My traffic ticket nightmare in downtown LA last month

Got pulled over on the 101 near the 110 merge for allegedly running a red. Cop wrote me up for a $490 ticket. I was sure I had a yellow but figured fighting it would cost more time than just paying. Found out from a buddy that using the Trial by Written Declaration option in LA County can actually work if you present the facts clean. Has anyone here beat a ticket using that method in a busy court like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

rileyb6111d ago

Did a written declaration for a stop sign ticket in Van Nuys and got it dismissed. Keep your argument short and stick to facts, dont whine about the price.

jesse_green5510d ago

Yeah but the thing is, I got a stop sign ticket in Burbank once. Total nightmare. I tried the written declaration thing too but the officer actually wrote back and I ended up in court anyways. Judge was grumpy. He kept cutting me off. I didn't even get to finish my point about the sign being partially blocked by a tree. Still had to pay the full $238. So yeah, your mileage may vary on that strategy.

sanchez.pat8d ago

lol dude I did the written declaration for a red light ticket on Sunset and it totally worked. I just kept it real simple, said I had the yellow and the light changed right as I was in the intersection. No long story about traffic being bad or whatever. Cop wrote some generic "I observed the infraction" response and the judge actually dismissed it. I was shocked but yeah, it can work if you don't overcomplicate it and just say what happened. The key is being short and factual, not emotional.