Need help/advice...

[CruiseBoundnKY]

Hey guys! We just returned last night from a 4 day trip to Disney World. We had a great, but freezing cold time HOWEVER...we had a small incident that is driving me crazy!!!

We were out and about in our cozy little compact rental car, when we had a state trooper pull up beside us and then in behind us He flipped his lights on and dh and I were like WTH??? He walked up to the window and asked for license and registration. I explained it was a rental and we had no registration. He was ok with that. Then dh says, I have to reach into my back pocket to get my license out. (He didn't want him to think he was going to pull anything else out) Then dh says, I have to undo my seat belt to get to my back pocket is that ok. The officer proceeds to say...THAT'S why I'm pulling you over. We're like ***??? He had the seat belt on, and you're giving him a ticket for.... He said well I didn't see it. Hmmmm

So. He walked away the whole time dh and I were like there is no way he is going to give us a ticket. He seen that he had made a mistake and surely its just a warning or something...right? NOPE...Here's your ticket for $114.00 and here's an envelope to mail it back to Florida in. Have a nice day and do better next time. AGGGHHHHH!!!! What a ___!!!!

I read the letter, but we're in KY. How do we fight this from here? This is so wrong. #1 He had it on!! #2 I don't just have $114 at Christmas to throw away #3 Did I mention we did nothing wrong???

Please somebody tell me you know what we can do. DH is 6' 2" and we were in a compact car. It's not my fault he couldn't see that he had it on.

Thanks!

 

[mtblujeans]

Is there a Florida phone number on the ticket/summons that you can call to ask for an explanation? I would explain what you have stated here....that DH had to remove his seat belt to get to his driver's license and the trooper issued a ticket for not wearing a seat belt anyway and ask why? See what they say.

ETA: I just told my husband about your situation and he suggests that you write out a statement that you were in the vehicle and that your DH was wearing his seat belt, have it notarized, and send it to the court with a letter advising them that you intend to fight the ticket.

Ehh...I would call first but I guess you have a few options here.

 

[pampam]

Wow! That is just so wrong.! Please let us know how it turns out. I am just shocked!!

 

[mistysue]

Often you can't fight a ticket unless you show up in court. That is probably why he wrote the ticket, knowing that it is rare that you will spend the hundreds of dollars and take the time to actually go there to fight $114.

 

[leadfootlevi]

What if you just don't pay it? Maybe right a letter to the court or call...whatever, but I doubt that will get you anywhere. So, what if you just "forget" to pay?

 

[usnuzuloose]

We just sort of the same thing happen. We were grocery shopping and it was raining and so my husband went to get the car and pulled up front. Well it was a red zone and he did not do it intentionally. But the officer came to give us the ticket and I asked her if she intended to give the car straight ahead a ticket since they are also in the red zone. Her reply I told him to go there since he was picking up furniture. I thought what? Then the ticket would not print out and that she would send it in. We were going to fight this but by the time the ticket came it was to late to even fight it was past the date, Had to do it 21 days prior. The phone number only had a recording. So we could not even talk to anyone. And to boot the ticket place was in Santana which is 500 miles very familiar where it is. So it was not even local. I paid and sent it with a letter and for it to be signed and still never heard a word. We paid the bill over the phone. Try calling I hope you make better progress than we did. If we would have been the only one in the red I would have said nothing and just paid.

 

[CruiseBoundnKY]

Thanks guys. I will call today and update.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

What if you just don't pay it? Maybe right a letter to the court or call...whatever, but I doubt that will get you anywhere. So, what if you just "forget" to pay?

That would not be a good thing to do. Either pay it or fight it.

 

[Darcy03231]

What if you just don't pay it? Maybe right a letter to the court or call...whatever, but I doubt that will get you anywhere. So, what if you just "forget" to pay?

I wouldn't do that. My ex did that once with a ticket and his license ended up getting suspended because he didn't pay it. It cost us much more in the long run that it would have if he just paid the darn thing.

 

[msmayor]

What if you just don't pay it? Maybe right a letter to the court or call...whatever, but I doubt that will get you anywhere. So, what if you just "forget" to pay?

Ignoring a ticket will often generate a bench warrant, which can create a multitude of problems.

Buying a house and they run a background check? The outstanding warrant could show up.

Re-enter Florida and get pulled over again? The outstanding warrant kicks out and you can be arrested.

Its a bad idea to ignore citations.

 

[leadfootlevi]

As previously pointed out, please don't listen to my advice!

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

OP what you are going through is so wrong on so many levels. Police officers are there to protect us and uphold the laws. Since when is it an offense on your part if an officer cannot see that your belt is on? People come in all shapes and sizes. Stopping you is one thing, but proceeding to give you a ticket to save his ego is totally another. I believe he just did it on purpose to you and who knows how many other motorists just so he can meet his quota for the day or week. Can you find out which station he represents and call directly there to file a complaint? You don't know but you may not be the only one complaining of foul play. At this point it should be about the money and about getting a crooked officer off the road. The best of luck!

 

[angierae]

That sucks! I got pulled over like that once. He walked up to me and said "Next time, put your seatbelt on BEFORE I pull you over, not after." And I said, "I don't mean to be argumentative, but I have my seven year old in the car and I ALWAYS wear my seatbelt." He took my info, went back to the car for what seemed like forever, then came back, gave me my stuff and told me to have a nice day.

Sounds like that cop knew he made a mistake but also knew you were from out of state so you'd probably just pay it. Had I gotten a ticket I would have fought it, but I was five miles from home.