Traffic Violation Advice
 

Got pulled over today by a NJ state trooper. As I did not have on me the most recent insurance card, he gave me a ticket for "Failure to Produce Current Registration", Code 3-29. Looking online, this is a $180 hit !
As I do have current insurance, is there a way to fight this?
Thanks for your advice in advance.

You will have to show the Judge a valid INS card and it can be lowered to just a court cost fine.

39:3-29 License, registration certificate and insurance identification card; possession; exhibit upon request; violations; fine; defense.
The driver's license, the registration certificate of a motor vehicle and an insurance identification card shall be in the possession of the driver or operator at all times when he is in charge of a motor vehicle on the highways of this State.

The driver or operator shall exhibit his driver's license and an insurance identification card, and the holder of a registration certificate or the operator or driver of a motor vehicle for which a registration certificate has been issued, whether or not the holder, driver or operator is a resident of this State, shall also exhibit the registration certificate, when requested so to do by a police officer or judge, while in the performance of the duties of his office, and shall write his name in the presence of the officer, so that the officer may thereby determine the identity of the licensee and at the same time determine the correctness of the registration certificate, as it relates to the registration number and number plates of the motor vehicle for which it was issued; and the correctness of the evidence of a policy of insurance, as it relates to the coverage of the motor vehicle for which it was issued.

Any person violating this section shall be subject to a fine of $150, of which $25 shall be deposited in the Uninsured Motorist Prevention Fund established by section 2 of P.L.1983, c.141 (C.39:6B-3).

If a person charged with a violation of this section can exhibit his driver's license, insurance identification card and registration certificate, which were valid on the day he was charged, to the judge of the municipal court before whom he is summoned to answer to the charge, such judge may dismiss the charge. However, the judge may impose court costs.

Did you get popped for speeding?

what did he pull you over for? most of the time,, here on long island,, a cop will give you a break after pulling you over for speeding and give you something nominal like an ewipment or paper violation if he can,,, most times you produce the paperwork or proof of the equipment repair and the charges get dismissed. some places charge you a court free. The judge doesn't have to dismiss the charge and can always still hit you with a small fee but it's nothing compaired to the fine from speeding and then there are the piont that go on your license with a speeder.
get your papers in order, go to court and bring some cach just in case. you'll be fine.

Ahhhh its handled already.

Well, latest and not the greatest news: two Prosecutors from that Court House I met last night said that the particular judge handling the case is not flexible with this kind of violation, so it does not seem to be able to drop the case or shift it.
Is it anything else I can still do? Is it worth spending time to go in front of the judge anyway? From expo-1's answer, it seems that it is at the discretion of the judge...

yeah it is pretty much up to the judge....might as well go in...admit guilt....prove you have the card and be apologetic for forgetting to take it with you......you never know you might catch him on a good day

Be glad you don't live in Texas...he could have towed and impounded your car right then and there while leaving you standing on the side of the road completely confused along with a ticket.

I was in court not to long ago and witnessed many people show their insurance card and the case was dismissed immediately. The judge spent maybe two seconds on each case and there were approx 30 people with this violation. I say wear a suit, show up in court, and have the current ins card with you (showing you were insured at the time).

I don't know if they were still required to pay court costs.



(aggie, love the name of your town!!)

Sounds like the prosecutor dissuaded you from showing up in front of judge for the innocence plead. Since prosecutor and judge are in cahoots together, this may very well be a case where you are SOL. Assuming you made the court appearance, in-spite of prosecutor's well-intended/evil-spirited advice, the judge would probably be annoyed since he/she is a hardliner and already instructed the prosecutor to tell you off for violation 39:3-29. I hope it's not West Lambertville, notorious for what you are currently going thru.

I have a question. I got into an accident 1/14/07 and my car was hit on the passenger side in an intersection. I was at fault since the stop sign was on my side of the road but i stated to the police officer that i stopped and looked both ways and just didnt see the car. If i go to court, can i get the the charge bumped down to soemthing else so i dont get the points?

Just go to court and help plug the court, it's fraud anyway.

fuzz i dont see how it could be your fault since jersey is a no fault state and you need to be proven guilty.....go to court and plead NG and they may be lenient

Louisiana is just as bad as Texas. If you can't show the officer proof of insurance on the spot, you are ticketed and left standing on the side of the road when the tow truck takes your car to the impound yard. If you don't make it to court with proof of insurance, the car is sold in an auction.

Same here in FL. No proof of insurance, no driving privilage. Plea guilty, be nice to the judge, Im sure he'll understand it was a fluke mistake.

Good luck!

sounds similar to mine....i got pulled over for the front tints (since removed), and I gave him the old insurance card by accident. when he gave me the ticket for that, I told him that I made a mistake and showed him the right one. He said, "You can challenge it in court"

And it's a mandatory court appearance(which was NOT checked on the ticket) so there's no getting around it and just having the ticket erased

I would fight it cant hurt..

Yeah fight that shit, but all NJ state troopers will give you a ticket 99% of the time. Theyre buttheads.