Legal Question in Traffic Law in Georgia

I received a speeding ticket which is rather excessive on the Interstate. The ticket was issued by local city police department and i attempted to get reduced by talking with the city court clerk...they were not sympathetic. My question: Does the County Clerk of Court have any jurisdictional 'prerogative' over the city if i were to seek reduction through the county? (I couldn't even find my citation in the county online system, only in the city's). This occurred in Lowdnes County, Hahira, GA.


Asked on 5/09/18, 10:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

Your call to the city court clerk was inappropriate and a bad idea, and may have been reported to the judge. A clerk has NO authority over the ticket. You post frankly makes it clear that you are going to do harm to your case. You have a city and not a county case. There are ways, if you choose, to compel a transfer of the case to the county. That is done in court and may in some cases be very smart (or very foolish). The long term consequences of a ticket are not just fines and points, but years of increased insurance. You need a lawyer. You will need to discuss (1) if you have defenses, (2) which court the case should be in, (3) whether you want a jury or nonjury case, (4) whether you should look into pretrial negotiations with the prosecutor to reduce charges or do pretrial diversion.

Clerks CANNOT change a ticket. Prosecutors and judges can. Your call, if known, and since you just advertised it here on the internet on a site where local prosecutors read (bad move), may lessen chances of negotiating a better disposition.

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Answered on 5/09/18, 10:54 am


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