got a ticket for something that wasn't wrong with my vehicle

[tmlt]

I borrowed my fathers 2nd car friday due to the fact that mine was being repaired. I left my fathers house around 8:50PM and was pulled over by a county sheriffs deputy at 8:55 PM. Iwas informwed that I was being pulled over for 2 reasons: no front licenses plate, and no rear illumination of the rear license plate. The front plate was ripped off during a collision with a deer and had not been replaced. ( for this I guess I am guilty. I was never asked to step out of the vehicle to look at the rear plate illumination. Upon arriving home around 10:00Pm I looked at the rear plate to find it fully illuminated. I video taped this and included in the picture a view of my cell phone which displayed the time and date which I cannot change on my phone. I've wiggled the wires and checked the rear illumination under different circumstances trying to get it to go out but it never has. I was polite with the office, have no violations on my license at this time and was surprised I was even cited for these violations. the sheriffs deputy advised me the county has a "zero tolerance policy" and that I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I understand penalty for minor misdemeanors is set at $150 max. per infraction in the state of OH and was told my fine to mail in payment would be $200. This seems a bit severe to me especially seeing that one of the citations seems not to be valid. Would it be worth it for me to fight this in court or would I be wasting my time. My court date to plead is set for 11/08.

 

[freebird]

I borrowed my fathers 2nd car friday due to the fact that mine was being repaired. I left my fathers house around 8:50PM and was pulled over by a county sheriffs deputy at 8:55 PM. Iwas informwed that I was being pulled over for 2 reasons: no front licenses plate, and no rear illumination of the rear license plate. The front plate was ripped off during a collision with a deer and had not been replaced. ( for this I guess I am guilty. I was never asked to step out of the vehicle to look at the rear plate illumination. Upon arriving home around 10:00Pm I looked at the rear plate to find it fully illuminated. I video taped this and included in the picture a view of my cell phone which displayed the time and date which I cannot change on my phone. I've wiggled the wires and checked the rear illumination under different circumstances trying to get it to go out but it never has. I was polite with the office, have no violations on my license at this time and was surprised I was even cited for these violations. the sheriffs deputy advised me the county has a "zero tolerance policy" and that I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I understand penalty for minor misdemeanors is set at $150 max. per infraction in the state of OH and was told my fine to mail in payment would be $200. This seems a bit severe to me especially seeing that one of the citations seems not to be valid. Would it be worth it for me to fight this in court or would I be wasting my time. My court date to plead is set for 11/08.

I would fight it. I have almost always had tickets reduced. Everyone has a zero tolerance policy. Nobody ever changes the contracts they send out. Yeah, yeah, yeah... go for it. Would be interested in hearing how it goes.