Disregarding a Red Signal Ticket in Prince William County

[boyd888]

Originally Posted by russell_97

Yea it was 1am and the guy was waving his stick it was dark and confusing. Do you think i should take a improvement course now and go to court or let the judge decide?

No, what part of this do you not understand?

"but I would NOT take the driver class before court. It won't help you anyway and eliminates the chance you could be given the option to take that class to have the ticket reduced/dismissed. If it's not an option you can take it after anyway to get back +5 points."

You are only allowed to take the class so often. If you have already taken it before court it can't be offered as an option for a reduction/dismissal.

[SmartMoney]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

There is no reduction for a Red Light violation although a commonwealth attorney can reduce it to whatever they want to include something like Defective Equipment. You have 2 choices. Pre-pay it, or wait until they bill you if you don't show up. Or show up and speak to the commonwealth attorney. Unless things have changed since I retired the commonwealth will be excused out to the hall once the docket is called to allow for those that want to speak with them can. The meetings before the court starts is typically just the officers and lawyers but occasionally a citizen can sneak into this. You can explain the situation and hope for the best. You may be offered no fine but you still pay the court fees. Or he/she may flat out nolle prosequi it. (basically dismissing it)


Make sure you are dressed up and not go in wearing stupid looking clothes or your chances drop dramatically. Just a reminder on the PWC courts. Unless policy changed you cannot take any electronic device into the court building and many people wind up walking back to their cars to lock things up. The Sheriff's office web site should have all this info.


And if I recall correctly a Red Light violation is 4 points.

Yep, get there 40 minutes early. Met w/ prosecutor, negotiated driving school for expungement. Fifteen years later, walked my 20 year old through it, and five years later, his younger brother. No sneaking needed. Ask the guy at the desk before you go down the hallway with the courts. Ask him who the prosecutor is and to point him out. Plant your rear end in line to meet with him. This wont work by mail or telephone.

[russell_97]

Originally Posted by russell_97

Yea it was 1am and the guy was waving his stick it was dark and confusing. Do you think i should take a improvement course now and go to court or let the judge decide?

Originally Posted by SmartMoney

Yep, get there 40 minutes early. Met w/ prosecutor, negotiated driving school for expungement. Fifteen years later, walked my 20 year old through it, and five years later, his younger brother. No sneaking needed. Ask the guy at the desk before you go down the hallway with the courts. Ask him who the prosecutor is and to point him out. Plant your rear end in line to meet with him. This wont work by mail or telephone.

do i speak to him before the hearing or do i have to get the judges permission?

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by russell_97

Yea it was 1am and the guy was waving his stick it was dark and confusing. Do you think i should take a improvement course now and go to court or let the judge decide?

Wait until your DMVNow.com account shows the violations before you take the course.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by russell_97

do i speak to him before the hearing or do i have to get the judges permission?

Did you read what I wrote above? Generally they will only meet with lawyers/officers BEFORE court due to time constraints. Once the judge calls the docket the prosecutor is sent into the hall to speak with those that need to see them. This is the "Let's make a deal moment." No permission is needed from the judge. And before someone comes in decrying the "let's make a deal" process you clearly don't understand the system and how it would bog down otherwise. (I had someone jump on me some time back due to this comment)

[russell_97]

So can you walk me through it better please sorry to ask ive never been through this and cant afford a lawyer

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by russell_97

So can you walk me through it better please sorry to ask ive never been through this and cant afford a lawyer

From what I wrote before.


"Or show up and speak to the commonwealth attorney. Unless things have changed since I retired the commonwealth will be excused out to the hall once the docket is called to allow for those that want to speak with them can. The meetings before the court starts is typically just the officers and lawyers but occasionally a citizen can sneak into this"