Originally Posted by
Sweet Willie
Let me count the ways.
1) thrown out, cop did not appear
2) I've had fines reduced from hundred's to $50 or less. (last example I have was using cell phone in Chicago, reduced to $20 from I forget how many exact hundreds they wanted if I had just paid the ticket)
3) Pay the fine but am granted supervision (so essentially dropped if I have a clean driving record for 3-6 months)
4) Pay the fine but violation dropped to a non-moving one.
(I can't provide cost saved by insurance premium not going up for the last two points)
Also, let's not forget if one has a company car, having a severe speeding ticket or other traffic violation come to the attention of one's employer is not worth it no matter the financial cost to fight it.
so yes for me and my many experiences, it has ALWAYS been to my benefit to go to court or to have someone appear for me.
Originally Posted by
gglave
Sure, but in this case most of these examples don't apply, or aren't relevant under British Columbia law.
Gglave is right on. Police officers are no longer required to appear. They can submit their statement by affidavit. This was changed a few years ago to cut down on the opportunists who knew they were guilty but disputed tickets and wasted the court's time just in the hopes the officer wouldn't show. And no such thing as supervision here.
The only part I agree might be worthwhile is that the judge has the discretion to alter the fine depending on the circumstances, i.e. defendant is a student with limited funds etc. but I can't see it happening in this case as the speed was so far above the posted limit. But I have personally also seen judges raise the fine amount for various reasons, although rarely. This could be one of those cases, IMO, as it really should have been an Excessive violation and it might p.o. the judge that he had the nerve to try and get out of even the lesser fine instead of being grateful for the break he was given. The judge has the discretion to raise or lower the fine and he ight decide a bigger deterrent/punishment is warranted in certain circumstances.