Im so frustrated

I really hesitate to recommend that you drop a class.....for me, it's a waste of money because you won't get that money back if you drop it. However, I understand what you're going through right know and yes, you need to pay that ticket. But good grief, $250 is a lot of money for coasting through a stop sign at 1:00 in the morning! (I'm not saying you coasted through the stop sign; the police seems to think you did. Sounds to me like it's the end of the month at the police station and some quotas need to be made at the station. Sorry, but that's how I feel.)

Several years ago, we were visiting with our kids about two hours away. I was driving home, it was after midnight, and I had taken the back way home to avoid a bunch of red lights and such. It's just a short cut, more than anything. A car came up behind me and started to follow. Thinking that it just might be the cops, I kept my speed steady and drove. Sure enough, when I went around the one curve, I went over into the other lane, just by a hair, mind you, but it was enough for the cop to pull me over. He shone his light into my eyes (probably to check my pupils, which is, no doubt why he did that to you, too), asked me where I had been and where I was going.  (He had also called for back-up, for crying out loud, but that's another story.) He wondered why I was driving instead of Rick, which, frankly, was none of his business....but I just said that I usually do the driving in the family, which is true.

Anyway, it was quite obvious that I was not drinking at all. It was simply the end of a very long and tiring day with kids and grandkids. He gave me a warning.....and followed me the rest of the way home. And believe me, that made me very nervous....I kept thinking that if I went over the line one more time, he was going to give me a ticket and he was just waiting for his chance. I was going to pull over and have Rick finish the trip, but it was only about two more miles til we got home. And we figured that would just send up a red flag to the cop. The cop was a bit of an idiot and I found out later that this guy really enjoys giving people a rough time.

But I'm getting off track here and I apologize. Can you talk to your parents and ask them to loan you the money (with the understanding that you pay them back)? Would they be willing to give you an early Christmas present of money to help out? Can you possibly pay the fine in monthly payments or something (and pardon me if that sounds really stupid....I simply don't know how that works)? Anything so that you don't have to drop the class...and again, it's simply because of the money issue that I never suggest dropping classes. If you have to do so to take on a second job, by all means, do so.

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I hope it all works out for you.

Most states can make arrangements for you to take a defensive driving course instead of paying the fine, if you haven't done it in the last 2 years or so.

You might want to contact the National Motorists Association.  http://www.motorists.org  They can give you a lot of pointers, even help you get a ticket dismissed or reduced.

It IS true that the definition of a full stop is the car "settling" level.

I would definately fight the ticket..in general most times with tickets like those cops wont show for the hearing because it actually costs more for the county to fight back with the ticket than it does for them to pull you over and issue the ticket. Also heaven forbid you fight it and lose...a lot of district court offices will offer payment plans for tickets..especially very expensive tickets like that one. BTW...$250 for 'rolling thru a stop sign'....*** Thats more expensive than getting a ticket for possession of a drug or paraphanalia...heck thats more than most speeding tickets Ive heard about unless you were going double the speed limit which thats automatic removal of your license.

I feel your pain about being a server. It sucks..you do ten time the work a normal restaurant worker does and make peanuts compared to the rest of the employees. When our area got hit with the bad economy servers took a HUGE hit. People went from tipping $5 bucks for two people and a twenty five dollar bill to tipping $2 bucks if you were lucky. A lot more servers got stiffed because people still want to go out to eat but dont want to give that little extra to their servers. Most people dont realize that servers in most states only make about $3 bucks an hour. In my area the best rate you will find is $2.87 an hour, no raises no matter how long you worked somewhere and you have to fight tooth and nail for your sections and tables. I hope things pick up for you because I know how much it sucks living off a servers wages.

I'm so sorry you're having all this stress and right before the holidays too. I agree, go to court. The fine will at least be reduced and if the cop doesn't show up it will probably be thrown out.

I worked for 9 years as a server/shift manager in a chain restaurant in a college town....I feel your pain. The tips were usually pretty decent the beginning of the semester but towards the end everyone was broke so nada in the tipping. And, for me at least, it was IMPOSSIBLE to budget because I didn't know what I was going to bring home for the week. I had a bad habit of spending money on stupid things figuring "I can make more tomorrow", then not having money for my bills. Not saying that is what you do at all. It took me a long time to grow up and become responsible. I ended up moving back in with my parents then after a few years bit the bullet and moved away where I didn't have them to rely on and got things back on track. Anyway, off topic. Anyway, I actually loved waitressing except for the fact that the tips relied on the time of the year and now the economy.

I'm guessing you will be having a winter break between semesters. Can you maybe get a part time job during the down time to help you get caught back up? Good luck hon. :hugs:

I completely understand where you are coming from. I have SO been there financially. Even now I sometimes lay awake at night if my husbands side job is slow, as to how we'll pay bills and mortgage. 

I am a little curious as to why it mattered WHERE you were coming from at 1am. If there is no curfew in your town, you're pretty much allowed to drive where and when you desire. It's not his business or anyone else's if you are coming from work. The cop sounds like a jerk.

Anyhow, I second and third the fight the ticket advice. Your court date will probably be after the holidays which may make it easier. They also may reduce the fine, depending on what happened. Of course the problem is, you have to show up at court, which means taking time off of work or school, but sometimes, if you have a convincing appearance, and story, the judge will rule you not guilty and the fine will be dismissed.