No Fare Ticket in San Diego

[Jsym]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: San Diego, CA

I got a ticket for no fare. I bought a 1-way ticket for the blue line and then get off a few stations later to buy lunch. I then went to buy another 1-way fare for the other direction so I could go back to the transit center but the machine was not working and only accepted cash. I had no cash and there was nothing that indicated the machine wasn't working. I decided to go back to the other side and take the long route because I know you can not transfer from blue to blue line and my ticket was still valid. I went all the way to Sante Fe Depot and then got the green line heading to 12th and Imperial as the back of the ticket says you can use it to transfer to another line to complete a "1-way trip". I did not know my trip didn't count as a 1-way trip.

Security was checking tickets and told me that my trip didn't count. I tried to explain what happened to security but told me there is nothing he can do as he had his body cam on and didn't want to get in trouble (which I totally understand). This is my first ticket ever as I take following laws seriously. I understand that I made the mistake of not knowing that I was in the wrong but this all would have been avoided if the machine had worked. The security also took my ticket and I was told that he wasn't suppose to do that as he is citing me for no fare even though I had a fare (just the wrong kind) . However, I have my reciept and bank statement of my ticket if I need to use that as evidence that I had a fare. I only ever stick to one route and this is the first time I changed it up (which I now regret) and I get ticketed.

Since this is my first ticket, is this something I can fight or at least get a lower price? Or do I just pay the ticket and accept that I made a mistake?

[Mr. Knowitall]

Are you charged with fare evasion under San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Ordinace No. 2?

Any violation of Section 2.3 of this Ordinance shall be an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding seventy-five dollars ($75), except that such a violation by a person, after the second conviction under the Ordinance, shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. For purposes of this section, a bail forfeiture shall be deemed to be a conviction of the offense charged.

If so, for a first offense, you can see if you can get a break on the fines, or you can contest the ticket and try to convince the hearing officer that your interpretation of "one-way fare" was reasonable. I cannot make promises that you'll succeed.