Miscellaneous

Storytelling in Traffic Court

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Most people get a ticket, become irate, pay up, and move on. But some people do show up in court to contest. Who are they, and what do they want?

In L.A. (hardly a barometer for the rest of the world's traffic court, but interesting nonetheless), police issue about 1.8 million tickets annually. Fewer than 5% of these go to trial.

The ticketed are ticked but not so much that they will spend the time and money in court. They fear the trial process so mostly stay away. Even those who plan to contest often plea at the last minute.

But with hard economic times, rising fines, and stricter regs, more folks are putting up a fight. Some are even represented by attorneys.

What do they want? A chance to tell their story to a judge. Never underestimate the powerful release people, be they clients or co-workers or family members or parties before you in court, experience from venting.

This is what every party, from traffic court to common pleas to superior court on up, wants. Doug Van Epps got it right, though, when he wrote about what "your day in court" really means. (Note: can't find a link to this brilliant article anywhere, but will post as soon as possible.)

See When Fighting Traffic Tickets in Court, You Might Be Your Downfall, Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times (July 5, 2008).

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on July 05, 2008 (boomark / email).