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Angela Connor is the Managing Editor of WRAL.com's online community, Golo. She recently relocated to the Triangle from South Florida with her husband and two young daughters. In this blog she shares the ups, downs and uncertainties that come along with making North Carolina her new home.

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My First Citation. Some Advice Please?

Posted: Apr 2, 2007


First off, let me say this:
I wasn’t speeding.
Really.
What I did was slowly roll through a stop sign at a corner in my subdivision on the way out this morning and BAM!
Flashing lights in my rear-view mirror.
Wrong? Absolutely! I’ll be the first to admit that.
But a citation for $160?
In my mind, that’s a bit excessive, but I’ve only been living here for two months and maybe that’s standard in North Carolina.
But what I need to know now is if showing up in court will be beneficial.
The police officer indicated that they might work with me since it’s my first citation here and I haven’t had any citations in the last three years.
So, if you have any experience with traffic violations, give me a clue.
Mail in the $160 and avoid the hassle?
Or go to court and hope for the best?

Copyright 2007 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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go to court and ask for a prayer for judgement.
nenc
April 2, 2007 10:02 a.m.
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but know if you do a prayer for judgement that you cannot have ANY citations(speeding etc.) for the next number of years of they will go back and pick this one up to and use it! Good incentive to obey the law but tricky if you dont!
fishnett5977
April 2, 2007 10:05 a.m.
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No advice, but my mom was riding with me yesterday and I pulled out of my subdivision in Clayton and did the same thing. Mom said I never completely stopped but I guess I've made a habit of it. Best believe I'll think before I do it again! Wouldn't want to get one of those expensive tickets!
INIT2WINIT
April 2, 2007 10:14 a.m.
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It really only saves your insurance from going up if you get prayer for judgement. They charge approx. 120.00 for court costs (this was several years ago, so I am sure it is more)and the remainder is the cost of the ticket. You have to pay the court costs no matter what, but it will keep it off your insurance.
Click to view my profile poohperson2000
GOLO member since July 12, 2007
April 2, 2007 10:21 a.m.
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Court costs alone are, what? $115? Your fine is probably only $40 - $50. So, how far can it really be reduced? I guess it depends on your financial situation. It's been a few months since my last ticket, but so far I've received two since living in NC. One for littering (cigarette butt) and another for speeding (guilty as charged). I appeared in court both times. The judge lowered the fine considerably for the littering charge and the DA worked with me on the speeing charge to lower the charge to 10mph or less. I would say it's worth going and at least asking what they can do for you, but I would definitely not use a prayer for judgement for this. Save that for when you really get nailed..
rawneus
GOLO member since July 17, 2008
April 2, 2007 10:24 a.m.
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I got a ticket for expired registration the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The fine was $30, cost of court $100. If I went to court, the judge would waive court cost and just fine me the $30, according to the officer. I called the Wake County Clerk of Court and confirmed this. Was told to be in court at 9 and be prepared for it to take all day. I decided it wasn't worth a days' vacation and paid the full $130.
ProgFan
April 2, 2007 10:51 a.m.
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Ask for a prayer for judgement, then keep yuor nose clean! You should check with your insurance company before deciding to plead guilty, it may help you decide!
Click to view my profile just my2cents
GOLO member since July 3, 2007
April 2, 2007 10:54 a.m.
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If you have a clean record, go to the main DMV office in Raleigh and get a certified driving record to take to court with you to get your prayer for judgement. Many judges will not grant PFJ without a certified copy of your driving record.
khodges
April 2, 2007 11:21 a.m.
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Prayer for judgements are given upon payment for cost of court. Either way your are still going to pay cost of court. I would plead the apologetic accident and see what happens. Either way first offense will get you dismissed as a warning or a pjc. Good luck!
Ashen.Shugar
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
April 2, 2007 11:43 a.m.
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what you should do is to send a check for the amount of one hundred sixty one dollars and wait and see what happens.
stoney
April 2, 2007 11:48 a.m.
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