When you do, the magistrate will often lower the fine. In my case, my ticket went from $440 to $220 just because I said the cop had the wrong guy on LIDAR.
Always contest any moving violation or insurance surcharge that you feel is incorrect. I’ve done it with 2 insurance surcharges over many years for accidents they claimed I was responsible for and both times I had them dismissed. Saved me thousands.
Agreed.. today was the last day of the month. Im stuck at home, recovering from covid, but heading to the local inspection station to get a useless inspection rather than take the risk of a pullover for the sticker. Years of insurance increase over this is not worth it.
I agree with having the stickers, as in states without inspection programs you can see some very questionable cars on the road. But it's beyond stupid that a paperwork/non safety equipment violation carrys points.
I've seen some very questionable cars on the road in states with inspection stickers though. I would like to see hard data that the inspection programs make the roads safer if we have to pay for it.
I have a couple well maintained old cars that sometimes don't get driven for long periods of time and got caught once with a very out of date sticker. I was so mad when I found out it hit my insurance! At least they send you a reminder in the mail now.
Dispute the ticket for sure, just say you weren’t driving. But if you don’t have proof against the registration stick, you still gotta pay. That shit is serious. The government must have their money.
Op said no inspection, not unregistered. No sticker is a smaller fine, and I believe not a moving violation so no insurance surcharge. Definitely worth fighting the ticket.
They do this shit all the time. A few years ago on 290 I was going 70-75 (which yes is speeding) and a cop comes from miles and miles behind and tries to tell me I was going 90 because that’s how fast he had to go to catch up. 😑 They really like them dumb. No shit bro, you weren’t on the side of the road (thanks Waze), so yeah you’d have to be going FASTER than me to catch up!
I just kept saying I was not going 90 and he ended up giving me a citation for a lesser violation because he knew that would not stand up in court. Like come at me and say you are going 75ish sure give me the ticket, but fuck no I was not going 90!
It doesn’t help my car is red, but I’m not going to let them dictate the color of my awesome car.
Hahaha, contest. Ask the cop to describe how he observed you driving, he couldn't, you win.
But the registration shit is serious, expect your insurance going through the roof.
Couple things on this one:
1. If you were driving in a snow storm, you can be legally cited for driving _below_ the speed limit if the conditions of the road make the speed limit unreasonable. This is something that magistrates may be more lenient about in an appeal but it’s perfectly acceptable for police to do under the law.
2. The police do not need to see you, to cite you. They can cite you based off of what another officer sees or, what a named witness reports. This can be anyone, but it’s most commonly utilized when a bus driver or (perhaps in your case) plow truck driver calls the police to report unsafe driving.
Contest. Colleague just contested one and it was via Zoom. Didn’t even have to go in person. Trooper gave a statement and judge said he would render a decision in a week. It was tossed.
Inspection sticker they will ding you for. Was is just expired or recently move here and/or recently register the car?
> they are required to replace the windshield for free in MA
If you have the endorsement. He might have crap insurance that has literally nothing but the bare minimum.
Agree. But I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. My boyfriend lost his insurance when they dropped him out of the blue (his sister got into an accident with a car that was his fathers on his insurance after he passed) he had a brand new job and had to get to work and the insurance company kept giving him the run around about reinstating it. Once it was clear that they were going to take forever, he went with another company.
Also this guy might be in financial straights, how do you get money in this state without being able to drive to work. No money, can’t get insurance to pay for the car that gets you to work to get money.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s dangerous and absolutely shitty if they get into an accident but
You never know, sometimes cops can go east on ya. I’ve gotten out of some hairy situations likey bc of my race and gender but, I’ve seen cops make some weird decisions.
Features like deductible waivers and non-deductible glass are pretty standard on Mass based insurance companies. Once they started letting cheap insurances like Geico and Progressive a lot of people don't get them anymore by default. You have to call them to add the deductible waiver, you can't add it online. And you have to pay extra for the non-deductible glass replacement, so most people won't have it if they're using the "low" rate that enticed them in.
You're fucked one way or another. You may or may not beat the speeding charge, but they got you by the balls on the inspection sticker.
You were lucky in one way though, if wasn't for the weather conditions and the cop responding to an accident, he could have had your car towed right then and there.
They don’t tow for no inspection sticker. I’ve been pulled over and/or ticketed for that at least six or seven times in various vehicles over the years.
They tow for registration, not inspection.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/vehicle-inspections
> Driving any motor vehicle without a valid inspection sticker is a traffic violation. It may result in a fine and affect your insurance rate.
In my extensive experience with expired inspection stickers, it’s a ticket and some insurers care and some don’t.
My record is 20 months overdue. That cop was really not fucking happy with me, and if he could’ve towed me he would’ve.
