Traffic Citation - City of Atlanta (Ideal: insurance, home, neighborhood)

[amaani]

Hi

I just got a ticket today for failure to stop at a red light while making a right turn. I was later told that this same officer was going around giving multiple tickets at the same time to other vehicles in my neighborhood (I am not aware though for what but I assume traffic citations).

Anyhow, I told him that I did stop at the light, looked left and right (which I know I did) and then turned. He said I did not stop, I coasted and went straight into a right turn.

So as usual, its a case of my word against his, and he is the officer and gave me the ticket.

I know in court you get a sheet and you can mark nolo (not sure I understand that), guilty, or not guilty. I do feel I am not guilty, but the judge I assume would not believe me over a copy. I also do not want this on my record to have my insurance rates go up.

Ideally I would like to not have to hire a lawyer, that is going to cost me at least $300.

[residinghere2007]

Something similar happened to me. You will go to court and on the first day you plead guilty, not guilty, or nolo and that is all that happens. If you plead guilty you just pay the fine. If you plead nolo they may still make you pay the fine it just won't go on your driving record. I plead not guilty and had to come back to court a couple weeks later. The officer didn't show up for court so I didn't have to pay anything and was found not guilty. I have actually had to go to court twice for similar citations, one for a red light, almost the same scenario that you mentioned and then one for supposedly not stopping at a stop sign, my kid in the back seat actually said hi to the officer when we stopped at the stop sign. I waved and everything and he still have me a ticket even though I made a complete stop. It always happens at the end of the month, I figure the officers have to fill their quota for citations. But both times I didn't have to pay anything, it just depends on whether or not you want to take off work to go to court. I'm a stay at home mom so I didn't have any problem going and I surely wasn't going to pay $200 for some tickets for something I didn't do. So luckily it only costs me my time.

[cityrover]

Before you gamble on the old and disproven "they aint showins up in no court yall" rhetoric, call his dept (precinct) and ask if their employees get paid overtime to be in court. that will pretty much give you your answer.

Other options are talk with the solicitor and have it moved to a non traffic offense