Court Summons

[CByrne]

My better half got a court summons in the post. She was stopped two months or so ago, and the tax was out of date (one month). She also didnt have her license on her at the time.
The Garda told her to bring in the docs to the station, which she never did but she did get it taxed straight away and paid the back tax for the month as well.
Anyway shes now got a summons for:
No Insurance
No Tax
No License
Failure to provide Insurance, Tax, License.

The Insurance is a mistake, she had it at the time, it was mid cover, the disc was def displayed and she has the policy details. Fair enough tho she didnt provide the tax and license at the station.

Anyone have experience with this? Any point apologising to the Garda and arranging to meet up with the docs (and also point out the Insurance mistake)

What sort of fines do the court levy I wonder?

Pain in the butt.

[karlf]

I'd ring him, tell him you have everything in order and see what he suggests. Once a summons is sent I think you have to show up in court, so there's no way around that.
I've been to court for not having tax, ins and failure to produce. I had ins just not the the discs as I'd changed ins companies and was waiting on the new disc. The tax was up just over a month, and i paid the back tax when i renewed it for the next 6 months. I showed them in the local station, but there was no record of this and i got summonsed. Showed up and showed my particulars to the guard when my name was called, he told the judge everything was in order,and that was that. Alot of people had this done also. I wouldn't worry too much about it though, I'd say the worst that will happen is she'll have to show up in court and show all her particulars and maybe make an appology for wasting the courts time.
With regards to fines the judge handed down different amounts, it seemed to depend on the person and how they conducted themselves while they were explainging their case. The smart cocky gits got higher fines than the humbler appologetic people, the highest was €800ish and €300 was the lowest. I remember these coz I was bricking it B4 I was called. But I dont think your wife will get a fine, as she has everything in order.

[baldtyres]

I agree with karl, once you recieve the summons you must appear in court, however this can be settled there if your solicitor has a quick word with the cop in question and clears that all documents are in order.
This obviously depends on a couple of points
1. That you get a solicitor - any DIY attempt is immediatly treated with contempt and distain from a Judge and often a hefty slap on the wrist which amounts to a b0llocking and a fine. It's best get a solicitor that deals usually with traffic violations who would be there on the day anyway, this will ensure the least damage for the extortionate prices they charge.
2. Hopefully the cop is a reasonable type of fellow.

This can be settled in the hallway of the court and allow you to go on your merry way without the aggravation of standing up in court. I would agree that this should blow over with just a few quid to the solicitor and a lesson learned as the main damage.

An apology, however strained, to the Cop never goes amiss either ... leave the ego at home.... horrible as it may seem.

[karlf]

I wouldn't waste the money on one of these, you dont need one for a traffic offence. I nor anyone else there the day I was in court had one. They'll charge you in the region of €200 (had to pay for one on another outing in court) He didn't even have to do anything as my papers were never sent in, so there was no case to answer. Ring the guard and see what he says.

[baldtyres]

There ya go! Ya makes your choices and ya takes yer chances!
Whatever advice you get about getting a solicitor can be taken or left but I would NEVER offer anyone dealing with the legal system NOT to take legal advice no matter how insignificant. I think I would just keep it zipped!

[Dave]

not necessarily true about the summons, i got a summons for not showing L plates and not having a fully qualified driver in the car with me, which also led to a summons for driving without undue care! waste of time, but i got a cop friend to make a couple of calls, i had gotten my full license in the mean time and sent that on, summons was squashed and i didn't go to court! make a call to the cop and go from there.....

[baldtyres]

Suppose it all boils down to hoping the cop shows a bit of common sense!
The main thing seems to be if you are asked to produce documents - then sort them out and get your ass down the station and nip it in the bud.
Not everyone has a cop on their christmas list.
Hindsight is always 20-20.

[Storm]

Hindsight is always 20-20.

How true

[CByrne]

Cheers lads, I'll get her to drop down to the station with all the docs, just on the off-chance if there is any chance of avoiding it. At least she can talk to the Guard tho and apologies for not showing earlier, so if it comes the court thing should go ok and the garda will explain all the docs have since been produced....