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Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten Me
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:40 pm
by jayjonbeach
So unfortunately I have had a few tickets in the last 5 or 6 years. Thankfully Ticketcombat saved me from one or two.
Here is what I don't get though. On your first appearance, the Crown will usually offer most people a deal, ok great. Its usually a reduced fine, and often times a lesser charge with less points, ok great for people that just want an easy out and don't mind the massive insurance hike for 3 years (or if they are lucky, they are allowed 1 ticket). 95% of the people take the deal from my experience, and it saves the courts time and they collect some cash.
So a couple of times I offered to pay a ticket with a HIGHER fine, this is more money towards court costs, and whatever else this money goes to, that should be a WIN for the Crown I would have thought. Case and point, speeding ticket with 182 fine, I get offered a 80 dollar fine. I tell him its the same penalty for insurance, and offer to take a red light camera ticket instead which is 300+ dollars. They say no. I shake my head in disbelief and go home and prepare for trial. I have offered to take other things too, parking tickets, really anything that does not have the insurance hike and still has a large fine and they never go for it.
What is the deal here, does anyone know? Has anyone had any success making this kind of deal? If so what was the deal?
TIA
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:04 am
by ynotp
It isn't ethical to allow someone to plead guilty to something you know they didn't do. A lesser charge is based on the same series of events. For example fail to stop goes down to improper stop.
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:25 pm
by jayjonbeach
Well I don't think that is "it", in the last courthouse I was in I sat near the front on purpose to see what was being offered, and it did not matter what the person did, they were ALL being offered "Disobey Sign", and the people had a wide variety of charges where some were not related or did not fit the mold as you put it, running a red light would be just as suitable in other words or even more suitable.
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:11 am
by Stanton
Ynotp is correct. I cant speak to your personal observations, but the plea deal should somehow relate to the actual offence. Keep in mind that the Justice of the Peace could ask for a synopsis of what happened leading up to the charge, so if the offence doesnt fit what happened, a conviction cant be registered. In your case I dont know what offences the Crown was pleading down to "disobey sign", but it is a pretty big catch all for pleas.
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:48 am
by MegaSilver
In my own experience, I was charged with careless for being hit from behind into the car in front of me. Prosecutor offered failure to turn left to avoid collision. Fine. I accepted it. When brought in front of JP, he asked for clarification of events from prosecutor. he then questioned them on how I could have turned left from a stopped position. Charge thrown out.
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:00 pm
by hawaii
ynotp wrote:It isn't ethical to allow someone to plead guilty to something you know they didn't do. A lesser charge is based on the same series of events. For example fail to stop goes down to improper stop.
I was in court last year to dispute a illegal right turn ticket. I was very surprised and lucky to have the fine reduced and plead guilty to " Interfering traffic", which I learned was actually not a HTA offense. Explained to me as a glorified parking ticket.
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:07 pm
by hwybear
Interfering with traffic is an HTA offence....section 170
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 5:39 pm
by hawaii
hwybear wrote:Interfering with traffic is an HTA offence....section 170
My mistake,? could it be obstructing traffic, sorry it was last year, cant recall exact wording.
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:03 pm
by iFly55
hawaii wrote:hwybear wrote:Interfering with traffic is an HTA offence....section 170
My mistake,? could it be obstructing traffic, sorry it was last year, cant recall exact wording.
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statut ... .htm#BK248 http://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/how-do- ... hedule-43/ S.170 (12) - Interfere with traffic - Total Payable: $65
Re: Prosecutor Mentality Re Deals, I Don't Get It, Enlighten
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:09 pm
by hawaii
I guess two versions of that charge?