Tinted Window Ticket *NOW UPDATED*
09-11-2009, 04:17 PM
#76
Official Bay Area Patriot
Fuse 24 Assassin
Rennlist Member
Fuse 24 Assassin
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Thought I'd bump this to give you guys an update. I went to court since I plead 'not guilty' in order to get the ticket changed to corrected.
I did some research on vehicle codes and found a CVC that doesn't exactly amend a 'no' checked box, but it does specify that if something on the car is in violation of the law, and can be removed, it is considered correctable and should be noted on the citation. I don't have my notes in front of me right now nor do I remember the code. I spoke to a traffic attorney for a free consultation who gave me this info rather than paying a retainer fee of $355 to fight a $174 ticket.
However, when I walked into court, I knew I was going to lose. I looked at the schedule and I was DEAD LAST on the list. Judges like everyone else, just don't give a good damn before the session is over.
I was called up and the CHP officer followed behind me. This guy gave me dirty looks throughout the whole session, even when I left to use the bathroom before it started!
You think I pooped on his pancakes this morning or something.. We were both given a chance to explain the incident in our point of view. The judge had said that I was in clear violation and the officer had every right to cite me. I told him that I understand why I was given the ticket and that I have no excuse to justify why I shouldn't have gotten the ticket, but I did justify why it should have had a box checked 'yes' as correctable. He said it's the officer's discression to specify whether its correctable or not. I presented my notes about the CVC that says that window tint IS CORRECTABLE based on the subsection of it.
After my explanation, his attitude totally changed and basically interrupted me as I was explaining that I have no problem removing the tint for legality purposes (never even finished my sentence in fact). In short, he told me I was in the wrong and no matter what I'm going to pay $174 whether tint is correctable or not. My case was less than 5 minutes long due to this interruption. Previous motorists got to explain as to why they are innocent. Those cases were between 10-15 minutes long. 2 people were found not guilty because they researched the vehicle codes while mine was just basically thrown out the window as he didn't care.
Here is the more screwed up part, throughout the session, police officers that showed up to court for other violations with motorists shooked their hands, thanked them for coming and basically said 'no hard feelings.' When I turned to shake his hand and thank him for coming he gave me a dirty look, turned around and walked away. Wow. What an ***. I was the only one that was not shown respect by an officer that day.
On a side note, he was not in uniform and it was his day off. He should be pissed. He gave me the ticket, and I wasted half his day in court. Enough said.
All in all, I'm not really sore I had to pay this amount of money for my window tint. It sucks that I got busted, the law is usually enforced more when the state is in debt just to recover from it. It was going to happen sooner or later. I'm now driving with my windows down during the day time. Also, I'm looking for another daily driver car right now as my car is a little too hot for daily usage on the roads of Liberal San Francisco.
I did some research on vehicle codes and found a CVC that doesn't exactly amend a 'no' checked box, but it does specify that if something on the car is in violation of the law, and can be removed, it is considered correctable and should be noted on the citation. I don't have my notes in front of me right now nor do I remember the code. I spoke to a traffic attorney for a free consultation who gave me this info rather than paying a retainer fee of $355 to fight a $174 ticket.
However, when I walked into court, I knew I was going to lose. I looked at the schedule and I was DEAD LAST on the list. Judges like everyone else, just don't give a good damn before the session is over.
I was called up and the CHP officer followed behind me. This guy gave me dirty looks throughout the whole session, even when I left to use the bathroom before it started!
You think I pooped on his pancakes this morning or something.. We were both given a chance to explain the incident in our point of view. The judge had said that I was in clear violation and the officer had every right to cite me. I told him that I understand why I was given the ticket and that I have no excuse to justify why I shouldn't have gotten the ticket, but I did justify why it should have had a box checked 'yes' as correctable. He said it's the officer's discression to specify whether its correctable or not. I presented my notes about the CVC that says that window tint IS CORRECTABLE based on the subsection of it. After my explanation, his attitude totally changed and basically interrupted me as I was explaining that I have no problem removing the tint for legality purposes (never even finished my sentence in fact). In short, he told me I was in the wrong and no matter what I'm going to pay $174 whether tint is correctable or not. My case was less than 5 minutes long due to this interruption. Previous motorists got to explain as to why they are innocent. Those cases were between 10-15 minutes long. 2 people were found not guilty because they researched the vehicle codes while mine was just basically thrown out the window as he didn't care.
