Being issued a fix it ticket probably means that, like many other California drivers, there’s been an unforeseen hold-up in taking care of an issue relating to your car. Since you are driving on the public streets and freeways, there is a duty of care owed to the other motorists and pedestrians to keep your car in a safe and operable condition. If a highway patrol officer notices a problem with your vehicle that might threaten the public’s safety, you may be pulled over and issued a fix it ticket. The legal name for this type of a citation is a “correctable violation,” which means that once you correct the problem, you probably won’t get another ticket. One of the most common reasons for getting pulled over by a highway patrol officer is so that you can be issued a broken tail light ticket.
It’s understandable that there may be other concerns in your personal life that led to the problem in the first place. Financial pressures, for example, may prevent you from taking care of a minor vehicle issue. You may be extremely busy with work, health or family concerns. These are some of the understandings behind law enforcement issuing a fix it ticket instead of a moving violation.
Your Options When You Receive a Fix It Ticket
You can either fix the issue or you can pay the fine. If you want to avoid paying the fine, you must get your car fixed and have your ticket signed by the deadline given. When the problem is solved, you need to get an authorized signature on that part of your ticket that states “Certificate of Correction.” This will come from a court clerk, an official at the DMV or a police officer. He or she will inspect your car or your repair documentation and then sign your ticket if the issue appears to have been corrected. This signature is required and you will need it to prove that the problem has been taken care of.
The next step is heading over to the traffic court to show your signed citation and to pay the dismissal fee. After you pay the fee, the court will dismiss your case if everything looks good.
Being Pulled Over for a Broken Tail Light
When a tail light on your car is broken, it can present a danger to other drivers because they may not know when you hit the brakes. If a police officer issues you a ticket, consider it a serious warning and get your tail light fixed right away. You can often make the repair yourself or you can take your car to a repair shop. In some cases, you may be able to quickly attach some red tape to small cracks in the tail light lens to prevent any white light from coming out when you hit the brakes.
Fix it tickets in California are common citations that are issued on a regular basis. If you are unable to fix your car, however, you may need to discuss the matter with a judge in traffic court. Ignoring the issue could result in a suspension of your license. A good way to find someone who knows how to beat the citation in court is to type in an online search for a traffic ticket lawyer near me.
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