The Curse of the Edward Vedder

Sharon_Hearts_PJ

So, (very) few of you might remember when I posted about my experience seeing Ed night 1 at the Tower back in June. My husband and I were fortunate enough to end up front row center for the second half of the show, thanks to some VERY generous people and fate. It was an unreal night, peaking when Ed personally handed me his pick after a beautiful song dedicated to his daughter for her birthday.

Driving home through Philly that night, I ran a red light (it was pouring and I was too scared to stop short!) and got a ticket. Not a very pricey one, mind you. But a ticket with the threat of points should I decide not to show to my court date. Scheduled for this very August 12th. At 1pm. Anyone want to tell me why this might SUCK?!

Yeah, it's because the added shows have sale times of 12pm and 2pm. I live at least 30 min from the city, and have to leave by about 11:30am to get ensure arriving/parking in a timely manner, so as not to be late to the appointment time I've been allotted. And the likelihood of being done within 5 minutes and getting back home by 2pm? Slim to none. So now, I have to leave my husband at home to buy tickets to both shows, god-willing, while I navigate the city all by my lonesome for this court date.

Is Karma really still biting me in the ass for having such a perfect show that night? Didn't I deserve it?

I know, Waaaah! I'll stop crying now. It's just lame timing, and I will get through it!

mookieblalock

I am sure you can have it postponed. Just call them in the morning and make up an excuse why you can't make it (I wouldn't tell them because PJ tickets are going on sale at the same time )

Usually, they will just give you another date. Its certainly worth a shot.

Good luck!

IamMine

Sharon_Hearts_PJ wrote:

So now, I have to leave my husband at home to buy tickets to both shows, god-willing, while I navigate the city all by my lonesome for this court date.

Seems like a good solution here.

I don't understand how EV i s a curse here, or it has to do with karma?

At least your hubby knows how to use the internet to purchase tickets... mine doesn't. If I were in your situation, I'd go o the court and have my husband do it to the best of his ability... I'd have shown him how to do it.

Whatever you decide, good luck

EDIT: the poster beat me to it... that's another option...

mikep

oh just take the points and giv'r for the pj show!
kidding, sortof? lol. yeah. im sure they must allow schedule changes for 'family commitments' etc etc. it's just a silly ticket. family commitments supercede all that stuff. so hopefully they think that way too.

mookieblalock

I can't tell you how many traffic court appearances friends of mine have had moved. Its extremely common.

NoK

Just check if there is an internet cafe next to the courthouse..

or better yet borrow someones phone that has internet and do it in court

soulsinging

Sharon_Hearts_PJ wrote:

So, (very) few of you might remember when I posted about my experience seeing Ed night 1 at the Tower back in June. My husband and I were fortunate enough to end up front row center for the second half of the show, thanks to some VERY generous people and fate. It was an unreal night, peaking when Ed personally handed me his pick after a beautiful song dedicated to his daughter for her birthday.

Driving home through Philly that night, I ran a red light (it was pouring and I was too scared to stop short!) and got a ticket. Not a very pricey one, mind you. But a ticket with the threat of points should I decide not to show to my court date. Scheduled for this very August 12th. At 1pm. Anyone want to tell me why this might SUCK?!

Yeah, it's because the added shows have sale times of 12pm and 2pm. I live at least 30 min from the city, and have to leave by about 11:30am to get ensure arriving/parking in a timely manner, so as not to be late to the appointment time I've been allotted. And the likelihood of being done within 5 minutes and getting back home by 2pm? Slim to none. So now, I have to leave my husband at home to buy tickets to both shows, god-willing, while I navigate the city all by my lonesome for this court date.

Is Karma really still biting me in the ass for having such a perfect show that night? Didn't I deserve it?

I know, Waaaah! I'll stop crying now. It's just lame timing, and I will get through it!

Why don't you just pay the ticket and be done with it?

IamMine

soulsinging wrote:

Why don't you just pay the ticket and be done with it?

I was thinking the same but it seems like a different situation for her.

I'd have paid the ticket myself, fully knowing it was my fault and irresponsibility of not paying attention.

I even apologized to the cop and told him I was going to go and pay for it. :P (He actually asked me to repeat what I just said - it was almost like surreal to him)

For some odd reason, the points never showed up though I paid for the ticket... *shrugs*

anyway... I wish the OP all the luck in finding the best solution for her situation.

Gmoney

if you really love pj you just won't go. this is a test from eddie, not a curse.

IamMine

Gmoney wrote:

if you really love pj you just won't go. this is a test from eddie, not a curse.

hahaha, that's mean!

She really wants to go to the Philly show(s)....she should go, but I don't think she should feel like it's a curse or something.

She was just not paying attention to the road after her last EV solo show. :P

That's all...own it up and move on.

