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Chance Of Winning Transit Violation Case: Slim!
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 25, 2010
Modified Jan 25, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 25, 2010
Modified Jan 25, 2010
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If you get caught red-handed with your feet up on the subway seats, you have less than a one-in-five chance at winning your case in a hearing.
The Daily News takes a look at your chances of beating that ticket you got underground, reporting that in 2006, a whopping "9,577 summonses were upheld after hearings while 2,183 were dismissed," though an additional 3,778 summonses were dismissed prior to hearings. The NYCLU, who just gained access to the previously private trials, says the conviction rate is too high, and "thousands of people who have no lawyer are facing hearings where judges essentially act as prosecutors."
Kind of ridiculous: one woman was on a mini-trial for getting ticketed after her son ran ahead of her through the turnstile when she swiped her MetroCard. She ended up using his student card to get through, which landed her a $100 fine. She lost her case.
Tagged
court
fine
Hearing
MTA
NY Transit
ticket
transit violation
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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