I pleaded not guilty a while ago and my trial was today. I was hoping the cop wouldn’t show up but he did, even though it was his day off. A couple people in court had their cops not show up and the cases were dismissed.
He told his version, I told mine, the judge found me guilty but reduced the fine. So instead of $363 they reduced it to $287. They also let me do traffic school so it won’t show up on my record.
Just FYI if you plead “not guilty” then are found guilty in a trial, it is the judge’s discretion whether or not to then allow traffic school. The judge in my case decided this by asking the officer if I was respectful during the traffic stop. The cop said I was courteous and polite, and he even remembered exactly our conversation. I was truly amazed.
Anyhow, just FYI don’t go off on a cop because it may work against you in court (or the cop may shoot you). Even though the judge thought I was guilty she let me do traffic school because I was nice to the cop.
