What is the name of your state? Arizona, Maricopa County
So the story goes, I received a speeding ticket beginning of May 07 and planned to contest it in court. I called the courts to verify my court date and time and was told that the citation was closed and dismissed being that I attended defensive driving school.
I stated that I had not attended driving school for this citation and that I was not even eligible to do so. I then asked what I should do, the clerk responded, saying that the citation is dismissed and closed. I said Ok, I suppose I will keep an eye on my driving record and asked for a copy of this information.
The court clerk sent me a fax with all of the case information and it clearly states on there that the citation was dismissed being that I attended traffic school. I kept multiple copies of this document for my own record that I still have.
On July 18, 2007 I received a letter in the mail from the Justice Courts saying that I have until July 17, 2007 to pay the fine or my license will be suspended, this letter was postmarked July 17, 2007 as well, very inconvenient I thought.
I called them the following Monday to take care of things and the clerk told me that my citation was dismissed in error, and that my license as been suspended. I informed her of the situation and she told me that my licesnse suspension would be reversed and that I could come in this Thursday to request a hearing or send in a fax requesting a hearing. I opted to send a fax, which I did so today. I called to verify some information with the clerk and was told my license is still suspended and that I was supposed to send the fax in on the day that I called (this was never made clear).
This is where I stand now, I am very frustrated that I am being worked around like this over an error on the courts behalf and I am very confused as to how this can be considered a legal process. If a case is closed and dismissed, in error or not, than how can it be re-opened with absolutely no forward notice to the defendant? I was under the assumption that there is nothing I needed to do with this case and that I essentially got a _get our of jail free card_
I want some advice on how to proceed in court when I get my hearing, should I continue to try and fight the ticket as planned way back in May or should I simply expose the courts errors and request a dismissal? Also keep in mind that this is a simple civil traffic violation, nothing heavy.
Thank you

