Didn't Receive Original Infraction in Mail, Just Received Ticket with Late Fees
My question involves traffic court in the State of California in Orange County.
I "received" a ticket for texting. It was never mailed to me or I otherwise never received it.
I just got something in the mail which escalated my original $70 fine to $400 after factoring in late and administrative fees.
What can I do about this(aside from pay which I am reluctantly willing and capable of doing)?
Re: Didn't Receive Original Infraction in Mail, Just Received Ticket with Late Fees
Tell us about the traffic stop, and what you received and were told at that time.
Re: Didn't Receive Original Infraction in Mail, Just Received Ticket with Late Fees
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xelink
My question involves traffic court in the State of California in Orange County.
I "received" a ticket for texting. It was never mailed to me or I otherwise never received it.
I just got something in the mail which escalated my original $70 fine to $400 after factoring in late and administrative fees.
What can I do about this(aside from pay which I am reluctantly willing and capable of doing)?
What do you mean by you "received" a ticket for texting, but it hasn't been mailed to you???? Did they give you a citation?
Your options for handling the cite are either to request a trial by written declaration, go to arraignment & plead "not guilty" and go to trial. Or, plead guilty and pay the fine and assessments.
Re: Didn't Receive Original Infraction in Mail, Just Received Ticket with Late Fees
Call the traffic court and explain your situation, see what you should do to resolve this. I am sure you are not the first person that this happened to, they can probably tell you what to do, it is a common problem. Or mail them a check for the original $70 right now, with a letter explaining you never got the original ticket, ask them to forgive the extra fees etc, send it certified mail so you know they got it.
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Quoting
xelink
My question involves traffic court in the State of California in Orange County.
I "received" a ticket for texting. It was never mailed to me or I otherwise never received it.
I just got something in the mail which escalated my original $70 fine to $400 after factoring in late and administrative fees.
What can I do about this(aside from pay which I am reluctantly willing and capable of doing)?
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How would the exact nature of the traffic stop change things?
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Mr. Knowitall
Tell us about the traffic stop, and what you received and were told at that time.
Re: Didn't Receive Original Infraction in Mail, Just Received Ticket with Late Fees
What Mr. K and most of the other people are suspecting was he was given a ticket at the initial stop.
That's ALL the notice the state is obliged to give him. THe courtesy notice in the mail is just that, a courtesy.
He knew at the time that citation was issued, he had an obligation to deal with the ticket (pay, appear, request TBWD, etc...).
Re: Didn't Receive Original Infraction in Mail, Just Received Ticket with Late Fees
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wv123
Call the traffic court and explain your situation, see what you should do to resolve this.
He can call or check their website. Many courts do not take calls anymore, so it might be best to check the website first.
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I am sure you are not the first person that this happened to, they can probably tell you what to do, it is a common problem. Or mail them a check for the original $70 right now, with a letter explaining you never got the original ticket, ask them to forgive the extra fees etc, send it certified mail so you know they got it.
The check would not cut it. The fine is only a small portion of the total amount he will have to pay and in CA the fine is not indicated on the citation itself. If he were to receive a courtesy notice, that should have the total fine. fee and assessment totals. But, a courtesy notice is not required by law. Plus, if the defendant's address is not current with the DMV he may not receive it at all ... if one was even sent.