Are you really that clueless about tickets or are you just pretending?

[Cass]

Serious question. Sort of.

Every time I have gotten pulled over and been issued a ticket I asked the cop how much the ticket was and how much the court costs were, and each time the conversation went something like this:

"I don't know, Ma'am (or "kiddo"). You can call the court to find out."

"OK. But do you know how much it is approximately?"

"No."

"Not even a ballpark figure?"

"No."

"More or less than a hundred dollars?"

"I don't know."

"Well, I guess I'll call the court then..."

"Yes. Have a good day."

Don't get me wrong. I don't expect cops to know everything nor do I expect them to TELL me everything. I know it's their job to write the tickets, and the court is responsible for the fines.

But I do wonder if they really honestly don't know or just don't want to answer. And if they do know, what is the reason why they won't give that information? I can think of a number of reasons, but I'd be guessing...

It just seems that cops would know the amount of fines for tickets they write on a daily basis such as speeding tickets. I mean, they go to court all the time and the judge keeps repeating the fines ad nauseam for every defendant. You'd kinda have to try really hard NOT to remember after a while. Heck, even I know half of the fines off the top of my head by now just from being in court a few times on my own tickets.

Again, not criticizing, just wondering. :confused:

Thank you!

[manahmanah]

I need to know ten codes, vehicle codes, penal codes, health and safety codes, business and profession codes, welfare and institution codes, municipal codes, department policy, and the elements of all the felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions for which I can cite or arrest for. When I tell you I have no clue, not even a ballpark figure, of what a fine is, I am telling you the truth, and I suspect 99.9% of my brethren are as well.

It's YOUR job to follow the laws, my job to enforce them, and the courts/judges job to impose punishments/fines.

[Buffboy]

As you can just mail(or pay me, right there, with cash, there's even a receipt on the ticket for that if you chose that route) the bond for most traffic tickets in my jurisdiction, I have to put that bond amount on every ticket I write.

The bond is automatically forfeited if you don't come to court and it covers your fine. If you don't mail the bond or show up for court a warrant is issued. Then the next time you're pulled over(or we come looking for you), you pay the fine (in cash) right there or you go to jail. So yes, I know what the fines are. I have a schedule that I carry for the ones I don't remember. Our court issues this fine schedule every year. If the offense doesn't require you to go to jail, I know what the fine is going to be.

[Cass]

I need to know ten codes, vehicle codes, penal codes, health and safety codes, business and profession codes, welfare and institution codes, municipal codes, department policy, and the elements of all the felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions for which I can cite or arrest for. When I tell you I have no clue, not even a ballpark figure, of what a fine is, I am telling you the truth, and I suspect 99.9% of my brethren are as well.

It's YOUR job to follow the laws, my job to enforce them, and the courts/judges job to impose punishments/fines.

That's a lot of codes right there. :eek:

I guess that answers THAT question ... Sorry if you found the question offensive. :(

So how do you manage to remember everything that you HAVE to know? I assume that the elements of crimes and the state laws are taught in the academy, but local codes and department policies you'd have to learn once you work for a department.

Do you have classes on local stuff that you were not taught at the academy? Do they test you on stuff like that during your training period? Do you "study study" for it or do you mostly learn things along the way when you run into a specific issue? Do you actually need to remember everything or do you just need to know where to look it up?

OK. Probably all dumb questions, but I really don't know much about the training AFTER the academy, especially the "academic" stuff...

[Cass]

As you can just mail(or pay me, right there, with cash, there's even a receipt on the ticket for that if you chose that route) the bond for most traffic tickets in my jurisdiction, I have to put that bond amount on every ticket I write.

The bond is automatically forfeited if you don't come to court and it covers your fine. If you don't mail the bond or show up for court a warrant is issued. Then the next time you're pulled over(or we come looking for you), you pay the fine (in cash) right there or you go to jail. So yes, I know what the fines are. I have a schedule that I carry for the ones I don't remember. Our court issues this fine schedule every year. If the offense doesn't require you to go to jail, I know what the fine is going to be.

