Court/Ticket HELP!!!! Ok so back in August, I got pulled over and my car was impounded for not having insurance. Before…

When I worked in customer service for an insurance company, we would have cops calling in to verify insurance all the time. Some can check if the insurance lapses when they pull the license, so the nicer ones would call us to verify if it really did cancel. Definitely bring proof to back up your story. The insurance company should be able to provide you something showing who canceled the policy. I wish you the best!

Yeah I'm pretty upset. Once I pay the fine, the probation is done, so I think if I pay it before my first appointment I won't have to pay the extra $149. That only gives me until the 26th, but I'll figure it out ?

But seriously tho. My mind is BLOWN that you got that high of a fine PLUS probation PLUS community service for simply not having insurance. Holy hell. I live in Georgia too and I have never seen it be that extreme! Man.

No lawyer. I can't afford a lawyer.

Oh my gosh that seems insane!! I got pulled over and didn't have insurance once. It was totally my fault, my Jeep broke down and I started driving my old car that had been parked for like 6 months, it had been 2 days and I hadn't put it back on the insurance yet ? anyways I just had to prove that I got insurance within 10 days

I live in Georgia as well and honestly it sucks!!!

Did you have a laywer??

All of that PLUS being on probation just for not having insurance on your car?! Girl what the hell?! No way. Georgia is facking WILDING!

So.

I have a fine of $802.50 to pay. I have 12 months to pay the fine, during which I will be on probation. For each month I still owe a balance on the fine, a fee of $45 will be added on. Once I pay off the fine, I will no longer be on probation, so there's that.

I also have 24 hours of community service to do, and my first appointment I have to miss more work to attend, and I have to bring $149. I have no idea if that money will be applied to my fine or not.

I sat in the courtroom for almost 5 hours with about 100 other people, just to speak to the judge for about 3 minutes.

Yes. Take proof of everything you’re saying in printout forms. If the money was in your account and you have proof of withdrawing it, take that as well. If you can have the insurance company email you as to when it was cancelled, take that as well. Make sure you have as much proof as possible. Good luck.!

Do you have any messages or emails from your stepdad about the insurance or the money you paid? I honestly don't know if they would look at them, but I'd bring them along if you have any.

@chrystal, I probably will, and it won't be on purpose....I'm so nervous about this!

I know some of the cities in GA has a radar that they shoot at your license plate and it will come back on insurance status, warrants, etc.

I say cry in court when telling your story, I’ve seen it work. Good luck

@Linden thanks lol...I told my husband I can't go to jail.... I am VERY mouthy at times but I'm pretty sure I'd end up being someone's prison batch ?????

They ran my plates, and in Georgia, that's all electronic. So that's how they knew I didn't have insurance.

The only proof I have of paying it I guess would be the two months I paid online, I can print my bank statement showing the transactions. I never got a receipt from my stepdad for all the times I just gave him the money, so I won't have proof of those payments. He said he cancelled it because I wasn't living there anymore (because he kicked us out ?) and it was my responsibility to get my own. He did it when he was drunk and in one of his moods. He told me he used the money I gave him for my insurance bill towards my mom's funeral expenses.

Thanks for all the advice ladies, I know I'm irrationally upset with the situation. It's just a scary thing I guess, considering it's something I have never dealt with.

Take your new insurance verification and even your payment confirmation receipts where it shows you paying what you thought to be your insurance if you have access or can print that info off, with you to court so you can show you've remedied the problem. They will usually lower your fine with things like that. Especially once you explain the situation. I don't think it'll get you out of the fine completely but certainly will help. Also, anytime I've been to court they allow you to make a payment arrangement, no matter how big or small the fine. You will have to keep going back to court periodically to check in on your balance and get another month or whateves you need to pay on it. You'll just have to keep going through that process till you have it paid off. Try not to stress mama, it's really not a big deal. You will NOT go to jail over this I promise! Lol

Mama, they can tell when they pull your license in some states now. I know here in Michigan they can.

usually they will give a lesser offense if this is something u haven't done b4 idk where u live but we could meet here with someone b4 it ever went to court

Take all your proof that you were paying online etc, get a print out of it being cancelled by your step dad. Courts hear people claiming not to know their insurance was cancelled all day long, make sure you take proof to back it up

I'm just wondering how the cop knew your policy was even cancelled? If you had a valid insurance card, they usually don't call to verify. So that's weird. Anyways, I have gotten a ticket before because I didn't have my updated card on me. My car wasn't impounded though. All I had to do was bring the updated card to court to show proof of insurance and the whole thing was dismissed.

I agree with pp. just let them know it was a mistake and I didn’t know the policy was cancelled. They will set up a payment plan. Also bring your proof of insurance with u, that way they know u have it now. Good luck it won’t be that bad

Just be honest about what happened and that you genuinely didn't know. They should lower the fine since it's your first offense(even if it's your second or 3rd u should be ok) I'm in Colorado and they don't usually keep the higher fines here if you show up to court like a responsible person should. Just stay calm. You may have to plead guilty to get it lowered though.