which makes for an entertaining trial....

Guilty Your Honour but I don't want to be held responsible for my actions...is the most common plea in my experience. :)

lol a bunch of haters here, you don't even know why he's disputing. There's a form you can fill out, I've done it before. BTW if you're just disputing the price there's also a form you can fill out and you don't have to waste everyone's time in court.

No need to be a dick and assume he's guilty. You just fill out the form and you can drop it off at the courts if you're still here, or you can fax it to them (which is what I did). You get a new court date in about 1-2 weeks.

Don't you know everyone's a great law abiding citizen dygital??

I love how the system is set up to give those who are possibly innocent incentive to plead guilty.

Funny, I thought it was set up to give those who are guilty and will admit it a possible incentive to plead guilty & get $25 off to clear court space. If you were innocent why would you plead guilty? Would you voluntarily pay for a parking ticket just to get a discount if your car was not even there at the time? How badly do you want a discount? Sounds like you have been spending too much time watching Richard on the Shopping Channel. "Today's Show Stopper is $25 off your VT...and in just 20 easy pays of $6.95"....:failed:

Sebberry never ceases to amaze...

Shouldn't the penalty commensurate with severity? All of a sudden, the offence is less severe if you plead guilty sooner?

Perhaps the accused is having financial difficulties and taking a morning off work to fight a ticket combined with the financial incentive to pay early is enough to discourage fighting the ticket in court?

I'm sure you've come across many people who don't care about what their driving record looks like and are more concerned with the fine than their record.

OK Spidey, either you or I will place a call to the Govt & demand they immediatley stop discounting tickets. Damn this giving people a break stuff!!! That should keep him happy. :devil:

The fine is less severe, not the offense. Think of it as getting a discount on the administrative costs associated with the fine, not the fine itself.

Whatever the heck it is, please let's go back on topic.

OP: Just request an adjournment. I've done it before, but i actually provided them proof (tickets, letters, transcripts, etc). And I was allowed to adjourn. I had another one like...12 years ago that I needed to adjourn because I was working shift work and they wouldn't give me the time off. I got denied on that one. It's really 50/50. But hey, you never know unless you try right? BTW - adjournment may cost you a bit of $$, if I remember correctly.

And FYI everyone, to adjourn isn't to escape it. Just postpone it. Considering I've had a bit of experience in traffic court when I was younger, even if OP needed more time to pay, he/she could always request a time extension from the judge, whom are usually lenient about it to an extent.


PS: I AM thankful that we have a system that allows us to dispute, for I have been issued VTs that were without warrant or just cause (80km/h in a 50 zone when I was actually going 35-40 cuz I just pulled away from a stop sign lol)
Although I DO think most PO's are just and fair, there ARE a few that are out of line or just out to get ppl based on stereotype.