Court costs for fighting traffic tickets

[Oliver12345]

After reading some threads about fighting tickets, I was wanting to know from people that have fought tickets and lost, what the court costs were and what was the original fine

Might help people decide if they are willing to risk the court costs

[Gremlin]

After reading some threads about fighting tickets, I was wanting to know from people that have fought tickets and lost, what the court costs were and what was the original fine

Might help people decide if they are willing to risk the court costs
Court costs are fixed per infringement, not a percent of the fine etc. I think court costs are currently $130. You win, no cost. You lose, you pay infringement plus court costs.

[haydes55]

$130 isn't too bad, even on top of the ticket. Worth a gamble that the cop mightn't turn up and no demerits?

[Mo NZ]

Used to be no demerits for a court appearance.
Say you said you would defend the matter.
- Cop doesn't show = no evidence put up and the matter is withdrawn. :clap:
- turn up and say you have changed your mind and now wish to plea guilty.
You got a fine + cc, but no demerits were accrued.

Not sure it they have they have fixed it in recent times.

[R650R]

I paid 40 cents for a stamp to contest a wrong registration number recorded on an ION.
They wrote back saying they had changed it and deleted all record of the error (altering evidence), and it wasn't worth going further with that now....

[Oliver12345]

OH so the one fixed charge regardless of amount. Could the original punishment become harsher. i.e. instead of losing license for what would have been 1 month, the judge extends it to 6 months if the charge allowed it?

[Gremlin]

OH so the one fixed charge regardless of amount. Could the original punishment become harsher. i.e. instead of losing license for what would have been 1 month, the judge extends it to 6 months if the charge allowed it?
Open ended question, the reasons for going to court are long (almost endless) for a number of reasons, categories etc. Traffic infringements are more straightforward, but large speeding fines (ie, high enough to earn disqualifications) are set by the Judge/JP when you're in court, and in this scenario, it's entirely up to the JP/Judge what you get. Also bear in mind that there are other fees for other things, like applying for a limited licence is around $400, no guarantee of success etc.


$130 isn't too bad, even on top of the ticket. Worth a gamble that the cop mightn't turn up and no demerits?
Depends on the original ticket. You're free to contest a 55 in a 50 for example, but it's a $30 ticket. Contesting and losing gets you $160... perhaps not the smartest move, and it had no demerits to begin with.

[rastuscat]

Open ended question, the reasons for going to court are long (almost endless) for a number of reasons, categories etc. Traffic infringements are more straightforward, but large speeding fines (ie, high enough to earn disqualifications) are set by the Judge/JP when you're in court, and in this scenario, it's entirely up to the JP/Judge what you get. Also bear in mind that there are other fees for other things, like applying for a limited licence is around $400, no guarantee of success etc.


Depends on the original ticket. You're free to contest a 55 in a 50 for example, but it's a $30 ticket. Contesting and losing gets you $160... perhaps not the smartest move, and it had no demerits to begin with.

10 demerits for that infringement.

[Gremlin]

10 demerits for that infringement.
Sorry, was implying a van camera or such like... Should have mentioned...

[Mo NZ]

So do you get demerits when you make a court appearance.
re post #4
I know in the past you did not.

[rastuscat]

So do you get demerits when you make a court appearance.
re post #4
I know in the past you did not.

The way you get convicted makes no difference to the demerit system. If you pay the fine you get the demerits, if you go to court and get convicted you get the demerits. If you do nothing, you get convicted, you get the points and you get a bunch of processing costs as well.

The only difference is in how you got caught. Speed camera offences currently carry nil demerits, but officer-issued speeding tickets do.

[Mo NZ]

Cheers.
..

[unstuck]

No such thing as court cost's these days. It is now an offenders levy fee, and is $50 as soon as you step in the dock, regardless of the outcome. The longer your particular case the higher the fee.:2thumbsup

[Erelyes]

I paid 40 cents for a stamp to contest a wrong registration number recorded on an ION.
They wrote back saying they had changed it and deleted all record of the error (altering evidence), and it wasn't worth going further with that now....

Fuckin' ages ago I got a ticket where they put down the licence issue date, as my date of birth, on the ticket.

I never bothered to contest it but I now wonder what they would have done with it...

