Skid in a snow day, hit stop sign, got ticketed...

[YukiHime]

My papa just happened to have a small accident on a snow day, Where he skidded and hit the stop sign, and BROKE it... He wasn't speeding(I know we need to be slow in snow, but he still skidded...). And the car was undrivable. A sheriff came, and gave my papa a ticket for fail to maintain control.

Here are my questions:
1.Will the sheriff still going to give him a ticket even if he didn't break the stop sign?
2.What is he suppose to tell the judge on the courtday?(It didn't involve any other cars, but his)

Thanks...

[drdisque]

he gave the ticket because he filed a police report. You needed him to file the police report for the sign to be covered under your dad's property damage auto insurance. you will probably be billed from the city for the sign, to get it paid for you need to send a copy of the bill and the police report to your insurance company, they will pay for it minus your property damage deductible (your deductible may be more than the cost of the sign, so it may be better to just pay for it). If he goes to court he will probably have it dropped given the situation, just make sure that he says that he'll be more careful in the snow.

[tegGSRrider]

snow sucks ass

[YukiHime]

Originally Posted by drdisque

he gave the ticket because he filed a police report. You needed him to file the police report for the sign to be covered under your dad's property damage auto insurance. you will probably be billed from the city for the sign, to get it paid for you need to send a copy of the bill and the police report to your insurance company, they will pay for it minus your property damage deductible (your deductible may be more than the cost of the sign, so it may be better to just pay for it). If he goes to court he will probably have it dropped given the situation, just make sure that he says that he'll be more careful in the snow.

Will it help or make it worse if he tells the judge that it was his first time to drive on that road.(It was his first day to the new office...)

Just called to the court, the ticket was 2 points and 100 dollars fine...

[Igovert500]

I would leave that part out...but chances are he wont even get a chance to say it...the courts typically don't want to hear long stories...they want everything to move along quickly...if he pleads not guilty, he'll probably meet with an assistant da or the cop who gave him the ticket...just have him say he hit a patch of ice under the snow, and that he did his best, but couldn't save it. To save time, they will probably reduce it right there on the spot, in out, case closed.

[YukiHime]

Originally Posted by Igovert500

I would leave that part out...but chances are he wont even get a chance to say it...the courts typically don't want to hear long stories...they want everything to move along quickly...if he pleads not guilty, he'll probably meet with an assistant da or the cop who gave him the ticket...just have him say he hit a patch of ice under the snow, and that he did his best, but couldn't save it. To save time, they will probably reduce it right there on the spot, in out, case closed.

So basically, that means he shall not plead guilty? I mean because this is not completely his fault, everybody skids in the snow, and it happens to be he couldn't control it...But is it possible by any chance that he don't get any points? Because he doesn't mind to pay for the fine, the fee for fixing the stop sign, and anything else, but just not the points.

[Igovert500]

Yeah, plead not guilty, go to court and see what deals they offer...chances are they will...if not, be polite, dress nice, tell the judge there was ice, etc...explain he is willing to pay damages, but doesn't feel that points and a hike in insurance are fair for having unfortunate luck with bad weather.

[Officer Redneck]

A city cop hit my dads truck (which was in the driveway) after a snow storm and had the gall to give my dad a ticket for parking to close to the street.

[YukiHime]

Originally Posted by redneck tech

A city cop hit my dads truck (which was in the driveway) after a snow storm and had the gall to give my dad a ticket for parking to close to the street.

That's even more ridiculous...

[YukiHime]

But shall he hire a lawyer?

[Igovert500]

I think he could get it dropped without the lawyer...but that decision is really up to him. I only suggest lawyers when there is a accident with a dispute as to who is at fault. And moving violations that put your license in danger of being taken. Then again, I don't know how much this will raise your insurance, and how much a lawyer could really help in that sense. But overall, I think your father could get it dropped without a lawyer.

[fredjacksonsan]

So Yuki, what happened in court?

[YukiHime]

Showed up with papa in Court, dressed up nicely. And the officer asked why we want to show up at court, told her the reasons that you guys suggested. She thought that's right, therefore she amended the ticket to become a "Violation of Basic speed law". Have no idea what does this mean, but fined 100bucks, no points added on record (Which is better...).

[fredjacksonsan]

I think that is sometimes called "Driving too fast for conditions", so that if your father was going more slowly, he might not have crashed. But no points = , guess the judge was reasonable and decided since it was icy to give a break.

[YukiHime]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

I think that is sometimes called "Driving too fast for conditions", so that if your father was going more slowly, he might not have crashed. But no points = , guess the judge was reasonable and decided since it was icy to give a break.

Maybe because both the judge and the officer are ladies?