I can't pay my speeding ticket bail and I want to fight my speeding ticket. what do I do?

[morcan]

Tomorrow morning i will go to court for my declaration to say if I'm guilty or not guilty. i plan to say not guilty. The issue is after I say not guilty i have to pay bail ( the ticket amount). I don't have $1600 to pay the full amount . Is their a way to go to the court and not pay the amount until after my real trial ? I know it possible but I don't know how to do it.
I live in California and I will go to the Torrance court house.

[edmondo93]

$1600? Wow!

Well you're going to your -arraignment-. At the arraignment you plead not-guilty, and you ask the judge if he would please reduce the bail. Usually the bail is the same amount as the ticket, and that's because most people just post the bail and walk away. But I think $1600 is just unreasonable and excessive for bail for a traffic ticket. See if the judge will cut you a break.

However, when you go to court, if you lose, you'll still be on the hook for the rest of the $1600. Or the judge might reduce your fine also.

[calvert]

Say to the judge, "I am entitled to a release on my own recognizance unless you can make a finding that a release without bail will not reasonably guarantee my appearance or will compromise public safety. There is no evidence that I am a flight risk, nor that I am a danger. Please comply with Penal Code section 1270, applicable to all infractions pursuant to Penal Code section 19.7."

Though many judges set bail without thinking, in fact requiring you to post bail pending trial once you have appeared for arraignment is a violation of both California statute and the United States Constitution.

However, something else is going on here, because there is no speeding ticket which carries bail of $1,600.

ADD: If you show proof of insurance valid at the time, that charge will be dismissed for only a small administrative fee. Then you will have only the speeding charge to deal with.