Pleading not guilty by proxy?

[Fatjim]

Is there a legitimate way you can plead not guilty without actually showing up on the day? I have a bogus "illegal passed on left" to defend.

[TLMAN]

Is there a legitimate way you can plead not guilty without actually showing up on the day? I have a bogus "illegal passed on left" to defend.

You can just write a letter directly to PIB and request a defended hearing.

[Fatjim]

My understanding is that you have plead not guilty and then a new date is set, meaning 2 trips to court, which is what the coppers hoping for. I want to avoid the first trip to court for a 2 minute hearing.

I believe this is the old classic of cops wasting peoples time because its worse than the fine.


Whats a PIB

[TLMAN]

Police Infringement Bureau

You can write a short letter stating that you wish to plead not guilty and that you wish to defend the charges in court.

Address the letter to the address on the back of the ticket that you were issued.

The Police Infringement Bureau
PO Box 9147
WELLINGTON

Im almost certain that you can do this and it will save you appearing in court, however why dont you ring them to confirm.

0800 105 777.

[Patrick]

But if you don't go, how can you defend it?

TLMAN has it right.

They will give you a date for a defended hearing and that is the only one you need to turn up on.

[Tony]

I believe this is the old classic of cops wasting peoples time because its worse than the fine.

Whats a PIB

Seems like two trips to court is a waste of time. seems silly you have to turn up to court in person at a preliminary hearing to say you want a defended hearing.

Maybe they want the preliminary hearing so that the prosecution can ask questions on how and why you wish to defend it at the preliminary hearing so that they can work out who they need to have as witnesses, etc at the defended hearing?

I am not sure that it is the cops that want to waste your time and the courts. Not sure that you can just write a letter asking for a defended hearing. But I will be interested to hear what you discover.

[hbnath]

Go directly to the district court and ask them what the process is. Don't just rely on sending any letters in to PIB then not going to court. There is only one result if you are a no show and no one has any idea why...a warrant for failing to appear.