[kiao]

I am an Australian living in Miami, and came out to my car a couple weeks back to see a ticket for having an outdated registration sticker (showed expiration in 03-12).

I paid my registration renewal well in advance of expiration (and got the renewal and sticker) but totally forgot to affix it to the right corner of my plate.

Can i contest the fine on the basis that the vehicle was in fact registered at the time of the ticket? If so, what's the best way to do this?

Thanks!

[MiamiRob]

Yes you should be able to contest the ticket and there should be instructions on the ticket on how to handle it.

[Occifer]

What was the citation actually for (the statute number)? There is a statute for expired registration and there is a statute for displaying a valid tag/decal. Just because you got the sticker doesn't mean that you can't get cited for not putting it on. It is possible to get a reduction in the fine depending on exactly what you were cited for if you show registration that was valid on the day of the stop, and that should be explained on the back of the ticket. Read all the options on the back and look for the one that explains dismissals if charged with certain violations (expired registration, no insurance, etc). If the statute number you are charged with is included in that paragraph then you can do it through the clerk's office without setting a court date. If not you can still set a court date, but you will probably be found guilty.

[FL2MT]

A lot of times with stuff like this it just depends on the judge that happens to get the case. I've seen people show up with proof that they've corrected the problem and sometimes the judge says "thank you for fixing it, no fine" and other times they'll say "thank you for fixing it sir, but you were still in violation at the time of the ticket, please pay your fine at the clerk's office." If you think it's worth the hassle, show up to the court date, bring the current registration and CLEAR printed pictures showing the current decal now affixed on the car.

[kiao]

Thanks guys ill look at the specific citation number and go from there. I looked in the statutes and couldnt find any requirement for a decal to be displayed, only that registration be valid... anyway will let you know how it goes.

[floridabum]

yes, you should be able to contest, and odds are you will win. if the vehicle was simply sitting unused and you have the current registration, then yes, you should be able to prove that you registered the car, but since you were not using it, you didnt put the sticker on. Considering you are from Australia, you probably can convince a judge that you were there. My concern is a police officer just giving you a ticket. Where were you parked? if you were on private property, then they actually couldn't do anything unless the land owner filed a complaint.

[kiao]

Ok i have the citation. The citation is for violating sec 04/30-367- parking without valid license plate.

I should clarify that the car was parked (legally) in downtown Miami, was registered BUT did not have the new decal on it. The fine os only $33 so given the option of having to go to court I'll just pay it. Was hoping there was a simple way to show the car was actually registered at the time and have it dismissed.

Thanks again.

[kiao]

So this actually gets better.. The citation actually does not have my vehicles correct TAG. Adddtionally, when i look the citation up at the clerk's website, the tag associated to the citation is totally random (and different to that on the citation itslef), and there are no citations for my vehicle.

Im gonna ignore the citation.