chiciago traffic ticket question

[Ragnarok]

This happened about 10 years ago, but it's always bugged me. On my drive from Indiana to Chicago, I pulled to the shoulder of the Interstate, and the driver's side door was hit by a semi, breaking the window and making the door "uncloseable".

Being a stupid kid, I kept going, but I kind of had to hold the door closed since it wouldn't latch properly, and I was speeding (this is at about 2:00AM by the time I get to Chicago).

I was pulled over by CPD for speeding and driving with a dangerous or inoperable vehicle. (no excuse there, tickets deserved).

I was required to go to court and pay the speeding fine and also 1) pay the fine for the damaged door, or 2) show proof that the door had been repaired/replaced.

When I went to traffic court, the officer that stopped me was sitting in the front row of the court with several other officers. My name was called, and we paraded past the judge. When it got to me, I was told that I did not have to pay the speeding ticket, or fine for the door (it had been replaced), BECAUSE THE OFFICER WAS NOT PRESENT. I turned and looked to see that the officer had, indeed, left. My question is, why? He was there 5 minutes before my name was called, and was gone when I was in front of the judge.

This has bugged me since it happened, and I thought I might ask here. I want to know why he left -- is there a reason, or was he just there for other issues and had no knowledge of my case (meaning my case was irrelevant, he was done with whatever he was primarily there for)?

[SeVere]

When we are notified for court, we are told that we have say 10 tickets at court.

Some people show up some people do not.

The corporation counsel may have told the officer that he could leave and they located your ticket i.e. an oversight, after that officer had left.

Its really not a big deal and with the stacks of tickets at court, things like that happen all the time.

Consider your tickets being dismissed as a good thing.

[scootsmo]

Also, we have a minor traffic room, an alternate major room and a major traffic room. Usually the minor takes precedence over all else but he might have been ordered to attend a trial at the major room causing him to leave early.