Tracking traffic tickets (San Jose, San Francisco, Fremont: how much, DMV, costs)

[jonlovet]

Hi,
Yesterday when I was driving in downtown San Jose, I had forgotten to turn off the high beam. (i came from CA87). I saw police car coming in opposite direction and they flashed a torch on me. (this was not the light that police use on top of their cars. it was yellow colored torch). I was not able to stop because the streets are too small and I was driving into parking lot. Cars were in front of me and behind me. I thought police could be waiting but I did not see them after I came back on street after parking car. Could there be a case that police have noted my license plate down and reported it to DMV. If that is what has happened, what could be done next. How much fine would I have to pay. Would there be points on my driving record ? Please let me know.
Thanks in advance.

[ondys]

I wouldn't really worry about the police as they were most likely just reminding you to turn off your high beams. However I would like to point out that you are not really supposed to use your high beams even on freeways unless you are pretty much the only vehicle there (which rarely happens unless you were driving in the middle of the night)

[jbunniii]

I agree, the cop would have pulled you over if he was going to issue a ticket. Most likely he flashed the light to remind you that you had your high beam lights on.

[jonlovet]

Thanks ondys and jbunniii!
One of my friend also told me the same.

[Andy1369]

Let it go, trust me. If the cop was going to give you a ticket, s/he would have approached you and issued it right there and then, in person. It costs money to send a ticket via the mail.

Don't worry; just be more aware of your hi-beams next time and all should be good.

[Wintermomma]

I wouldn't sweat it. They would stop you if they were going to do anything. He was just reminding you but has far bigger fish to fry than a ticket for it.

[jonlovet]

Originally Posted by Andy1369

Let it go, trust me. If the cop was going to give you a ticket, s/he would have approached you and issued it right there and then, in person. It costs money to send a ticket via the mail.

Don't worry; just be more aware of your hi-beams next time and all should be good.

Thanks Andy and Winter..

@Andy
"It costs money to send a ticket via the mail. "

Then what about the tickets the people receive because of cameras on signals and speed detectors ?

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by jonlovet

Then what about the tickets the people receive because of cameras on signals and speed detectors ?

I believe that in many cases a private company has the contract to send out the violations and collect the fines. They get a percentage and the city gets the rest.

I got a red light violation in Burlingame recently and the fine was somewhere north of $500. I was stressed out about arriving too late to the Caltrain station to take Caltrain to a Giants game (yeah, I lead a very stressful life) and having to drive to SF, and rolled through a right turn on red at about 5mph.

[quizzer25]

Originally Posted by jonlovet

Thanks Andy and Winter..

@Andy
"It costs money to send a ticket via the mail. "

Then what about the tickets the people receive because of cameras on signals and speed detectors ?

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

I believe that in many cases a private company has the contract to send out the violations and collect the fines. They get a percentage and the city gets the rest.

I got a red light violation in Burlingame recently and the fine was somewhere north of $500. I was stressed out about arriving too late to the Caltrain station to take Caltrain to a Giants game (yeah, I lead a very stressful life) and having to drive to SF, and rolled through a right turn on red at about 5mph.

There are some cities that have photo enforced cameras that give tickets for redlight violation. Fremont, Burlingame, San Francisco in Bay area and Cerritos, Los Alamitos etc in Southern California.

You can go to court to plead guilty and the judge may reduce the fine if you are lucky.