Driving with expired license ticket

I called again today and spoke to a different person, and asked specifically if I could go ahead and reschedule the date. She said I didn't have to, that I would just be mailed a letter with a new date (same as the first conversation). Seems like such a weird system, and it also seems like failure to appear will not really help the judge look favorably on my case, but anyway...

There is an email address listed for the court so I've sent an email and will fax as well. Thanks for that advice.

Send the letter with a "proof of  mailing." P.o.M. is the cheapest form of documentation. You don't need return receipt.

In what Town did you get the ticket?

LOST said:

In what Town did you get the ticket?

Union 

I sent the fax with confirmation printed out, and I got an email back confirming that my understanding of the situation is correct. 

for a few extra box, a certified return receipt is better...with proof of mailing, they don't know you have the proof and are more likely to play games, with certified mail, they know you are tracking it...i've done a lot of proof of mailing for not as important things.

I know someone that went to Union court, he had 2 charges....and they had him plea to 1 (seatbelt violation)

jmitw said:

for a few extra box, a certified return receipt is better...with proof of mailing, they don't know you have the proof and are more likely to play games, with certified mail, they know you are tracking it...i've done a lot of proof of mailing for not as important things.

I know someone that went to Union court, he had 2 charges....and they had him plea to 1 (seatbelt violation)

Do you not think the email confirmation is sufficient? I'm not sure what they would do with a letter, do they keep a file of my case or something?

In my experience -- somewhat extensive -- with missed N.J. municipal court hearings, the missed hearing date for the first appearance (entering a plea) is not a problem.

Miss the second one without checking in and a warrant goes out..

They usually will not waste time chasing after you if it is a minor offense. The problem comes up if you are pulled over for another offense and the warrant shows up on the car's computer.

Relax. You are taking care of it.

The email and the record of your conversation are enough. Go for the mail if you feel comfortable with the security it gives.

Good luck to you and I think you are smart to document as much as possible.  Hopefully things have improved over the past 5 years, but I found the Union court a Kafkaesque nightmare.  

I was sent a ticket in the mail for something that did not happen and then when I took off work to contest it, they could not find the paperwork.  Then I was told I would have to come back.  I have blocked out all the twist and turns but eventually ended up with a court date and the prosecutor did the typical "I'm going to offer you a lower charge so you better take it"  He was basically a bully who wanted to make sure people paid a fine because (as we know from Ferguson) this is how the city gets some of its funding.    He was very angry because I chose to fight the charge and it was dismissed when the officer did not show up for court

I was absolutely shocked at how the NJ court works with the attorneys just hanging out waiting to plea you down ( for a hefty fee). It seems 100% unethical but is the common practice. Granted, it's been a long time but I remember nothing like this in NY

conandrob240 said:

I was absolutely shocked at how the NJ court works with the attorneys just hanging out waiting to plea you down ( for a hefty fee). It seems 100% unethical but is the common practice. Granted, it's been a long time but I remember nothing like this in NY

My husband is a lawyer (but not for this type of thing) and he's been surprised too!

What bugs me most is that the lawyers then just march into the prosecutors office cutting the line of all the other people waiting to get in to cut a deal on their own. Really unless drugs or alcohol (present or past) are involved they just want to clear the case and no lawyer is needed.

And if you really wanted or needed a lawyer you wouldn't want one of those guys, he ones that hang out trying to pick up clients.

email/fax confirmation is good....as they should realize you can have a record of that.  Some of those court clerks are so clueless, they may just toss it, but if the court gives you an issue about missing the 1st day, you can prove you tried to re schedule ahead of time.

its just that if you were to mail, i would use a certified return receipt as opposed to a proof of mailing so that they are aware you tracked the letter and have a record of it...they should be aware that you have a record of a fax/email.

and everyone i know has always been offered a reduced plea without having a lawyer.....

Thanks everyone!! I really do appreciate all the advice.

