Tinted Windows, Cell Phone and Insurance Ticket

[linedpaper]

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: California

I was pulling into a parking lot and the officer was sitting in there and simply pointed me to a parking spot. He started by asking for my information and wouldn't even tell me why he had pulled me over, but then eventually told me it was for my cell phone use without a bluetooth, dumb law, but here's the kicker: I was on my bluetooth. The bluetooth was in my ear and I was using it, but the phone was in my hand (not against the law), but he told me it was up to my ear (which it wasn't) and wrote me a ticket for that. He also added on a ticket for my tinted windows (prick) and for not having a valid insurance card. The insurance card part is my fault, it expired 3 days ago and my company still hasn't sent me new ones so I will be calling them today and that one (should) only be a $10 fix-it ticket as I did have valid insurance, but the other two are my problem. First the bluetooth, it will be my word vs. his, and even though my word is the truth, I'm sure he will have more sway in court than I do because our justice system is screwed up like that, but what are my odds/what should I do there? I already scoured my phone logs, but they don't contain any info in regards to bluetooth (iPhone). In regards to the tint, I hear it is no longer a fix-it ticket and just a fine. Anyone know how much? I was just going to put the tint back on anyway so I guess I'm saved the hassle of that, but the officer is still a prick for writing a ticket for tint (in CA) to begin with!

I realized the above story is a bit long so let me break out my question:

1. My word vs. his on the bluetooth cell phone ticket (I was on my bluetooth, he wrote the ticket anyway)
2. How much is the fine for tinted windows in CA? No fix-it option anymore right?
3. I didn't have a valid insurance card, but did have valid insurance and will be able to prove that, this a $10 fix-it?


Thanks!

[EWYLTJ]

1. You are right about the bluetooth thing. The law says your phone has to be capable of hands-free operation and in must be used that way. If it were being used in a hands free mode, then you win. The law does NOT say you cannot have the phone in your hand.

2. I'm not sure if the tint is a fix-it or not. Sorry... not much data here.

3. Did you tell the cop that your insurance had been renewed? If so, then you complied with the law. The law requires you to have EVIDENCE of insurance. An insurance card with your name and policy number along with your statement that it has been renewed IS EVIDENCE!! If the legislature demanded an up to date insurance card, they could have easily included that in the statute.

[linedpaper]

1. You are right about the bluetooth thing. The law says your phone has to be capable of hands-free operation and in must be used that way. If it were being used in a hands free mode, then you win. The law does NOT say you cannot have the phone in your hand.

2. I'm not sure if the tint is a fix-it or not. Sorry... not much data here.

3. Did you tell the cop that your insurance had been renewed? If so, then you complied with the law. The law requires you to have EVIDENCE of insurance. An insurance card with your name and policy number along with your statement that it has been renewed IS EVIDENCE!! If the legislature demanded an up to date insurance card, they could have easily included that in the statute.

Thanks for the info. I already called the court clerk this morning and they told me all I have to do for the insurance one is mail in a copy of my new insurance card showing that it was valid on the day I received the ticket and pay a $10 processing fee. I realize I could probably get out of the processing fee, but I don't think that part is worth my time. The tint ticket is the only one I'm going to let stand. I did have tint on my windows and that is technically not legal (no matter how dumb the law may be and how big a prick the cop was for writing the ticket to begin with), but the bluetooth one is what I'm most upset about. I had my bluetooth in when I was pulled over. I showed the cop the bluetooth in my ear and that it was connected and he didn't care. I wish the iphone logs showed something so I'd have some sort of evidence instead of it being my word vs. his. If that were the case maybe I could even go after him for perjury