Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu from NYC
Your lucky. In most jurisdictions the cop sets aside a particular morning or afternoon as his court day and all his ticketees have to either pay or show up and he will be there and judge will find you guilty.
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In Connecticut and Massachusetts (the only 2 states I've gotten a traffic violation) the cop doesn't decide your court date. The appointment-setting system at the courthouse traffic division does. It's automated. The cop either comes or doesn't, but usually the precinct needs him to actually be a cop and doesn't give them time to hang out in a courtroom.
Twice out of the 6 times I've had a ticket, I didn't even get a court date. They nolled my violation by mail and I didn't have to show up at all. They do that when the docket is backlogged for lesser violations (such as "excessive speed" as opposed to "speeding" - there's a difference, legally).