lonejedik
03-19-2009, 12:35 PM
Thanks to whoever reads/responds to this. (This is only a question and not in any way a complaint)
I got pulled over this past weekend in NY by a NYC cop. I was pretty much expecting a ticket as I think I was speeding. That said, when the officer came up to the window he asked me for the usual stuff and then proceeded to say he was only going to give me a warning. (I am from CT. CT license as well. Not sure if that mattered)
He went back to his car to write, etc. When he came back he handed me a slip and reiterated he was just giving me a warning. As he walked off he said, "plead not guilty and send it in".
Given that it was a busy stretch of highway (Henry Hudson going south) I did not bother to prolong the interaction by asking questions or even looking the slip over. When I looked at it later, though, it appeared to look no different than what a ticket would look like as far as I could tell. Pleading not guilty as I read on the thing seemed to mean that they would be giving me a court date and such. In my mind however, a warning meant that I was just being warned, in writing, that I had screwed up but that I would not have to take any other action beyond mailing it in.
I realize that the officer was doing me a favor by doing what he did, that said, I almost would rather pay the ticket than have to drive the 1.5 hours to plead not guilty in person. It would be a major hassle because of my work situation as there is no one to cover me.
The longwinded question is, is what he gave me just a warning that mailing the slip in will solve with no further action? or is it a ticket that the officer was saying 'plead not guilty and you'll be able to get off but you'll have to show up in person'.
Again thanks
Joe Williams
I got pulled over this past weekend in NY by a NYC cop. I was pretty much expecting a ticket as I think I was speeding. That said, when the officer came up to the window he asked me for the usual stuff and then proceeded to say he was only going to give me a warning. (I am from CT. CT license as well. Not sure if that mattered)
He went back to his car to write, etc. When he came back he handed me a slip and reiterated he was just giving me a warning. As he walked off he said, "plead not guilty and send it in".
Given that it was a busy stretch of highway (Henry Hudson going south) I did not bother to prolong the interaction by asking questions or even looking the slip over. When I looked at it later, though, it appeared to look no different than what a ticket would look like as far as I could tell. Pleading not guilty as I read on the thing seemed to mean that they would be giving me a court date and such. In my mind however, a warning meant that I was just being warned, in writing, that I had screwed up but that I would not have to take any other action beyond mailing it in.
I realize that the officer was doing me a favor by doing what he did, that said, I almost would rather pay the ticket than have to drive the 1.5 hours to plead not guilty in person. It would be a major hassle because of my work situation as there is no one to cover me.
The longwinded question is, is what he gave me just a warning that mailing the slip in will solve with no further action? or is it a ticket that the officer was saying 'plead not guilty and you'll be able to get off but you'll have to show up in person'.
Again thanks
Joe Williams