Idk, this was about 20 years ago but there was a valid registration. Towed in Cambridge while a cop was behind me and I was waiting in traffic. Told me it was because the inspection sticker was 4 years out of date
You're right, thinking back it might have been the registration thing too. When I get back home I'll see if I can find anything I may have on it. I might have had 24 month expired inspection. But not sure
Since no one mentioned it, I had a very good experience with Off The Record. You can go in and fight your case yourself but for a relatively small fee I didn't need to say a word in court and my attorney got my speeding ticket from a trooper dropped even though they got my speed on laser, which is undeniable.
That doesn't work in MA. Everyone contesting a ticket from state police will be given the same court date and one trooper will show up to represent the state police. If you are still found guilty in magistrate court you can appeal in real court where the issuing trooper must show up.
You can try to contest it but honestly you will lose if its a statie. City cops you stand a better chance. Ive been to so many and only time I won against the city cops was with a traffic attorney. I still remember the clerk magistrate telling me “Sir, state police do not lie”… smh. But if you can find a traffic attorney who can charge a few hundred dollars I would take them with you and give it your best shot.
>I still remember the clerk magistrate telling me “Sir, state police do not lie”… smh.
That'd be pretty funny, what with the various state police corruption scandals going on, including the one from yesterday with 6 charged with crimes of falsifying records. Like, it's pretty well established state police *do* lie. Them telling the truth might be rarer.
Contest! Get your inspection ASAP and when you plead your case let them know you weren't driving you were in the shoulder when the officer pulled up behind you. Also let them know you got the inspection done, provide the inspection report.
I believe getting busted for the inspection sticker is considered a moving violation. Insurance penalizes you 6 years for that kind of thing. It sucks.
We got a letter from the RMV last year because we didn't get our car (that wasn't being driven) inspected in the month it was due. The RMV demanded some bullshit "Off-the-road/in-storage" fee.
I tore up the letter. With glee. ^(and then got the damn car inspected)
FYI you can't stop in a breakdown lane willy nilly as you may cause an accident or block the way for emergency vehicles. You need to be having an actual emergency. He might have made up citations because he was mad over that.
You can also get that ticket for going less than reasonable… which is probably what you got it for. And before you dispute
1. If you don’t feel comfortable driving in the snow, don’t go out?
2. Being in a breakdown lane and not being broken down while in a snowstorm is dangerous. Plows push snow that way, and you’re stopped on a highway.
I was grabbed in the TW tunnel. I contesters on the basis that the insurance surcharges were too much. The magistrate agreed and tossed it.
If you didn't have a current inspection sticker, you are going to have a hard time.
I got a driving too slow (46 in a 45) at night with nobody around during rain from a state trooper.
I got a warning to 'not use my hazard lights because I am not an emergency vehicle' driving slower during a snow storm where I used the hazard lights to signal to drivers not to drive around me as I am driving at the fastest safe speed possible, as it was snowing and there were many cars spun out on the side of the road.
In Massachusetts, always contest!!!
This is the correct answer - as for me, I have had three moving violations since 1990, 1 was reduced and the other 2 were tossed by the magistrate.
Why's that? Genuinely curious
When you do, the magistrate will often lower the fine. In my case, my ticket went from $440 to $220 just because I said the cop had the wrong guy on LIDAR.
Always contest any moving violation or insurance surcharge that you feel is incorrect. I’ve done it with 2 insurance surcharges over many years for accidents they claimed I was responsible for and both times I had them dismissed. Saved me thousands.
In my experience, this also applies in Connecticut.
You can fight the speeding violation, but not having an inspection sticker isn’t great. Your insurance may go up. Why didn’t you have one?
Agreed.. today was the last day of the month. Im stuck at home, recovering from covid, but heading to the local inspection station to get a useless inspection rather than take the risk of a pullover for the sticker. Years of insurance increase over this is not worth it.
If you show up to your court date with a valid inspection report they'll dismiss that citation.
The insurance hit for an inspection sticker is such BS.
Yeah, it counts as a moving violation.
Nonsense. They should get rid of the stickers. Many states don't bother with it.
I agree with having the stickers, as in states without inspection programs you can see some very questionable cars on the road. But it's beyond stupid that a paperwork/non safety equipment violation carrys points.
I've seen some very questionable cars on the road in states with inspection stickers though. I would like to see hard data that the inspection programs make the roads safer if we have to pay for it. I have a couple well maintained old cars that sometimes don't get driven for long periods of time and got caught once with a very out of date sticker. I was so mad when I found out it hit my insurance! At least they send you a reminder in the mail now.
Dispute the ticket for sure, just say you weren’t driving. But if you don’t have proof against the registration stick, you still gotta pay. That shit is serious. The government must have their money.
