It looks like I can't really get my fine reduced, minus going to court. If I had already purchased the new stickers and could show proof of that to a judge the fine would theoretically get chopped in half at least, he has discretion to reduce it however he wants. Considering that I hadn't purchased them, and my previous experience contesting a blatantly wrong ticket in this same court, all signs point to me paying the fine. I am adding a reminder to my calender to purchase new stickers every year. Anyone know why they have to be renewed every year? That's fine if they want $50 a year, but let me set up some autopayment and not have to fucking worry about it.

Not really understanding the problem here. Were you told if you renew your tag and go before the judge he "could" reduce the ticket by someone at the courthouse? If so why wouldn't you pursue this option? Either the judge will tell you to pay the fine in full or he'll reduce/wipe it.

Really you should be renewing your tag BEFORE you go to either check on the possibility of reduction or pay the ticket. That shows you've fixed the infraction and puts more favor in your court for the I forgot excuse. If you check before you renew the tag its like your saying "I could fix this, but I wanna see if it works in my favor first"

Btw...on speeding ticket, unless you have physical proof (e.g. a camera at the speedometer or car physically unable to go over a certain speed limit) you're very rarely going to win a contested speeding ticket. For one, if the cop was stationary he was using a radar. Two, even if he wasn't and he was pacing you it still comes down to a he said/she said issue and the cop gets more pull. Unfortunately thats life. I've never contested a speeding ticket because all mine have been valid...I knew I was speeding and just paid the ticket.

In addition to what Giller said your renewal is required for insurance as well and ya, some states will send out a reminder about a month ahead of when its due although OKC has since stopped doing that and its all up to the driver which reminds me....mines out as well ;)

Calling the courthouse was my last option, having been to that courthouse before I would not trust anything anyone there said. I did some research, found the relevant laws, found various forums with posts by cops and lawyers. I could not found anything where someone said they successfully reduced the fine but had not already bought the sticker before pulling over (i.e. the violation was forgetting to put the sticker on rather than forgetting to buy it).
As far as the problem goes, I think this whole system of purchasing stickers every year is kind of absurd.




That's part of my point, if he had just told me instead of writing me a ticket I could of purchased the sticker on the internet right there in front of him. His interest wasn't in correcting the legal violation.
Of course I purchased a sticker immediately and got it on my car as quickly as I could. It actually wound up taking two days because the fuckers closed early. I rushed to pick it up because they close very shortly after I'm off work, get there 15 minutes before and they are locking up. That's kind of beside the point though.





He claimed to have measured my speed with a laser based detector, one which does not work unless it is stationary. It was practically impossible for me to have reached that speed, the distance was far too short from when I passed him. I brought a map showing my home, the turn I made, and his hiding spot in my alley. I gave it to the judge and explained it to the judge, he glanced at it and said "the officer's report states you were going 35 [or whatever, I think it may of been 38 actually]". It was a total WTF? moment for me. I don't remember what I said in response, it was basically repeating my point that it was practically impossible and would be completely bizarre of me to do since I was commuting 10 minutes to work on a route I drive every morning and I was pulled over nearly 30 minutes before I was supposed to be there. The judge said "well the officer wrote down...". I started to reply and he said, if you want to appeal go talk to the clerk, I started to reply again and he said it again and pointed at the exit. The End.
And yes, I did go talk to the clerk, it was very expensive. All things considered I to cut my losses and pay the ticket.

The other speeding ticket I did not bother contesting. A mcmansion development was installed along my commute, I didn't notice that the school zone had been expanded, probably because the signs saying 35 were still up. I saw the 35 sign where I always accelerated at. I sped up. Ironically, I pulled to the side of the road right in front of the next 35 sign. That cop was one pissy dickhole, I remember I started talking to him and he put his hand on his gun and just stared at me all aggro looking. Really fucking weird, roid rage or a donut deficiency I guess. Again, this is like pre-sunrise in the winter with no one around.