I was returning from college and pulled off just across the state line to fill up. I get detained at a roadblock and ticketed for Failure to Display Registration, in violation of Section 14 of NYS V&T law. I would have had to be in court on an inconvenient date to defend myself so I just plead guilty. What kind of a fine am I looking at? The court clerk said $85 - isn't that a bit excessive for a non-moving violation? I've gotten speeding tickets for less! Anyone know if there is a schedule of fines codified anywhere in NYSVandTLaw?
The law student in me wanted to plead not guilty, but then again, is it really worth all the aggravation? I'm sure I could get off on a technicality (specifically, I wasn't cited for a specific subsection violation) or some other loophole, but the fact of the matter is I was in violation, and I accept this. I kept putting off actually affixing the new registration and removing my expired sticker, and it caught up with me. I don't think I should have to pay that much for a non-moving violation. Can I, after receiving the fine from the court, appeal or contest it as being cruel and unusual, excessive, or something of that sort?
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post, but if anyone has answers to any of these questions it would be greatly appreciated. Happy holidays.