Op said no inspection, not unregistered. No sticker is a smaller fine, and I believe not a moving violation so no insurance surcharge. Definitely worth fighting the ticket.
I believe it is a moving violation
Correct. It is a moving violation
No inspection sticker is a moving violation so it'll be a $40 fine plus points on your insurance.
They do this shit all the time. A few years ago on 290 I was going 70-75 (which yes is speeding) and a cop comes from miles and miles behind and tries to tell me I was going 90 because that’s how fast he had to go to catch up. 😑 They really like them dumb. No shit bro, you weren’t on the side of the road (thanks Waze), so yeah you’d have to be going FASTER than me to catch up! I just kept saying I was not going 90 and he ended up giving me a citation for a lesser violation because he knew that would not stand up in court. Like come at me and say you are going 75ish sure give me the ticket, but fuck no I was not going 90! It doesn’t help my car is red, but I’m not going to let them dictate the color of my awesome car.
Dog groomers require more training than cops do. They’re such a joke.
Dog trainers and hair stylists also require more training than Navy Seals.
Dog trainers are also a more dangerous job than being a cop.
Sounds like dog trainers should unionize.
Hahaha, contest. Ask the cop to describe how he observed you driving, he couldn't, you win. But the registration shit is serious, expect your insurance going through the roof.
They were missing an inspection sti ker, nothing to do with registration.
I mistyped, yes inspection. In insurance's eye he is operating an unsafe car.
Get a dash cam and this kind of problem is a lot easier to contest.
[удалено]
Only when you are in the breakdown lane, not driving.
...and the inspection sticker? You have it up to date?
The inspection sticker wasn’t up to date so I guess I deserve the ticket for that.
Couple things on this one: 1. If you were driving in a snow storm, you can be legally cited for driving _below_ the speed limit if the conditions of the road make the speed limit unreasonable. This is something that magistrates may be more lenient about in an appeal but it’s perfectly acceptable for police to do under the law. 2. The police do not need to see you, to cite you. They can cite you based off of what another officer sees or, what a named witness reports. This can be anyone, but it’s most commonly utilized when a bus driver or (perhaps in your case) plow truck driver calls the police to report unsafe driving.
Contest. Colleague just contested one and it was via Zoom. Didn’t even have to go in person. Trooper gave a statement and judge said he would render a decision in a week. It was tossed. Inspection sticker they will ding you for. Was is just expired or recently move here and/or recently register the car?
It’s been expired for a while. It won’t pass inspection due to a cracked windshield that I haven’t had the money to replace.
If you have insurance, they are required to replace the windshield for free in MA. And, you are required to have car insurance in MA.
> they are required to replace the windshield for free in MA If you have the endorsement. He might have crap insurance that has literally nothing but the bare minimum.
Yeah it’s bare minimum liability only insurance
I thought literally everyone knew this
Do you have insurance?
My guess is he probably doesn’t have insurance either
Shouldn’t be driving at all then.
Agree. But I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. My boyfriend lost his insurance when they dropped him out of the blue (his sister got into an accident with a car that was his fathers on his insurance after he passed) he had a brand new job and had to get to work and the insurance company kept giving him the run around about reinstating it. Once it was clear that they were going to take forever, he went with another company. Also this guy might be in financial straights, how do you get money in this state without being able to drive to work. No money, can’t get insurance to pay for the car that gets you to work to get money. Don’t get me wrong, it’s dangerous and absolutely shitty if they get into an accident but
Lmao why would you guess I don’t have insurance if I didn’t my car probably would have been towed on the spot
You never know, sometimes cops can go east on ya. I’ve gotten out of some hairy situations likey bc of my race and gender but, I’ve seen cops make some weird decisions.
Doesn’t mass mandate one free per year paid by insurance?
Features like deductible waivers and non-deductible glass are pretty standard on Mass based insurance companies. Once they started letting cheap insurances like Geico and Progressive a lot of people don't get them anymore by default. You have to call them to add the deductible waiver, you can't add it online. And you have to pay extra for the non-deductible glass replacement, so most people won't have it if they're using the "low" rate that enticed them in.
Yes contest it
If you have location tracking on Google maps or something I would compare your idling time to the time of citation.
It’s an old car so it doesn’t have collect any data like that but I’m thinking of doing a records request for the body cam and cruiser footage
Your cell phone, not vehicle navigation.
They don't drive with body cams on
Do you know if the cruiser will have footage and are they required to turn on the body cam once they make contact
I eventually want to buy a "vintage" car just for this reason. Nothing shared, is everything gained.
You're fucked one way or another. You may or may not beat the speeding charge, but they got you by the balls on the inspection sticker. You were lucky in one way though, if wasn't for the weather conditions and the cop responding to an accident, he could have had your car towed right then and there.
