Overweight Ticket

Yes to both, I would appear or you have the option of trial by declaration. But I would give the judge a chance to reduce the charge. You just never know.

 

When you are making this decision remember there is more cost involved than just the cost of the ticket. Example: I always counted my lost time @ $150 lost every day I was not working. If you are more than say 500 miles away you can figure 2 days at the least. This means before you even leave home you are $200 to $300 in the hole. Then you have problems like the cost of transportation and a hotel then eating on the road. I think now is the time to also make it clear that whatever figure you come to double that figure because in almost every court in the US you are going to be required to make at least 2 trips. If you are lucky enough to have an employer that can dispatch you back that is great, the average driver does not have such an employer.

The above costs YOU will pay regardless of if you win the case or not. I was faced with this decision about a case in Florida. As angry as I was losing a huge amount of money to go fight a small-time ticket just did not add up. Pre-paid legal plans don't reimburse these costs either.

Back in my active driving career, I was a resident of Georgia. If I were this OP and decided to go fight this case in a California court, I suspect I am looking at a minimum of 2 plane tickets, car rental and 2 to 3 nights in a hotel. This is not counting my lost time from work. Then I am also faced with a better than 75% chance I will also be paying the ticket. There just comes a time when fighting a ticket is so expensive it is not worth it. THIS is one reason state DOT cops are such (redacted) because they know this as well. In fact, I know a now-retired Virginia DOT officer that still thinks this is funny.

I can't stress these two trips strongly enough. That court date is what is known as arraignment and all you do is plea. Then the real court date is set. Some courts will help you but in general, Judges put their dockets first and your court date may be months away.

The best way to save that CDL is to avoid getting tickets to start with. Because once they get their hooks into you, well, to them all they hear is that sound a cash register makes.


Edited:
I just got an email telling me I left something important out. I agree. In some courts, you can do that first hearing without being physically present in the courtroom. If you are planning to fight a ticket I suggest you attempt to do this first. Not every court is going to let you do it. Still worth a try!