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Boj27
Hi guys,

So, I’ve been pulled over by a cop in Florida on I-95 for 86mph in a 70. The cop was kinda nice about it and said he would put down that he clocked me at 76. The fine is only $113, so it’s not the end of the world, but since I am going home in a week and the car is a hire, I was debating not paying. Anyway I’ve looked at the ticket, they’ve got my first name wrong (Simone instead of Simon) and they also have not put the correct driving licence number down on the ticket.

I’ve a good feeling I could just ignore it, but will they chase the hire company, and then will the hire company chase me? With the wrong details what kind of chance do I have? I know if the hire company come after me, they’ll add an admin fee onto it, so wondering if I should just pay. But with the wrong details too I’m thinking I could just deny it and say it wasn’t me...
southpaw82
You realise this is a British forum? I doubt anyone can advise you with any real conviction as to the law in Florida.
stamfordman
Check your hire agreement.
speedfighter23
QUOTE (Boj27 @ Sun, 22 Sep 2019 - 19:35) *
Hi guys,

So, I’ve been pulled over by a cop in Florida on I-95 for 86mph in a 70. The cop was kinda nice about it and said he would put down that he clocked me at 76. The fine is only $113, so it’s not the end of the world, but since I am going home in a week and the car is a hire, I was debating not paying. Anyway I’ve looked at the ticket, they’ve got my first name wrong (Simone instead of Simon) and they also have not put the correct driving licence number down on the ticket.

I’ve a good feeling I could just ignore it, but will they chase the hire company, and then will the hire company chase me? With the wrong details what kind of chance do I have? I know if the hire company come after me, they’ll add an admin fee onto it, so wondering if I should just pay. But with the wrong details too I’m thinking I could just deny it and say it wasn’t me...


Not a good idea. If you don't pay it and the rental company say its you and the police charge you and you skip a court date, they will issue an arrest warrant and you could have issues next time you go to the States. Just pay the fine, 113 USD is nothing in the scheme of things. Driving Licence number is irrelevant, the police can find your details from the rental car company, together with passport etc.

And in the states there are no speed cameras but a lot of police so watch out for the cops, its not like UK with almost no police and pretty much 90% speeders caught by camera!
baroudeur

How can the hire company be involved? The op was stopped by a police officer and his details taken so any follow up would be sent to the op.

Not paying may not be a good idea if further visits to the US are likely as a record of the offence could affect a visa application.
stamfordman
QUOTE (baroudeur @ Mon, 23 Sep 2019 - 10:57) *
How can the hire company be involved?



If it was a speed camera the company would certainly be involved and I would have thought the authorities would follow up with the rental firm if any fine goes unpaid.

I doubt there is any link between a speeding ticket and the immigration system but I wouldn't like to risk driving again in that state with an unpaid fine.
southpaw82
QUOTE (stamfordman @ Mon, 23 Sep 2019 - 11:14) *
I doubt there is any link between a speeding ticket and the immigration system but I wouldn't like to risk driving again in that state with an unpaid fine.

AFAIK, the OP will have had to agree to deal with the ticket in some form or another. A fail to appear warrant may be issued if he doesn’t - which may well link up with immigration via NCIC. I can ask my Florida LEO guys if it becomes an issue.
DancingDad
Years back I was involved in an accident in the States while turning left at lights.
Seems in Ohio there is a law that makes it a contravention to cause an obstruction while turning left.
Which I could be deemed to have done even though the other guy had overtaken stationary traffic and banjoed me head on.

Cops were good as gold.
Explained they would normally issue a ticket but as I was a foreigner and likely to skip, would I mind coming down to the station.
Basic choice was pay (about $100 IIRC) or get scheduled into the court system, likely about a month later.
No brainer to me, paid, closed the case (kept the receipt safe for future trips), claimed it back on expenses (I think it went down as food and drink)
Alternative was, as said, possible issues on future trips due to an outstanding warrant.
southpaw82
My Florida guys say yes, it will end up as a warrant that will flag at immigration but if you send an attorney the court will likely dismiss it because you don’t live in the states and they can’t collect. I.e. put it before a judge and they’ll probably take a pragmatic view. Or pay.
cp8759
QUOTE (southpaw82 @ Mon, 23 Sep 2019 - 13:12) *
My Florida guys say yes, it will end up as a warrant that will flag at immigration but if you send an attorney the court will likely dismiss it because you don’t live in the states and they can’t collect. I.e. put it before a judge and they’ll probably take a pragmatic view. Or pay.

Talking of a pragmatic view, it may well cost more than $113 to send a lawyer to court.
southpaw82
QUOTE (cp8759 @ Mon, 23 Sep 2019 - 21:04) *
QUOTE (southpaw82 @ Mon, 23 Sep 2019 - 13:12) *
My Florida guys say yes, it will end up as a warrant that will flag at immigration but if you send an attorney the court will likely dismiss it because you don’t live in the states and they can’t collect. I.e. put it before a judge and they’ll probably take a pragmatic view. Or pay.

Talking of a pragmatic view, it may well cost more than $113 to send a lawyer to court.

That’s what I thought but they thought not. I have no idea, however.
speedfighter23
yeah so basically

1. pay up
2. go to court yourself
3. pay an attorney to go for you or speak with the court to deal with it /dismiss it
3. dont pay, dont show up, and get a warrant that will flag at immigration when you go back to the states.

So yes, just pay it!
cp8759
Well SP's source seems to imply that a lawyer could be cheaper.
roythebus
A lawyer would be cheaper than another visit to the states. But maybe their lawyers get paid a lot less than those here in the UK?
southpaw82
It’s $113... not worth the risk of going to lock up for if you go back.
DancingDad
QUOTE (roythebus @ Tue, 24 Sep 2019 - 10:34) *
A lawyer would be cheaper than another visit to the states. But maybe their lawyers get paid a lot less than those here in the UK?



No guarantee that the judge would be pragmatic even if the lawyer is significantly cheaper.
They may have no easy way of enforcing the debt in the UK but a judgement saying tell your client to pay within 28 days or I'll issue a warrant would still leave the $113 plus the lawyer to pay.
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