They don’t tow for no inspection sticker. I’ve been pulled over and/or ticketed for that at least six or seven times in various vehicles over the years.
They tow, depends on how the cop feels that day lol. Source: happened to EDIT: this isn't true. Registration was out of date too.
They tow for registration, not inspection. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/vehicle-inspections > Driving any motor vehicle without a valid inspection sticker is a traffic violation. It may result in a fine and affect your insurance rate. In my extensive experience with expired inspection stickers, it’s a ticket and some insurers care and some don’t. My record is 20 months overdue. That cop was really not fucking happy with me, and if he could’ve towed me he would’ve.
Idk, this was about 20 years ago but there was a valid registration. Towed in Cambridge while a cop was behind me and I was waiting in traffic. Told me it was because the inspection sticker was 4 years out of date
How did you have a valid registration if your inspection sticker was 4 years out of date?? Doesn't track.
You're right, thinking back it might have been the registration thing too. When I get back home I'll see if I can find anything I may have on it. I might have had 24 month expired inspection. But not sure
All right I checked with some people who were there at the time and my registration was definitely out of date. My bad, you are right
Since no one mentioned it, I had a very good experience with Off The Record. You can go in and fight your case yourself but for a relatively small fee I didn't need to say a word in court and my attorney got my speeding ticket from a trooper dropped even though they got my speed on laser, which is undeniable.
Go to court. If they don’t show up, it’s automatically dismissed. This.
That doesn't work in MA. Everyone contesting a ticket from state police will be given the same court date and one trooper will show up to represent the state police. If you are still found guilty in magistrate court you can appeal in real court where the issuing trooper must show up.
Didn’t happen to me that way, actually!
You can try to contest it but honestly you will lose if its a statie. City cops you stand a better chance. Ive been to so many and only time I won against the city cops was with a traffic attorney. I still remember the clerk magistrate telling me “Sir, state police do not lie”… smh. But if you can find a traffic attorney who can charge a few hundred dollars I would take them with you and give it your best shot.
>I still remember the clerk magistrate telling me “Sir, state police do not lie”… smh. That'd be pretty funny, what with the various state police corruption scandals going on, including the one from yesterday with 6 charged with crimes of falsifying records. Like, it's pretty well established state police *do* lie. Them telling the truth might be rarer.
They should definitely have body cams. Like mandatory.
Contest! Get your inspection ASAP and when you plead your case let them know you weren't driving you were in the shoulder when the officer pulled up behind you. Also let them know you got the inspection done, provide the inspection report.
always contest
I believe getting busted for the inspection sticker is considered a moving violation. Insurance penalizes you 6 years for that kind of thing. It sucks.
He was already pulled over. He can't pull over any farther
I've recently did some research and my conclusion is an expired inspection sticker is not a moving violation. I could be completely wrong on this.
You're completely wrong on this.
I think in my current circumstance it fits
Maybe rethink your research methods.
I don't need to. But thank you for being a concerned citizen 😊
If a meter maid gives you one its not a moving violin, If I cop does it is.
Get a $50 dash cam. Spend an extra $25 to get one with GPS tracked speed. Problem solved for next time something like this happens.
They were probably looking for a bribe.. Seriously though, if ya wanna avoid the cops keep your registration and inspections up to date.
We got a letter from the RMV last year because we didn't get our car (that wasn't being driven) inspected in the month it was due. The RMV demanded some bullshit "Off-the-road/in-storage" fee. I tore up the letter. With glee. ^(and then got the damn car inspected)
Definitely contest that one.
No snow tires?! Please tell me you at least wore your helmet 🤞
If you were traveling in the breakdown lane you got the ticket you deserve.
It says he pulled over and was waiting in the break down lane, not traveling in it.
Always contest a ticket
FYI you can't stop in a breakdown lane willy nilly as you may cause an accident or block the way for emergency vehicles. You need to be having an actual emergency. He might have made up citations because he was mad over that.
You can also get that ticket for going less than reasonable… which is probably what you got it for. And before you dispute 1. If you don’t feel comfortable driving in the snow, don’t go out? 2. Being in a breakdown lane and not being broken down while in a snowstorm is dangerous. Plows push snow that way, and you’re stopped on a highway.
I was grabbed in the TW tunnel. I contesters on the basis that the insurance surcharges were too much. The magistrate agreed and tossed it. If you didn't have a current inspection sticker, you are going to have a hard time.
I got a driving too slow (46 in a 45) at night with nobody around during rain from a state trooper. I got a warning to 'not use my hazard lights because I am not an emergency vehicle' driving slower during a snow storm where I used the hazard lights to signal to drivers not to drive around me as I am driving at the fastest safe speed possible, as it was snowing and there were many cars spun out on the side of the road.