Jail or Bail Question? (credit card, moving, drivers license)

[RDG77]

I know someone who was pulled over in Montana (OTR Truck Driver) and was told Montana was a jail or bail state....so he either had to pay the ticket right then or go to jail. Is this how it works in Montana. We will be moving there in a couple of weeks and are curious how this works. Is it just that way for truck drivers? or anybody? Thanks for your help.

[ElkHunter]

That is the law. If you are pulled over and you have out of state plates. Most minor speeding and stuff it's ticket and I'll see you in court. But if you have out of state plates, you pay the bail now, or you set in jail until your court appearance.

I was driving hauling rail roaders and on a trip had to go into Montana 6 miles to pick up a crew. When you drop down into the Decker coal area the speed drops from 65 to 35. There is a sign that says, "Speed zone ahead." I dropped over the hill and when I went past that sign, I took my foot off the accelerator and started applying break. Red lights and blue lights come on. I pulled over. He clocked me at 45 when I passed the 35 sign, but like I said, I was on the breaks. No difference. In Montana, they expect you to be at speed when you go past the sign. So 10 over was the ticket. $55 bail or set in jail til court. This was a Friday night of a three day weekend. Thankfully, when I went on shift, I stopped at a ATM and drew out $60 because I wanted to pick up some grocery's when I got off shift. So I had the $55 to give him. Had to make a second trip to the ATM that night. haha

I could have went to court and explained to the judge what happened and he probably would have dismissed it. However, court was 147 miles up the road and I would have had to take a day off of work to go. I just let them keep the bail.

But out of state plates are Bail or Jail.

[Stephan_K]

Do they only except cash? Or can they call in a credit card number for payment ?

I better get my plates and drivers license changed pretty quick... I don't want to find out the hard way .

[ElkHunter]

I don't know. I had the cash so that's what he got. Not sure if they take credit cards and such. I would imagine that they might take you to the nearest ATM or possibly to the station to do a credit card. But where I got stopped, the nearest ATM was about 75 miles.

[spashark]

MHP doesn't take credit cards.. I asked when i got pulled over for not waring a seat belt and the fine was 20 bux or go to court. So make sure ya have cash..