shuneycutt

I attended a defensive driving course and remember the instructor saying that if you get a seat belt ticket in Mecklenburg County all you have to do is show up for court and asked the judge to dismiss the ticket. He is going to reply with "Did you wear your seat belt on the way here"?

Yes = No ticket
No = "Thanks for the honesty but pay your ticket"


I just a got a seat belt ticket and am hoping this is true.


Anyone know?


Thanks!

airgate

Honestly...if the judge asked that at the day of court...would you reply "No?" C'mon??

Sure...they might dismiss the "ticket" of $25...but you'll still pay the court costs which vary county to county...not sure about Mecklenburg...but in Craven county, court costs are $125.

CIVICTOS2000

They'll dismiss it if is the first time. but they prolly won't ask you that Question.



D.

bigteninch

I would ask myself "what is my time worth?" If you make $4 per hour then maybe I would go to court and try to get it dismissed. Oh then you need to add the cost of fuel to and from. I guess I would just pay it and move on since it does not affect insurance rates.

Those tickets used to be $25 in NC, is it still?

airgate

Yeah...but you still pay court costs which is typically 5 times more than the ticket on a seat belt infraction, no?

shuneycutt

Costs:

Ticket - $50
Court Costs - $75

I figured since I'm a real estate broker I could just use the drive down to court to look at some neighborhoods (try to make it worth my time).

CIVICTOS2000

well if they dismiss the ticket you won't get the points in you DL. not sure if Seat bell will give you any points though.



D.

Saki GT

If its dismissed, you don't pay court costs.

Typically, it goes like this:

Judge or DA: Why didn't you wear your seatbelt?
You: lame excuse
J or DA: Did you wear your seatbelt here?
You: Of Course!
J or DA: Do you promise to always wear your seatbelt?
You: Of course!
J or DA: Okay Mr. You, you're free to go.

Then, you leave - total cost is getting to court and paying for parking.


So why weren't you wearing your seatbelt?

batguano

I wondered about that too.

bigteninch

Something has changed since I received a seat belt ticket in NC then. I mailed them the fine and was done.

I didn't think that Court Costs applied if you mailed in the fine, but since you are planning to arrive and have it dismissed, then it's mute.