Here is the more screwed up part, throughout the session, police officers that showed up to court for other violations with motorists shooked their hands, thanked them for coming and basically said 'no hard feelings.' When I turned to shake his hand and thank him for coming he gave me a dirty look, turned around and walked away. Wow. What an ***. I was the only one that was not shown respect by an officer that day.
On a side note, he was not in uniform and it was his day off. He should be pissed. He gave me the ticket, and I wasted half his day in court. Enough said.
All in all, I'm not really sore I had to pay this amount of money for my window tint. It sucks that I got busted, the law is usually enforced more when the state is in debt just to recover from it. It was going to happen sooner or later. I'm now driving with my windows down during the day time. Also, I'm looking for another daily driver car right now as my car is a little too hot for daily usage on the roads of Liberal San Francisco.
Last edited by Mongo; 09-11-2009 at 04:32 PM.
09-11-2009, 04:50 PM
#77
928 Collector
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Mongo - unfortunately there are 1,000 legal experts out there who will tell you just how wrong the constabulary are, and how right and just you are, and how easy it will be for you to triumph when you put your case before a sane, trustworthy upholder of justice, ie a JUDGE.
Unfortunately this is all untrue ... opinion ... pillow talk ... Grandma and mom used to say this sort of thing: "you should go wipe the ticket under his nose and SHOW him the error of his ways .. quote the law and show him what an imbecile he really is"....
Sadly, this does not work. WHat you should have done, rather than spend the hundreds of dollars in your time and emotional distress, is: Pay a lawyer, and drive your car the way you like it. This is called "paying for your freedoms" and I do it when necessary. If I were you, I'd think carefully about whether to change anything about my car.
Unfortunately this is all untrue ... opinion ... pillow talk ... Grandma and mom used to say this sort of thing: "you should go wipe the ticket under his nose and SHOW him the error of his ways .. quote the law and show him what an imbecile he really is"....
Sadly, this does not work. WHat you should have done, rather than spend the hundreds of dollars in your time and emotional distress, is: Pay a lawyer, and drive your car the way you like it. This is called "paying for your freedoms" and I do it when necessary. If I were you, I'd think carefully about whether to change anything about my car.
Thought I'd bump this to give you guys an update. I went to court since I plead 'not guilty' in order to get the ticket changed to corrected.
I did some research on vehicle codes and found a CVC that doesn't exactly amend a 'no' checked box, but it does specify that if something on the car is in violation of the law, and can be removed, it is considered correctable and should be noted on the citation. I don't have my notes in front of me right now nor do I remember the code. I spoke to a traffic attorney for a free consultation who gave me this info rather than paying a retainer fee of $355 to fight a $174 ticket.
However, when I walked into court, I knew I was going to lose. I looked at the schedule and I was DEAD LAST on the list. Judges like everyone else, just don't give a good damn before the session is over.
I was called up and the CHP officer followed behind me. This guy gave me dirty looks throughout the whole session, even when I left to use the bathroom before it started! You think I pooped on his pancakes this morning or something.. We were both given a chance to explain the incident in our point of view. The judge had said that I was in clear violation and the officer had every right to cite me. I told him that I understand why I was given the ticket and that I have no excuse to justify why I shouldn't have gotten the ticket, but I did justify why it should have had a box checked 'yes' as correctable. He said it's the officer's discression to specify whether its correctable or not. I presented my notes about the CVC that says that window tint IS CORRECTABLE based on the subsection of it.
