Anyone ever gone to court to fight a ticket?

[buck]

Anyone have experience with representing yourself in court?

I need to fight a ticket that, yes, I was guilty of... but don't want to pay the $320 fine.

I'm going to just go and do what any para-legal (Pointts, Ex-Coppers) would do and try for a lesser charge.

Anyone ever been to fight a traffic ticket and have any advice/input?

Can I go to a courtroom and just observe to see what goes on before my actual court date?

Any words to avoid when up there?

[Audized]

postpone your hearing first, so there's more chance that the officer who wrote you the ticket will not attend the hearing. When he/she's not there, you are simply off the hook. I got away with mine by doing that earlier this year. Good luck with the hearing!

(just curious as to what you did that requires you pay $320 fine)

[GTO]

Yup got an extension from a speeding ticket, then plead not guilty when i finally went to court the officer didn't show and the case was dismissed, some of the officers that did show for other cases dismissed theyre charges.

[buck]

ticket was for driving with no drivers licence. it expired 3 weeks prior to the ticket.

.... my question is - what if the cop does show? what is the defence then?

wondering if I should just plea-bargain another ticket? thing is I don't want a conviction either.

I'd rather have no ticket... just haven't been to court before and don't know what the process is.

[Audized]

you can always ask for a fine reduction. If the officer does show, he'll probably look for you before your hearing and try to understand your situation. On his discretion, he may then give you some pointers as to what to say in front of the judge so you'll be given the reduction. That's what happened to other people outside of the court when I was waiting for my hearing.