Big mistake or no?

[Oops]

I think you should be okay, i know most cops pull over people with stupid reasons like seatbelt or tail light out and such to try and get more dirt on them, he obv couldnt get any on you so he gave u the ticket. worst coems to worst, u take it to court, he cant prove u werent wearing ur seatbelt. dont sweat it

[DankNuggets]

better pay it before the court date, or they can issue a warrant (at least in my state). I don't think it's the kind where they break into your house, but they will arrest you if you get pulled over again. The reason is skipping the trial, because you have the option of paying and not going (for some reason I think you have to go to court for ANY traffic violation in Illinois... I know it's different from a lot of states).

Skipping trial is a much bigger offense than not wearing a seat belt, just make sure they don't try to charge you for that.

I got a speeding ticket in a rural town while on the job, in a state vehicle. The cop said he pulled me over for "careless driving" which he explained was going 10+ over the speed limit. I was going 62 in a 55, with hardly anybody around (he was in an unmarked car too). Said he'd "do me a favor" and just write it up as violation of town ordinance... and wrote it as a $255 ticket. Set my court date for 5:00 pm (mind this town was a good 3 1/2 hrs away). Figured I couldn't contest it (he didn't write speeding on it) and would lose more money by taking off of work and driving down there.

Moral of the story, cops are dicks, but mainly because they just want to pocket your money. They'll lie just to get it, and there's nothing you can do to combat it (or it isn't worth the trouble).

[Reaver]

ROFL. Innocent until proven guilty is a facade??? You got pulled over cause some cop thought you werent wearing a seatbelt...thats 'proven guilty' in the court of law i dont know where you draw that conclusion. Even if you were wearing it, which i have no reason to believe you werent, his word vs yours wins almost every time since hes a cop

How is thinking that you didn't see someone wearing their seat belt mean that they weren't wearing their seat belt? I drive a mustang and the seats sit pretty low so you can't actually even SEE whether I'm wearing a seat belt or not unless you're driving a truck along side of me. There was no proof, my point stands, he simply said he saw me without a seat belt. It's no different than if a cop said he saw you jaywalking on a street no one else was on but you and the cop, no proof. But you are right about one thing, his word will stand against mine and he'll win, I'm not going to take time out of work/school to fight this guy in court.

[genocidal]

I drive a mustang

Here's your problem.

[Kolar]

If he didn't follow proper procedure in giving you the ticket then it will be thrown out regardless.

[L1 TW]

Alright, this is kinda sad but I thought I made it pretty clear that I was wearing my seat-belt, if I wasn't wearing my seat-belt I would've just manned up and paid it right away. Also, for the guy threatening me about faxing everyone in Illinois, please do it, I'm gonna be moving to a different state in about 5 months anyways and I'm willing to wager that you don't have the balls nor the resources.

Conclusion: Innocent until proven guilty is a facade in America, at least in some cases.

Edit: Fit, $55 is nothing. It's the principle that I'm not going to pay up for something I didn't do, I don't care if it's $5

Actually I have too much free time and nothing better to do, thats been over and done with since I read this thread. I waste time and resources for the lulz.

[Xog]

I'd also like to point out that since you tore it up (or lost it if that's your story) you automatically have to pay the fine and you cannot fight the ticket. In order for you to fight a ticket you have to have it. If you are late on the payment, you have to pay it and your ability to fight it is nullified as if you "lost it".

That's what it's like in NY. It's in small print. I remember reading the back of one of my tickets and that's what it said. :\