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Fare Evasion Charge - Lost Ticket But Paid Through Credit Card

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  • 07-04-2009, 05:37 PM
    MasterGee
    Fare Evasion Charge - Lost Ticket But Paid Through Credit Card
    My question involves traffic court in the State of: California

    I am looking for advice on two questions: Any help ( even if its based on past experience is helpful ). I have really no clue of Courts and how these citations work.

    1. June 05 / 2009, at around 12:xxPM I bought a 4 zone Cal-Train ticket from Santa Clara station (using my credit card), heading SFO. Time was so short, that I only picked the ticket and ran to get on the train. ( I did not pick the receipt. ) On the way back, I didn't realize that I had dropped the original ticket and boarded the train. Later when officer asked to show my ticket, I realized I have lost my ticket. And I was awarded 640(b)(1)PC fare evasion sitation.
    Question: What is likely going to happen? Can my credit card statement showing proof of my Ticket purchase help? I checked with bank and they can also verify time of transaction.

    2. The ticket has an entry no# 16 as follows:
    WHEN: ON OR BEFORE THIS DATE: 7/13/09 TIME:-------

    I went to the Santa Clara Court-house (as in #17 it states WHERE: SC2, which is Santa Clara) and the clerk said, she still does not see/have any information of my ticket. What can happen if this date (July 13) has passed and the clerks keep telling that they have no information of this citation. Now I am also attempting to be at the court within the given time. How likely is it possible that some one later create another charge on me, something like "Failed to Appear within time". Is there a way to avoid it and get it straight.
  • 07-05-2009, 01:48 AM
    Scott67
    Re: Fare Evasion Charge - Lost Ticket But Paid Through Credit Card
    Whatever you do, don't miss the court date waiting to hear from the clerks. Be there; you don't need additional charges. Your credit card billing is proof that you bought something from them; it doesn't prove what you bought - or for that matter - that you didn't buy a ticket, give it to a friend and try to ride free yourself hoping to show the credit card billing if you got caught.

    I would recommend taking your credit card billing statement to show you spent the money and tell your story. You've got, at best, a 40-60 shot. There are a lot more people scheming to get out of fares then there are people honestly losing tickets.

    Good luck.
  • 07-05-2009, 02:34 AM
    That Guy
    Re: Fare Evasion Charge - Lost Ticket But Paid Through Credit Card
    Quote:

    Quoting MasterGee
    View Post
    1. June 05 / 2009, at around 12:xxPM I bought a 4 zone Cal-Train ticket from Santa Clara station (using my credit card), heading SFO. Time was so short, that I only picked the ticket and ran to get on the train. ( I did not pick the receipt. ) On the way back, I didn't realize that I had dropped the original ticket and boarded the train. Later when officer asked to show my ticket, I realized I have lost my ticket. And I was awarded 640(b)(1)PC fare evasion sitation.
    Question: What is likely going to happen? Can my credit card statement showing proof of my Ticket purchase help? I checked with bank and they can also verify time of transaction.

    The ticket itself MUST be presented for fare inspection upon request at any time when you board the train and each and every time you board the train. By you not having it when the officer requested it means that the citation was issued properly. Even if you had the receipt, you were unable to show that you purchased the right ticket for travel between the correct zones, in the direction you were travelling... etc. Same thing holds true for showing your statement in court.

    What might happen?

    A plea or a finding of "guilty" will probably result in a fine of approxinately $380 or so... Plus the judge has the option of ordering you to perform up to 48 hours of community service to be completed within a 30 day period.

    Quote:

    Quoting MasterGee
    View Post
    2. The ticket has an entry no# 16 as follows:
    WHEN: ON OR BEFORE THIS DATE: 7/13/09 TIME:-------

    I went to the Santa Clara Court-house (as in #17 it states WHERE: SC2, which is Santa Clara) and the clerk said, she still does not see/have any information of my ticket. What can happen if this date (July 13) has passed and the clerks keep telling that they have no information of this citation. Now I am also attempting to be at the court within the given time. How likely is it possible that some one later create another charge on me, something like "Failed to Appear within time". Is there a way to avoid it and get it straight.

    The citation will typically take about 3 to 4 weeks before it is entered into the court system. And by the way, the officer has up to a year to file it with the court.

    What you need to do is to keep calling the number shown on your citationn on a regular basis until your court appearance date... I will probably be in the system by then. If it is not, then go to court on the date and time shown, appear on the date shown on your citation, and have the Clerk stamp your copy of the citation showing that you did appear as you are required to do.
  • 07-05-2009, 03:25 PM
    MasterGee
    Re: Fare Evasion Charge - Lost Ticket But Paid Through Credit Card
    Thank you "Scott67" and "That Guy". I will keep checking the Court.
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