Wow. Can't pay on the spot here. What state are you in?

[Citicop]

Sure I have an idea.

But I am NOT getting drawn into an argument roadside about expensive it is, how the violator can't afford it, why it is so expensive, etc. I have no control over the amount of the fine at all. The police don't set the fine amounts, and experience tells me that starting that conversation opens up a whole new door for people to become angry about on the side of the road.

Once I give the ticket, the traffic stop is nearly over. I give the court info (along with the partial list of common fines) with their summons. If they have any further questions, I refer them to the court clerk.

-Citicop.

[Cass]

Sure I have an idea.

But I am NOT getting drawn into an argument roadside about expensive it is, how the violator can't afford it, why it is so expensive, etc. I have no control over the amount of the fine at all. The police don't set the fine amounts, and experience tells me that starting that conversation opens up a whole new door for people to become angry about on the side of the road.

Once I give the ticket, the traffic stop is nearly over. I give the court info (along with the partial list of common fines) with their summons. If they have any further questions, I refer them to the court clerk.

-Citicop.

Now THAT pretty much sums up my guesses as to why you wouldn't tell me even though you knew (at least a ball park figure)....

Thanks

[Buffboy]

South Dakota.

AFAIK it's that way throughout this state. I even give you a pre-addressed envelope to mail the fine. Fines are set by the state though different jurisdictions may have different court costs. Indian reservations are a world all their own but those, that I'm familiar with, operate the same way for traffic violations. It saves violators having to drive 200+/- miles to go to traffic court.

LEOs reserve the ability (if you are an A$%) to make you go to court or take you directly to a magistrate instead of the mail in option on all but petty offenses but seldom do.

By the way, if you don't mail the fine and you're from out of state, we have an agreement with most of the other states to suspend your DL if you don't pay a fine.

[greg72982]

A better question, Cass, would be why you are getting pulled over and ticketed so much?

[Ispbear]

I'm not familiar with your state, but it could be due to the fact that each county may have different court cost or fines for the offense. As an officer, I'm not going to tell you that I think the fine will be $40 and then the judge tell's you it's $80. The next response would be, "Well the officer told me it would only be $40." This could easily piss the judge off at the officer which any smart officer should know better than to make the judges mad at him.

[retdetsgt]

Oregon has the bail on the bottom of the ticket. You can send in that amount, go to court or send in the money with an explanation.

All that information you need is written on the back of the citation you receive. If the person can't read, perhaps they know someone who can. Like Citicop said, I don't set the fines so I have no desire to get into a debate over it.

[Cass]

I'm not familiar with your state, but it could be due to the fact that each county may have different court cost or fines for the offense.

They might have, but I figured they would know the fines for their own jurisdiction. Unless they're State Troopers covering multiple counties (not sure that ever happens...).

As an officer, I'm not going to tell you that I think the fine will be $40 and then the judge tell's you it's $80. The next response would be, "Well the officer told me it would only be $40." This could easily piss the judge off at the officer which any smart officer should know better than to make the judges mad at him.

That makes sense if you're unsure of the amount...or the customer wants to know the exact amount.

Thanks

[JakeLock]

We don't set the fines here but I have to know and put the fine amount on every ticket I write.

[Cass]

Oregon has the bail on the bottom of the ticket. You can send in that amount, go to court or send in the money with an explanation.

All that information you need is written on the back of the citation you receive. If the person can't read, perhaps they know someone who can. Like Citicop said, I don't set the fines so I have no desire to get into a debate over it.

I'm not 100% sure anymore, but I could have sworn that the last ticket I got (or the prior ones) did not state an amount (not even included in a list of common infractions). You have to call the court clerk to find out.

[RoadKingTrooper]

Cass, you need to move to Colo. ALL fines are listed on the ticket you receive.........except for mandatory appearances




(jeust guessing somebody got another ticket today)