Curious... what has transpired?

conandrob240 said:

I was absolutely shocked at how the NJ court works with the attorneys just hanging out waiting to plea you down ( for a hefty fee). It seems 100% unethical but is the common practice. Granted, it's been a long time but I remember nothing like this in NY

And the courts are in on the game as well.  They'd rather get a smaller fine in their own coffers than whatever you would pay to your insurer in surcharges. 

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

Curious... what has transpired?

Nothing new yet. I'm waiting to get the letter with a new court date and we'll go from there!

However, I have gotten at least 10 letters in the mail from lawyers looking to represent me.

TarheelsInNj said:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

Curious... what has transpired?

Nothing new yet. I'm waiting to get the letter with a new court date and we'll go from there!

However, I have gotten at least 10 letters in the mail from lawyers looking to represent me.

Bottom feeders. I really don't like how readily this info is sold to just about anyone willing to pay.

it is public information.   I don't think the towns sell it, but I don't like the lawyers either.

FilmCarp said:

it is public information.   I don't think the towns sell it, but I don't like the lawyers either.

I find it hard to believe the information is easily and freely retrievable. Someone has to collect it and make the collection accessible. That kind of work usually isn't done for free.

BG9 said:

FilmCarp said:

it is public information.   I don't think the towns sell it, but I don't like the lawyers either.

I find it hard to believe the information is easily and freely retrievable. Someone has to collect it and make the collection accessible. That kind of work usually isn't done for free.

Not free, but the costs are low.  Give me your ticket number and I'll have the case at my fingertips.  Court code and date?  Tell you everything on the docket and who is involved.  Etc. etc.  Start with NJ ATS and go from there.

ctrzaska said:

BG9 said:

FilmCarp said:

it is public information.   I don't think the towns sell it, but I don't like the lawyers either.

I find it hard to believe the information is easily and freely retrievable. Someone has to collect it and make the collection accessible. That kind of work usually isn't done for free.

Not free, but the costs are low.  Give me your ticket number and I'll have the case at my fingertips.  Court code and date?  Tell you everything on the docket and who is involved.  Etc. etc.  Start with NJ ATS and go from there.

But the lawyers don't have a number. Someone is preparing and getting them mailing lists of recently opened cases.  

Court dockets are public records,  available free to anybody who asks. 

Some lawyers pay marketing services to compile lists of potential client contacts. It's advertising. If you don't need the service, discard the mail.

BG9 said:

ctrzaska said:

BG9 said:

FilmCarp said:

it is public information.   I don't think the towns sell it, but I don't like the lawyers either.

I find it hard to believe the information is easily and freely retrievable. Someone has to collect it and make the collection accessible. That kind of work usually isn't done for free.

Not free, but the costs are low.  Give me your ticket number and I'll have the case at my fingertips.  Court code and date?  Tell you everything on the docket and who is involved.  Etc. etc.  Start with NJ ATS and go from there.

But the lawyers don't have a number. Someone is preparing and getting them mailing lists of recently opened cases.  

Sure they do.  It's on the docket screen.  Along with your info if you drill down.

I got the notice and new date, which is unfortunately a weekday at 9am. They have 6pm sessions too but I wasn't assigned one. However, given my position I'll just need to suck it up and take off work I guess.

Wow, if this is not all a great lesson in handling your business in a timely manner. Learn it from me, kids- get your ***** done on time! 

It's over! Charges dismissed and I just paid a $33 court fees.

Unfortunately the 9am session went until after 1pm, which put me in a very bad childcare jam and made me miss an important work meeting. It was supposed to be done at noon but they had over 250 people - and of course I have the dumb luck to be one of the last 10 people called.

So, again, a lesson in not being stupid. LESSON LEARNED.

Congratulations! You were probably last because you were rescheduled.

marylago said:

Congratulations! You were probably last because you were rescheduled.

Ah, maybe so. She did say "oh, you wrote a letter!" LOL. I'm sure the backlog was because a number of people probably missed dates over the holidays. I guess I should have forseen that...

Congrats.