On a side note - I just went to court today for a handful of citations:
In the LS on May 27th:
#1 No proof of insurance (did have insurance, couldn't find at first)
#2
TINT 14%
#3 Obstrcution of View (Radar)
#4 No front license plate
July 22nd, in my new camaro, SAME STREET, different weekend:
#5
TINT 36%
#6 No front license plate
#7 LOUD MUFFLER
shifty: )
Let me remind you guys ALL these tickets were issued to me on the same street in North Minneapolis where cops are no joke - these ******* got me for everything they could!
I know you have to pay to play...so I was planning to just go to court and seek a 'plea bargain'. Who knew it would be much easier than that
All in all I was looking at 7 tickets for almost $1100
....not to mention I got the tickets in the LS on May 27th and was all ready WAY past my due date/court date.
So I went to see a hearing's officer - admitted my faults - said about one minutes worth of my peace - told him the tint was still on both cars and that the cost to remove the tint is more than the cost of the ticket and I couldn't even afford that...
I provided proof of insurance - dropped
contested the loud muffler - dropped
contested the obstruction of view - dropped
put the front license plate on both vehicles - both dropped (no 'proof' was needed)
and then the officer lowered my fine amts on the tint tickets from $141 a pc. to $100 even a pc. + a $50 late fee for the LS tickets
= $250.00 Grand Total with two tint tickets on my record.
Bottom line: What you get a ticket for is NOT what you end up getting charged with if you are patient (by appearing in court)...pretty easy...for little petty 'equipment' violations like these. It also works for more serious citations...
I've had tickets dopped before, as I'm most have if they ever decided to fight one. I had a DAS (driving after suspension) AND a speeding (81 in 65) in the LS and both were dropped down to public nuisances (parking tickets)
BUT my fines were increased from $650 to $900 - I was fine with it being the other option was to lose my license for another 60+ days....
So to date after being handed maybe
-15- misdemeanor (or less) moving/equipment citations from law enforcement ranging from speeding (only two and one was
less than 10 miles over so never went on record) to DAS (one) to 'no proof' (two) to tint (three) I have
-0- moving violations
-2- public nuisancs (parking tickets)
-2- equipment violations (tint)
Not trying to brag...just trying to remind people that you have to pay to play and if you care patient with the system you can catch some real good breaks. This also means that to my insurance company...I've never been pulled over