Originally posted by Leonard
You don't know what you're talking about.
When you set a court date, you're setting a date for arraignment with a trial master. If you pleade not guilty, they set a trial date. The cop only has to show for the trial date. He isn't required to show up for the arraignment.
Yeah, your right, I don' know what I'm talking about.
I have taken every ticket, approx. 6, to court including two accident ones that were my fault. I never once consulted a lawyer. For the speeding ticket ones I did not get ANYTHING because the cop never showed, Pasco is good about that. As far as the two accident tickets, one I just had to pay the $74 ticket and received no points on license, the other the fine was reduced from $74 to $50 and no points on my license. I effectively did the same thing you have done but over the course of my court experiences I have saved myself ~ $500.
As far as the setting a date with a trial master thing, I don;t know anything about that. I tell the clerk at the traffic window when you go to pay your ticket that I plea not guilty and they give you a court date. In court everything is settled the first go around. I dont know what that trialmaster crap is about, but a trial master has the same powers as a judge so he should be able to settle everything right there.