I hope she gets the tickets to the show(s) and NOT get another red light ticket after the show!

Gmoney

IamMine wrote:

Gmoney wrote:

if you really love pj you just won't go. this is a test from eddie, not a curse.

hahaha, that's mean!

She really wants to go to the Philly show(s)....she should go, but I don't think she should feel like it's a curse or something.

She was just not paying attention to the road after her last EV solo show. :P

That's all...own it up and move on.

I hope she gets the tickets to the show(s) and NOT get another red light ticket after the show!

I mean she shouldn't go to court. court or pj? eddie is watching

soulsinging

IamMine wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

Why don't you just pay the ticket and be done with it?

I was thinking the same but it seems like a different situation for her.

I'd have paid the ticket myself, fully knowing it was my fault and irresponsibility of not paying attention.

I even apologized to the cop and told him I was going to go and pay for it. :P (He actually asked me to repeat what I just said - it was almost like surreal to him)

For some odd reason, the points never showed up though I paid for the ticket... *shrugs*

anyway... I wish the OP all the luck in finding the best solution for her situation.

Different situation or not, has anyone here ever known anyone that successfully fought a ticket? The odds are probably slightly below your odds of winning the jackpot or the row 1 lottery. Nobody wins that shit.

blondieblue227

hope she lets us know what she did.

*hugs* to her.

CJMST3K

soulsinging wrote:

Why don't you just pay the ticket and be done with it?

ALWAYS dispute a ticket. They will always negotiate with you.

You CAN hire a lawyer to represent you. I was pegged going 87 in a 55 once (32 miles over the limit) and I had a lawyer local to that area handle it for me. He argued it down to.... (wait for it) ....he argued it down to "Parking on a sidewalk". Not even a moving violation.

So... moral... always dispute a ticket.


(oh, and you can also give a friend your CC info to help you out)

IamMine

blondieblue227 wrote:

hope she lets us know what she did.

*hugs* to her.

Yup

CJMST3K - yeah you could dispute the ticket if you feel the need to. I didn't the last time because I knew I fucked up.

I however once did dispute by writing a letter to the judge, explaining why I thought it was wrong.

Then threw in that according to the ADA, they were responsible in providing me a qualified interpreter.

This judge dismissed the case in my favor, knowing they didn't want to deal with paying interpreters and problems with unqualified interpreters who were hired at that court. :P

Sharon_Hearts_PJ

You guys are all great! This is some good stuff! Thank you all for your concerns!

I did try calling all day today to see if I could reschedule. Big shocker! No one answers the damn phone!

I decided to not bother spending the time going into the city, sitting in the courthouse (co-workers warned it would be hours at least), and losing money while not working. I spoke to my car insurance agent, and he said the points, if assessed, would drop off one a year until all 3 are gone. As long as I don't pick up another 3 points in the next year (before it drops down to 2) I should be good and not see an increase in my premium. That is my only concern, truly. And I really AM a good driver, usually!!

As far as the money goes, even though I'm not at all wealthy (or even comfortable really), I see it as this: $120 is already gone from my account. The chances of getting it back from them are slim to none. Even if I fought the charge down to a zero-point offense, they'd probably still keep the fines and possibly ask for even more.

I'll still only have the chance to help my husband with the first set of tickets at noon, but it's the more important show, the 31st, so that works out. Then I really will have to leave for work.

I was making a play on words, by the way, with the Curse of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Not really blaming Ed (directly) for all of these troubles. He's just a common denominator! LOL!

100 Pacer

Sharon_Hearts_PJ wrote:

You guys are all great! This is some good stuff! Thank you all for your concerns!

I did try calling all day today to see if I could reschedule. Big shocker! No one answers the damn phone!

I decided to not bother spending the time going into the city, sitting in the courthouse (co-workers warned it would be hours at least), and losing money while not working. I spoke to my car insurance agent, and he said the points, if assessed, would drop off one a year until all 3 are gone. As long as I don't pick up another 3 points in the next year (before it drops down to 2) I should be good and not see an increase in my premium. That is my only concern, truly. And I really AM a good driver, usually!!

As far as the money goes, even though I'm not at all wealthy (or even comfortable really), I see it as this: $120 is already gone from my account. The chances of getting it back from them are slim to none. Even if I fought the charge down to a zero-point offense, they'd probably still keep the fines and possibly ask for even more.

I'll still only have the chance to help my husband with the first set of tickets at noon, but it's the more important show, the 31st, so that works out. Then I really will have to leave for work.

I was making a play on words, by the way, with the Curse of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Not really blaming Ed (directly) for all of these troubles. He's just a common denominator! LOL!

for what it's worth, Sharon, i'm fighting a speeding ticket on behalf of someone else and i was actually told by my insurance agent after i inquired that it's not the points that increase one's insurance rate but the conviction itself,...

