PA Expired Registration Ticket ? (college, inspection, legally)

[hallja]

Hi,

I am 20 years old, and have always kept my car up to date (legally, inspection, registration, etc). I usually receive a paper in the mail for my registration when it is close to expiring, to receive a new one. I usually end up doing it online though, but this is a crucial reminder.

Anyways, I got pulled over and fined 115 dollars for an expired registration sticker and the police officer told me to get it renewed and go to the local magistrate to see if there is anything that could be done about the ticket and he explained that the the truck could be towed if I don't get it renewed. 20 minutes later, I paid for a new registration online, and printed a receipt until I receive the new sticker in the mail.

I went to the magistrate with my receipt and ticket and explained that the officer who issued the ticket told me to see if he could do anything for me. He refused to dismiss the ticket but his secretary told me to plead not guilty so I could speak with the officer and that the officer may or may not dismiss it or lower the fine. So I did what she advised and I have a date in court for November 7th at 2:45pm.

Do I have a chance at all of getting it dismissed or lowered? I was driving it with expired tags, I just didn't realize it since we had not received the papers to renew them yet. (They also used to make the registration and inspection sticker dates match, but they changed it, and I had my car parked because I couldn't get it fixed and now the dates are different. If that makes sense)

I am a college student, don't have a lot of money, but I did intend to renew the registration, just hadn't realized that it had expired until I got pulled over. I even handed him an expired registration form, not even realizing it until he pointed out that it had expired September 30th, and it was October 20th.

Thanks!

[PeterRabbit]

You hung yourself when you handed the cop the expired form. Why didn't you take care of it on time?

[DowntownHarrisburg]

Yeah, it's kind of hard to not take blame for an expired registration. It's on a reflective sticker on the back of your car for the whole world -- including you -- to see. Sooner or later we all forget, and we get that nice wallet-eating fine to help us remember next time.

By all means, ask the DJ about reducing or waiving the fine. It certainly won't hurt anything. Even if you don't get it reduced, you can probably break it down into a dozen $20 monthly payments.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by hallja

Anyways, I got pulled over and fined 115 dollars for an expired registration sticker and the police officer told me to get it renewed and go to the local magistrate to see if there is anything that could be done about the ticket and he explained that the the truck could be towed if I don't get it renewed. 20 minutes later, I paid for a new registration online, and printed a receipt until I receive the new sticker in the mail.

He wants you to plead not guilty so he can get the court time and a make some extra bucks. He will probably give you a break as the secretary suggested since he got some extra cash in his pocket. They aren't going to come right out and tell you that for obvious reasons. A lot of officers will suggest you plead not guilty and they might be able "work with you on it".

[MeinGlanzendMotorrad]

I've had some pretty hefty (in excess of 30mph over) speeding tickets lowered to 5-overs or parking tickets by getting my day in court and being friendly with the officer/judge. Had a few future encounters with the same cop as one of my bigger tickets that got me off with a laugh and a warning to knock it off because he was tired of seeing me.

So take your not guilty plea and see how it goes.