By halfmypaycheckgone - 05/02/2013 18:59 - United States - Monroe

Today, a state trooper ticketed me after learning I was ticketed for the same offense an hour earlier, namely driving with a broken headlight. The good news is that both tickets will be dismissed if I go to court. The bad news is that I'd have to go to different courthouses at the same time of day. FML
I agree, your life sucks 34 008
You deserved it 4 219
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Top comments

OhDearBetrayal 25

Maybe you should talk to the judges beforehand to clear up the dilemma.

129 2
nitemare0 17

Call the court house, if you explain that both court dates conflict, they can reschedule it

126 4

Comments

HannahBee1017 9

Unless it was a fix it ticket, you totally deserve it. "The same offense and hour earlier," maybe don't drive like an idiot.

1 16
foxykz 13

Clearly it was for 'a broken headlight' and had nothing to do with their driving.

14 0
HannahBee1017 9

My bad, I totally overlooked that.

2 4
Jkjklkl 14

It's okay, OP. Just get a time-turner

2 1
JanisEvans 10

Lol, half Ireland would constantly have to appear in court if they'd ticket broken headlights here.

6 1
YepThatsMeee 23

Or maybe half of Ireland would fix their headlights.

3 2
Capt_Oblivious 10

Lady, If a random person walks up to your window to inform you of this, don't mace them.

6 1
Enslaved 36

I'm sure you can request a change of date for one of the courthouses due to conflict. Kinda think YDI. Your first ticket should have gotten you off the streets and not an hour later driving around with that same violation.

3 7
toalysium 15

Considering it takes about 15min to get to a Wal-Mart or a parts store and buy a new headlight, YDI. And why the hell would you think either ticket will be dismissed? Whether a headlight is working or not is pretty much beyond dispute.

1 5
Deviant_fml 5

There are lots of reasons why it might not have been feasible to get it done right then and there. If she's using her headlights, it was probably at night after parts/autocenter closed. It's perfectly reasonable to say, 'yeah, I'll get it done first thing tomorrow.' I'm more surprised that the second cop was that big of a dick knowing she'd already gotten one.

5 0
toalysium 15

I'll grant it's remotely possible she was driving in Kansas or the Dakotas, where a person can actually drive for an hour without seeing a Walmart, but that's pretty rare in the US and they are open 24hrs. She obviously missed the whole point of a traffic ticket, which is to discourage unsafe/illegal behavior. The first might have been a fluke since many cities are well enough lit to not realize a light is out. The second ticket she earned.

0 2
Epikouros 31

In some modern cars, it's not possible to replace the headlight without special tools. Otherwise, people should keep spare lights in their car for emergencies like this one.

2 0
dasquezar 3

To clear some things up: Both tickets were "fix-it" tickets meaning that it's more like a warning you just have to go to court and prove it was fixed and the ticket is dismissed with no fine or note of violation on your driving record/insurance but if you can't show it's fixed in court it's a roughly $250 fine. The reason I didn't get it fixed right away is because I work nights with an hour and a half commute between work and home. The headlight had only just stopped working when I started up my car to head home from work at about 3:30am. In this part of the state even most walmarts are closed from 10pm or 12am to 5am and there was literally no where open for me to buy a new bulb on my way home. I got the first ticket in the city I work in and since it was a fix-it ticket I didn't think it was a big deal. Then a state trooper

4 0
dasquezar 3

... pulled me over when I was nearly home, and wrote a ticket saying that I should've learned my lesson from the first ticket and gotten it fixed, refusing to listen to my explanation that I was on my way home, there was no where open to buy a new bulb and that I'd only gotten the first ticket an hour earlier. So yeah, I know I shouldn't drive with a headlight out but the circumstances surrounding the tickets are kind of messed up. I will try to call and reschedule one of the courtdates as some of you suggested though. OP if that wasn't obvious.

4 0
dontpanic_fml 32

I think it was pretty obvious that you were still driving home and anyone saying you deserve it is just being vindictive for no reason. The situation is totally absurd and I'm sorry for you OP. I hope you get it resolved. What a pain...

4 0
Enslaved 36

If that's the case, that does indeed seem unfair. Too bad the trooper didn't note the place the first ticket was issued and timed how long it would have taken you to get home. Couldn't you have driven with your high beams on?

0 2
LadyMagdalyn 4

Im surprised they didn't give you the option to get it fixed within so many days and have a cop sign off on it ... that's a harsh broken headlight law :/

1 0
stormsfury2131 6

Fix-it tickets, and I can only speak to my experience in Maryland, you generally have something like a week or two weeks to get it fixed. The mechanic signs off on the ticket that it's fixed and you turn it in, you don't have a fine or points if you do that. IMO, the second officer who ticketed you was being a jerk. There's no way that they can expect you to have that fixed in the same day. The court should be able to work that out for you so long as you do get it fixed and can prove it. Good Luck, OP.

0 0
TheyCallMeDamien 17

Call the court house to reschedule then perhaps speak to a legal aid.

1 1
emilysarah 5

I had a speeding ticket that I had to go to court for three days after my rent was due, and wasn't going to be able to have the money saved up in time and also be able to pay my rent, so I called the courthouse and asked for an extension on the date, and they did it without an issue. It's usually pretty easy to get one of the dates moved.

1 1