frogger Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 So before I went on vacation I got a letter in the mail telling me I have a summons/ticket that has not been paid...which makes sense since I have not been pulled over nor had anything on my windshield. The letter informs me I have until the 19th to pay or my driving priviledge will be suspended. After trying to get answers from the website I decided to talk to a human and went to the clerk of courts office. There I was told I was mailed a citation for running a red light in May, which I never got. So I asked what I could do, I was told "pay the ticket" no other options, so I asked how much, $285! Because of late fees,(was $160) again on a ticket I never got and now couldn't fight. So I took out my only credit card, "we don't take Visa". They take discover, amex, MasterCard and cash but not visa. I went to the bank then returned to pay the ticket in cash. They then printed out a letter I had to take to the dmv, when I got here they informed me I have to pay another $7 and guess what, they don't take visa so I had to go back to the bank and now I'm sitting at the DMV...waiting. going on 3 hours and almost $300 for something I may have not actually done...no idea if I did, I'm just trying to keep my DL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Who would have thought that there were places in North America that take credit cards, but won't take Visa? Usually around here if they take credit, its only Visa or Master Card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 The moral to this story...don't use Visa. PS sorry for your loss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I am sorry for your ****ty day. One of my matra's is "nothing is easy". Murphy's Law is always in effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 The moral to this story...don't use Visa. PS sorry for your loss Visa is no better or worse than others, but you never know if a vendor may have an exclusive deal with a certain card so you need to have more than one type in your wallet. The other moral is.....don't run red lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Hindsight Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Where ya going on vacation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Can't you ask for a court date and fight it? The red light cameras have been found to not be very constitutional in many cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Can't you ask for a court date and fight it? The red light cameras have been found to not be very constitutional in many cases. Yeah. I cannot imagine there is no way to fight it. I would. You can just say boom guilty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Yeah. I cannot imagine there is no way to fight it. I would. You can just say boom guilty. I'd ask for a copy of the citation and picture. Maybe someone screwed up and typed in the wrong plate #, giving you the ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I'd ask for a copy of the citation and picture. Maybe someone screwed up and typed in the wrong plate #, giving you the ticket. I meant can't. But that's just it; they threatened to take his license. How can they take it before a court date on a matter like this? I have known cases of DUI and DWI where you can continue driving until trial. Strange situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I meant can't. But that's just it; they threatened to take his license. How can they take it before a court date on a matter like this? I have known cases of DUI and DWI where you can continue driving until trial. Strange situation. I knew what you meant to say. I have the feeling, on the info we've been told, is the original ticket probably did have a court date, but since the OP never recieved it, and therefore missed a court date, that's why late fees and a liscense suspension were added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 my guess is that the court date came and went and he was found guilty in abstentia...now he is subjected to the fine and the penalties... Can't you ask for a court date and fight it? The red light cameras have been found to not be very constitutional in many cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 my guess is that the court date came and went and he was found guilty in abstentia...now he is subjected to the fine and the penalties... So the tickets are not sent via certified mail? And they have no proof that he actually received it...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 (edited) So the tickets are not sent via certified mail? And they have no proof that he actually received it...? i cant speak for his city, but these tend to be a mess in others. the company that runs it here does not send it certified. which is a joke. a lot of places, the red light cameras are not even run or operated by the city - so its got little to nothing to do with the DMV and is essentially just a collections agency with cameras and they pay the city a couple bucks for every ticket they execute in order to complete the circle of everyone getting paid. one example of this processes differences for instance: here non-payment becomes a credit issue, not a licensing/legal issue. Edited September 19, 2012 by NoSaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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