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so I got 3 tickets yesterday....

1 for drive without proper headlights
1 for improper number plate light
1 for failure to surrender insurance card

First one, my headlight was out, shitty part is it went out the night before at 3am...bad luck.

second one, my plate lights are actual WHITE LED's he said he sees blue, I said they were white, I obviously lost...

the last one, I just never got my insurance card when it came in the mail...

now, Im gonna fight these tickets. I was wondering what OPTION 4 I never noticed this option before it states:

"For your convenience, and to save time, you may call the court office in advance for an appointment with the prosecutor."

what exactly would happen in this situation????

Thanx

 
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is this regional police or OPP? I've never seen an option 4 before.

 
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yup regional, Toronto police dep.

I never realized this option either...

 
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im assuming it's to cut a deal.. or tell him your side of the story and hope he drops it on the spot..... saving time and money to the city. b/c it would be the same if you were to go to the court date that they set and then realized that you guys would just cut a deal... so i guess this would be the new option 4, saving time and money.

but if you both dont agree.. i guess you would want to take it to court and hope the officer doesnt show up.. if he does.. then delay the trial date... that's if you're willing to go through all the trouble............. i know i would, but that's just me

 
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as for your tickets.. they're all bull s h i ....t, just that when you or if you go to see the prosecutor... make sure you have your insurance paper with you to prove that you have one. and you just accidently left it in a different wallet.. or just tell him striaght up, you didnt get it yet... even though, technically, it's illegal to drive without one........ but he/she might be lenient...

as for the license plate's lights.. just take some pictures, showing the prosecutor that it is CLEARLY white.. not blue.

for the headlight.. change your light bulb, and then take a picture of it showing that your light bulb was blown and you changed it right away.. with the picture showing that it is working properly now.


i've gotten like two tickets for blown out headlights... both cops having nothing to do but just to target cars that they think are souped up.
both times i just took a picture of the lights working properly.. and brought it to court and showed it to the prosecutor telling him that it's working perfectly fine now... they usually just say okay and throw the ticket out...

 
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I found about that "Option 4" apparently as of Nov 1st, it no longer applies due to a lack of prosecuters, so because of this there is no "First Attendance" which is a "resolution meeting".

However they are speaking of reinstating this option this coming spring...so if they do before my court date, I can call and book an appointment with a prosecuter about it and have a "First Attendance" meeting.

If not then I can meet with the prosecutor like you (AznSaint) specified...

The person I know, who works at the courts, said for me to bring the bills for the headlight bulb, and the license plate bulbs and they should be dropped...he didnt say anything about pics, but I'll bring those just in case...

So know you guys know, incase it happens to you...

and thanks AznSaint for your input, much appreciated!

 
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What happens is you sit down with the prosecutor in an informal meeting. They basically offer you what they want out of it (pay one ticket drop the rest) or something similar to that. You can try and work out a fair deal here, its similar to talking to the prosectuor before the trial, except this is in a small office.

You have the option to deny their offer and proceed to trial as if option 3)

Basically if you got the time, do it. Worst case if you dont like there offer you just delay things longer.

 
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np.

the way your friend suggested can work also... bottom line is that you can prove that your car parts were all legal... or at the least, it's at legal form currently

i guess it all comes down to how lenient the prosecutors are... luckily for me, most that i've met have been lenient... i have seen some bitches though... well, cocky ones at least... and they're usually lady prosecutors

 
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By showing your insurance slip to the prosecutor they usually drop the tickets right away.

If you brought in the light bulbs you had from before and a receipt from honda for some OEM bulbs im sure they'd drop that ticket.

If you can fix everything they tell you to fix, there really not unresonable. Replace the bulbs, bring your insurance slip, wouldnt be suprised if they dismiss it.

Just remember NEGOTIATE with the prosecutor, dont just say "oh thats what she says" tell em you fixed it, your financial situation, the fact that you drive a vic and not a bmw. Anything that will get em mercy. Make sure you mention your car is in full compliance now and it always will be.

*Tip* Ask if you plea gulity to all three offences if they could offer you a suspended sentance

Legal term for your guility of the offences, but theres no sentance. (These tickets cant affect insurance or license)

If the prosectuors a bitch just say No and go to trial.

 
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from what i've heard or experience, if you were to plea guilty, it's a CONVICTION.
i've never heard of a suspended sentence....

i just know, bottom line... avoid a conviction at ALL COST. once you plea guilty, with an excuse or not, with a fine or not, pleading guilty is a conviction, which COULD affect your insurance, bc a conviction stays on your record for three years. that im sure of.

it's sad.. but i've had enough tickets to know what to do and not to do. it's best to avoid pleading guilty/conviction if you can.

 
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Damn, I've yet to hear anyone getting hit with a ticket for 'coloured' license plate bulbs...

I have blue ones They give off this ominous glow as it bounces off the grey license plate protector... Maybe it's time to go white LED.... I'm starting to see that alot now.

As for your tickets....

I'm not even sure HOW I went about this, but I got a ticket for no insurance papers (they were expired, had the new ones at home. Important note is that I'm still legally INSURED at the time of the ticket.) I signed up to fight the ticket, and somehow ended up talking to a prosecutor (could it be the TYPE of ticket that determines whether you head straight to court, or meeting with prosecutor?). I showed her my official insurance papers, and the ticket was withdrawn.

The important thing is that you are still legally insured at the time of the offence.

I would recommend you replace the bulbs, front and back (like everyone says), take pictures if required, and most importantly, show receipts of the purchases as like Cdn Tire or some reputable store.

I would be confident of the insurance paper one, but not sure about the lightbulb in the back one.... the front one sure, the rear, dunno.