After my explanation, his attitude totally changed and basically interrupted me as I was explaining that I have no problem removing the tint for legality purposes (never even finished my sentence in fact). In short, he told me I was in the wrong and no matter what I'm going to pay $174 whether tint is correctable or not. My case was less than 5 minutes long due to this interruption. Previous motorists got to explain as to why they are innocent. Those cases were between 10-15 minutes long. 2 people were found not guilty because they researched the vehicle codes while mine was just basically thrown out the window as he didn't care.
Here is the more screwed up part, throughout the session, police officers that showed up to court for other violations with motorists shooked their hands, thanked them for coming and basically said 'no hard feelings.' When I turned to shake his hand and thank him for coming he gave me a dirty look, turned around and walked away. Wow. What an ***. I was the only one that was not shown respect by an officer that day.
On a side note, he was not in uniform and it was his day off. He should be pissed. He gave me the ticket, and I wasted half his day in court. Enough said.
All in all, I'm not really sore I had to pay this amount of money for my window tint. It sucks that I got busted, the law is usually enforced more when the state is in debt just to recover from it. It was going to happen sooner or later. I'm now driving with my windows down during the day time. Also, I'm looking for another daily driver car right now as my car is a little too hot for daily usage on the roads of Liberal San Francisco.
I did some research on vehicle codes and found a CVC that doesn't exactly amend a 'no' checked box, but it does specify that if something on the car is in violation of the law, and can be removed, it is considered correctable and should be noted on the citation. I don't have my notes in front of me right now nor do I remember the code. I spoke to a traffic attorney for a free consultation who gave me this info rather than paying a retainer fee of $355 to fight a $174 ticket.
However, when I walked into court, I knew I was going to lose. I looked at the schedule and I was DEAD LAST on the list. Judges like everyone else, just don't give a good damn before the session is over.
I was called up and the CHP officer followed behind me. This guy gave me dirty looks throughout the whole session, even when I left to use the bathroom before it started!
You think I pooped on his pancakes this morning or something.. We were both given a chance to explain the incident in our point of view. The judge had said that I was in clear violation and the officer had every right to cite me. I told him that I understand why I was given the ticket and that I have no excuse to justify why I shouldn't have gotten the ticket, but I did justify why it should have had a box checked 'yes' as correctable. He said it's the officer's discression to specify whether its correctable or not. I presented my notes about the CVC that says that window tint IS CORRECTABLE based on the subsection of it. After my explanation, his attitude totally changed and basically interrupted me as I was explaining that I have no problem removing the tint for legality purposes (never even finished my sentence in fact). In short, he told me I was in the wrong and no matter what I'm going to pay $174 whether tint is correctable or not. My case was less than 5 minutes long due to this interruption. Previous motorists got to explain as to why they are innocent. Those cases were between 10-15 minutes long. 2 people were found not guilty because they researched the vehicle codes while mine was just basically thrown out the window as he didn't care.
Here is the more screwed up part, throughout the session, police officers that showed up to court for other violations with motorists shooked their hands, thanked them for coming and basically said 'no hard feelings.' When I turned to shake his hand and thank him for coming he gave me a dirty look, turned around and walked away. Wow. What an ***. I was the only one that was not shown respect by an officer that day.
On a side note, he was not in uniform and it was his day off. He should be pissed. He gave me the ticket, and I wasted half his day in court. Enough said.
All in all, I'm not really sore I had to pay this amount of money for my window tint. It sucks that I got busted, the law is usually enforced more when the state is in debt just to recover from it. It was going to happen sooner or later. I'm now driving with my windows down during the day time. Also, I'm looking for another daily driver car right now as my car is a little too hot for daily usage on the roads of Liberal San Francisco.
09-11-2009, 04:53 PM
#78
Official Bay Area Patriot
Fuse 24 Assassin
Rennlist Member
Fuse 24 Assassin
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Of course! I knew that even before going in there. I thought I would just take a chance this time. I thought it'd be a little unorthodox to get a lawyer for a tint ticket though. I don't think I would change anything on my car other than for restoration purposes.
