I am in NY State, a coworker just came to me and asked me a question regarding a ticket he received while in California. The ticket was for his passengers not wearing their seat belts and the fine was $400. He asked his lawyer who advised him to ignore it and it would probably be forgotten about. He followed the advice and ignored it only to receive another notification with an additional $300 late fee for a total due of $700.
Anyone here from CA who could give him some guidance on this.
I was a little shocked at the $400 ticket charge, I was stopped once here in NY for not wearing mine ( didn't bother because I was making numerous stops our small town and didn't bother buckling up between one of the stops). Even though my ticket was dismissed because an affidavid was not issued and the officer did not appear in court, I have heard that fines for not wearing a belt is about $125. Could the $400 fine in CA be due to the number of passengers not wearing belts? I didn't ask how many weren't.
Thanks
__________________
To view pictures of my 1968 unrestored original (survivor) coupe, 11,845 miles (from Menlo Park CA): go to --http://www.allfordmustangs.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/105333[/url] -- click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the enlarged picture to super-size it.
IIRC it's $100 per incident, so sounds like he had a full car without belts. Ignoring a ticket sometimes worked decades ago before DMV databases could talk to each other, but nowadays it's muy stupido.
that's what I was thinking, a dollar amount per person, he wasn't smart in taking someone's advice. Thank you.
__________________
To view pictures of my 1968 unrestored original (survivor) coupe, 11,845 miles (from Menlo Park CA): go to --http://www.allfordmustangs.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/105333[/url] -- click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the enlarged picture to super-size it.
Seems like any ticket in california is $400 now
i got a driving in car pool ticket awhile back $396.00
my mother in law got caught by the red light camera $424.00
i think they are trying to get out of debt via ticket money
what kind of lawyer does he have that gives advise like that.
that bothers me more than the ticket fee.
i reccently took the shoulder belts out of my 70. I always wear the lap belt. a cop pulled me over and wanted to ticket me for not wearing the SB. he saw I had the lap belt on a gave me a break.
but he did say if its in the car it s/b worn. so i removed it when i got home.
__________________
1970 Mach 1 San Jose built Dec 23 1969. Marti says 1 of 7. Purchased in 1987. Original family owner of the powertrain 351C 2v FMX.
1993 GT 11,000 miles, Built 2-12-93 Auto, 3:27 Axle, cloth, sunroof. Untouched except for rubber and battery, Purchased new 8-3-93. still has the factory windshield fluid and new car smell.
what kind of lawyer does he have that gives advise like that.
that bothers me more than the ticket fee.
i reccently took the shoulder belts out of my 70. I always wear the lap belt. a cop pulled me over and wanted to ticket me for not wearing the SB. he saw I had the lap belt on a gave me a break.
but he did say if its in the car it s/b worn. so i removed it when i got home.
You got a break , Mich says if the car came with a Shoulder /B you had better wear it , matters not if it' s not in the car. We also have some what of a differant law , if anyone is not wearing a seat belt , they get the ticket not the driver.
__________________
1969 Mach 1 , with American Eagle's 15"x8" 4.25 back space 235/60/R15 BF Goodrich tires
351W Massaged just a little with a mild cam and Edelbrock intake. Holly 650
1968 GMC step side short box
1967 Triumph 650 Tigar Twin Cycle
2007 Mustang
As Red Green Would Say. If It Ain't Broke , your not trying hard enough
Never givfe up the ship!
Seem a little odd and nothing more than an intentional revenue stream to issue the ticket to the driver if the car was full of other adults who were not wearing seat belts.
State of Texas has agreements with many other states to share information on tickets that also include hunting and fishing violations that result in a ticket. You don't pay you don't get to register your car until the fine is satisfied. I suspect the person he talked to was not a lawyer.
Can't imagine all the horribly inept lawyers I have known would have give that kind of advice.
Usually, in Colorado at least, if you ignore the ticket, they will cancel your license.
Your friend could probably get away with ignoring it, if he NEVER goes to Cali again. Chances are, if he continues to ignore it, California will issue a warrant for his arrest. Probably only good in Cali, but it's not cool to have a warrant.
As far as DMVs being able to talk, kinda true. The states that participate are considered "compact" states. However, California is not a compact state, and there are only two that aren't. Basically, what that means is if you lose your license in Colorado, you could theoretically go to California and get one issued there, that would be valid. If you tried to get a license in say, Wyoming, they would deny you a license under "compact violation". Still, if you get your license revoked for something like a DUI in Colorado, went to California and got a license, then drove in Colorado and got caught, your driving status in Colorado would still show as revoked, and to jail you go.
Btw, tell that dude to pay his frickin ticket and stop being a douche.
"Seem a little odd and nothing more than an intentional revenue stream to issue the ticket to the driver if the car was full of other adults who were not wearing seat belts."
Yea man. Seat belts, like anything else the gov comes up with for revenue, is more about the money than actually impacting anything to do with safety. Illegal immigrants involved in causing fatal crashes far far far exceed lack of seatbelt use injuries. Food for thought. Do any of you honestly believe laws are put in place to actually protect you from yourself in todays thinking? It's all about the money and how to get it. Damn, a town close to me just enacted a law that say's it's illegal to leave a hitch in your reciever when not in use! Why? Because the Mayor of the town walked into a hitch at a bar and hurt his knee. THAT's how laws get made. On the revenue side, that's now a reason to get pulled over and fined. When will it end? More importantly, how much will we tolerate?
Pretty cut and dried from where I sit, wear your seatbelt, ensure those in your vehicle do the same, and you are worry free on getting a seatbelt ticket.
States need revenue, and pray on the daring and foolish to foot the bill...
Too bad your friend got a bum steer from his lawyer...
I sure hope he hurrys up and pays the ticket, we could sure use the cash out West, here!!
__________________
1969 Boss 302
355hp @ 6100rpms and more!
Most laws are not about safety , thats there excuse . It is mosty because of people like that mayor ! Some one doesn't like this or that and they push for some law because of there dislike. I just recently heard of a congreesman who didn't like people eacting while they are driving , he wants to stop this and talked about a law to stop this hanise act ! How , I would like to slap some of these idiots who want to control everything.
__________________
1969 Mach 1 , with American Eagle's 15"x8" 4.25 back space 235/60/R15 BF Goodrich tires
351W Massaged just a little with a mild cam and Edelbrock intake. Holly 650
1968 GMC step side short box
1967 Triumph 650 Tigar Twin Cycle
2007 Mustang
As Red Green Would Say. If It Ain't Broke , your not trying hard enough
Never givfe up the ship!
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Californians - seat belt ticket
My Web Site 
