Jury trial for speeding in Indiana?

[melenie]

We have an acquaintance who says he's gotten out of every speeding ticket he's been issued (in Indiana) by requesting a jury trial. Is there a catch to this? What are the ramifications? How would you go about doing this - just ask the judge at the first court appearance? Also, my husband got a speeding ticket and showed up at court. The judge issued a continuance because the officer did not show up. I thought that if the officer didn't show up, the case was dismissed?

 

[lawrat]

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Usually it is supposed to be dismissed when the officer does not show up. Not a continuance.

As to jury trial, you can request one. There isn't a catch - it is just time consuming.

 

[purplehaze46060]

I don't know about the jury thing. I just recently got a speeding ticket in Indiana, if you look at the ticket closely or the yellow instructions that come with it you have a certain date to pay by or appear in court. It also says if you appear in court it is to set a date to contest the ticket. Which gives the officer pleanty of time to make arrangements to show up. If your friend uses the jury trial to get off, why doesn't everyone know about it? I too thought about fighting the ticket, but was I angry at the $200 fine or the fact that I was speeding and got caught. For me the answer was obvious, for you, that is something you'll have to decide. Always remember: Some days you're the pigeon, some days you're the statue. Moral: **** happens.