Hey so i got a ticket in september for not having any sort of proof of payment on me after i took a ride on the lrt to go to the library. Yeah i was going to the library to pick up a book and got ticketed by a police officer for not having my bus transfer with me. I accdientally dropped it on the lrt when i was getting on with people pushing me from behind...I didn`t realize that it fell. And i was going to get picked up from the library by my dad anyways. Uh bascially i got it when i was 17 in september and got charged as a youth and then i turned 18 in october (the payment date is november), but the officer said i was still going to go to youth court and she gave me a 'voluntary payment' option on the ticket. She said it was my choice if i wanted to pay or not, what did she mean by that? I don't know if i should just pay and ask for some time to gather up $250.00 for this ticket or plead not guilty and explain my story. I kinda lied a little to the officer when she asked me if i was a student at the moment in school, i did got accepted into university but i took three months off to figure out life and then go to uni in january. I was desperate not to get a ticket and i told her that i left my university id card at home. So what should i do now? Pay or plead not guilty? I mean $250.00 seems a bit much just for riding on the lrt without proof of payment.
If i'd checked my pockets for my bus transfer before going up the escalator to the proof of payment section i would have just turned back and gotten on the lrt and rode away...i mean i went up the escalator and after i entered the proof of payment area that was crawling with peace officers i checked my pockets only to find my bus transfer was gone. It was a unlucky day for me and i really don't want to pay $250.00 for this.
If i leave the lying part out of my story if i plead not guilty to the judge will it really matter? Will they call in the peace officer who gave me the ticket while i explain my situation? I really want to plead not guilty however will it affect my polcie record if i do? I mean if i just pay it off in full maybe it won't be as big of a deal? I want to go to medical school in the near future and i'm going to university in january so...?
If i'd checked my pockets for my bus transfer before going up the escalator to the proof of payment section i would have just turned back and gotten on the lrt and rode away...i mean i went up the escalator and after i entered the proof of payment area that was crawling with peace officers i checked my pockets only to find my bus transfer was gone. It was a unlucky day for me and i really don't want to pay $250.00 for this.
If i leave the lying part out of my story if i plead not guilty to the judge will it really matter? Will they call in the peace officer who gave me the ticket while i explain my situation? I really want to plead not guilty however will it affect my polcie record if i do? I mean if i just pay it off in full maybe it won't be as big of a deal? I want to go to medical school in the near future and i'm going to university in january so...?