Sharon_Hearts_PJ

100 Pacer wrote:

for what it's worth, Sharon, i'm fighting a speeding ticket on behalf of someone else and i was actually told by my insurance agent after i inquired that it's not the points that increase one's insurance rate but the conviction itself,...

D'oh. That sucks. :( Hope it's not too significant. He's already saving me $600 from what I was paying my last company. If he's lying about this, or wrong, I'm still paying less through him, I'd assume. A "safe driver" discount isn't THAT much, is it?

100 Pacer

Sharon_Hearts_PJ wrote:

100 Pacer wrote:

for what it's worth, Sharon, i'm fighting a speeding ticket on behalf of someone else and i was actually told by my insurance agent after i inquired that it's not the points that increase one's insurance rate but the conviction itself,...

D'oh. That sucks. :( Hope it's not too significant. He's already saving me $600 from what I was paying my last company. If he's lying about this, or wrong, I'm still paying less through him, I'd assume. A "safe driver" discount isn't THAT much, is it?

perhaps your insurance company is somewhat lenient towards 1st convictions, but best to verify it all with your insurance broker,...

BTW, Sharon, in court when the officer takes the stand be sure to ask him to recall the exact weather conditions that evening and make a case for not being able to safely stop before crossing into the intersection despite traveling at the speed limit or below it,...

Sharon_Hearts_PJ

100 Pacer wrote:

Sharon_Hearts_PJ wrote:

100 Pacer wrote:

for what it's worth, Sharon, i'm fighting a speeding ticket on behalf of someone else and i was actually told by my insurance agent after i inquired that it's not the points that increase one's insurance rate but the conviction itself,...

D'oh. That sucks. :( Hope it's not too significant. He's already saving me $600 from what I was paying my last company. If he's lying about this, or wrong, I'm still paying less through him, I'd assume. A "safe driver" discount isn't THAT much, is it?

perhaps your insurance company is somewhat lenient towards 1st convictions, but best to verify it all with your insurance broker,...

BTW, Sharon, in court when the officer takes the stand be sure to ask him to recall the exact weather conditions that evening and make a case for not being able to safely stop before crossing into the intersection despite traveling at the speed limit or below it,...

The ticket does state "Wet" for weather conditions. But I'm not going to court for it. I decided not to show.

Will that be the worst thing I could do, since I already plead not-guilty? I know the case will be heard in my absence. And most likely, since the traffic court is blocks away from the incident and the police precinct, my cop will probably show.
Grrr! This is so frustrating!

rupy017

mookieblalock wrote:

Just call them in the morning and make up an excuse why you can't make it (I wouldn't tell them because PJ tickets are going on sale at the same time )

So, this isn't an acceptable excuse? Says WHO?:):)

100 Pacer

Sharon_Hearts_PJ wrote:

The ticket does state "Wet" for weather conditions. But I'm not going to court for it. I decided not to show.

Will that be the worst thing I could do, since I already plead not-guilty? I know the case will be heard in my absence. And most likely, since the traffic court is blocks away from the incident and the police precinct, my cop will probably show.
Grrr! This is so frustrating!

not sure of the procedure in your region, so i can't offer you any advice with regards to protocol. i would HIGHLY recommend you be present for any trial, but it's your decision. it does reflect badly on you in the eyes of the court if you don't show,...

IamMine

100 Pacer wrote:

not sure of the procedure in your region, so i can't offer you any advice with regards to protocol. i would HIGHLY recommend you be present for any trial, but it's your decision. it does reflect badly on you in the eyes of the court of you don't show,...

You've been more than kind to offer advices here for her...I even learned something new.

Yikes, I really don't know what to say.

It's your decision, girl... go with your guts on what feels right and stand by it. We may not agree with you, but it's your decision and we won't think less of you.

If you do however change your mind... show your husband how to do it by walking him through?

Good luck in everything - the court and getting the philly tickets!

Sharon_Hearts_PJ

So, I skipped court so that I could go to work and earn money. Husband was able to get tix for both nights. All is right with the world today!
Thanks again to all of you for some fun conversation and sage advice. I only hope the feds don't come after me and throw me in jail at the end of October! LOL

IamMine

Sharon_Hearts_PJ wrote:

So, I skipped court so that I could go to work and earn money. Husband was able to get tix for both nights. All is right with the world today!
Thanks again to all of you for some fun conversation and sage advice. I only hope the feds don't come after me and throw me in jail at the end of October! LOL

Your hubby did a good job - but don't spoil him too much.... yet.

Just wear a costume and they won't be able to make you out!

Now you and your hubby can go and enjoy the Philly shows!

...just make sure to pay more attention to the road!