[unstuck]

Fuckin' ages ago I got a ticket where they put down the licence issue date, as my date of birth, on the ticket.

I never bothered to contest it but I now wonder what they would have done with it...

Nothing, they put the wrong rego plate number on my last ticket, but had correct drivers license number, so there was fuck all I could do apparently. ;)

[Gadget1]

No such thing as court cost's these days. It is now an offenders levy fee, and is $50 as soon as you step in the dock, regardless of the outcome. The longer your particular case the higher the fee.:2thumbsup


Another levy. Typical.

[jaykay]

$130 something dollars courts costs and an offenders levy I believe - only if guilty.

It is possible for an infringement fee to be increased if you are found guilty, but actually very unlikely as long as you show some respect for the system.

Friend of mine went into court this morning, 56 in a 50 (speed camera van). Police had no paperwork so withdrew it - result, don't have to pay $30.

I seem to recall only 90% of the fine goes to the council or police if you are found guilty in court.

[unstuck]

$130 something dollars courts costs and an offenders levy I believe - only if guilty.

It is possible for an infringement fee to be increased if you are found guilty, but actually very unlikely as long as you show some respect for the system.

Friend of mine went into court this morning, 56 in a 50 (speed camera van). Police had no paperwork so withdrew it - result, don't have to pay $30.

I seem to recall only 90% of the fine goes to the council or police if you are found guilty in court.

Well the court system lied to me then, theres a surprise.:shifty:

[rastuscat]

$130 something dollars courts costs and an offenders levy I believe - only if guilty.

It is possible for an infringement fee to be increased if you are found guilty, but actually very unlikely as long as you show some respect for the system.

Friend of mine went into court this morning, 56 in a 50 (speed camera van). Police had no paperwork so withdrew it - result, don't have to pay $30.

I seem to recall only 90% of the fine goes to the council or police if you are found guilty in court.

Great fable that one.

For parking tickets written by city councils, there's a split in the revenue which allows the council to pay their parking officers.

For tickets written by Police, Police get none of the fines, regardless of how they happen.

Still, it makes a great story, if you keep telling it.

[R650R]

Fuckin' ages ago I got a ticket where they put down the licence issue date, as my date of birth, on the ticket.

I never bothered to contest it but I now wonder what they would have done with it...

Probably the same.
It is bona fide official evidence altering though, an offence initself. The incorrect ticket should be cancelled and a new one written.
It would be interesting to make a court case out of it and have the office person appear... trouble is their perjury wouldn't annul your original offence, its a separate incident of its own.
And over a matter of eighty dollars its not worth the hassle.

Even in my drivers hours logbook, a legal document, I'm not even allowed to cross out an error or use twink etc. Write down a wrong date or time etc your not allowed to cross out and correct alongside, you must write cancelled across the whole page and start all over again and keep a record of the error of course on that page.

[R650R]

This all reminds me of a story from a truckie mate who got off logbook offences.
First he consulted a lawyer friend then followed his instructions exactly, still bit of a gamble but here's how it went down.

He ignored all the summons then awaited till sure there was an arrest warrant issued for failing to appear in court.
Then he went to paknsave and bought several bags of groceries being sure to unclude some icecream that would melt.
Then he presented himself at local court (preferable as far away from where the offence commited as possible) with his bags of dripping icecream late in the day.
He then told the clerk of the court "My liberty is at stake, my friend Apu at paknsave tells me an arrest warrant has been issued". These key opening word means a judge must hear you that day.
The court and judge try to make inquiries but of course cant get hold of the officer concerned so the charges against him and warrant are dismissed/discharged and he walked free as court deems any non assault type thing as minor.
Was a awhile ago so not sure if would work these days and a few big gambles involved.

[Mo NZ]

Probably be bailed by a registrar on court bail to appear at a future date nowadays.
Eventually, if this happens too often, there would be a note attached to the file saying Do Not Bail.
Then he will be taken into custody whenever or wherever he is at the time.
Worst case scenario he is spoken to in a provincial town on Saturday morning.
He would be taken to a cell and remain there until his case can be heard on Monday.

The court record may record he has been bailed a few times before and doesn't turn up.

Result, remand in Custody to see a Judge to be sentenced and/or convince him/her he will turn up..