Proving car inspection in court?

LadyArkham

Hey y'all, my Google abilities are failing me, so I thought I'd ask advice here in case someone knows this.

I got pulled over for an expired inspection last month - I'm an idiot and it's totally my fault. My court date is in two weeks, and I've since gotten my car inspected. (It passed with no repairs for the first time ever, yay.) If I take proof of getting it inspected to court, will the judge dismiss the case? What would constitute "proof" of that?

I'm in Virginia, if that has bearing on the issue.

Thanks!

almost-a-bride

Is car inspection the same as emissions?

Avion22

Even though you have a valid inspection now, you might still have to pay a fine for driving without one last month.  But it's worth a try. Otherwise, try not to make excuses when you go to court.  If you forgot, you forgot. 

When you got your car inspected, they should have given you a certificate of inspection (usually a computer print-out with your name, car's VIN number, and the checklist of everything they inspected).  And if they're like North Carolina, that information also goes into a computer database run by the state, so they know you've done it when you go to renew your registration.  Does virginia still do inspection stickers?

ootmother2

Bring proof of inspection to the hearing so at least they know that you're not still driving a non inspected vehicle.

I doubt that will get you off on the orginal charge of driving an uninspected car.

Sorry & GL

greeneke2

I'm from VA too.  You got the ticket for not having your inspection at the time you got pulled over.  So even though you got your car inspected now, you will most likely still get the ticket.

I'd bring proof that you got your ca r inspected though just so they know its not still expired.

Sorry, VA can be sticklers when it comes to driving!

McKenna2012

That could go either way; it will all depend on the judge. 

LadyArkham

Thanks everyone! I'll get the receipt from the mechanic showing the state inspection, and cross my fingers. ^_^

Milsey32

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_proving-car-inspection-court?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:bc1f9595-841d-470d-84e0-ce64d71b0435Post:3a425a2e-3abe-4420-82c8-90d2ee18b8ab">Re: Proving car inspection in court?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Even though you have a valid inspection now, you might still have to pay a fine for driving without one last month.</strong>  But it's worth a try. Otherwise, try not to make excuses when you go to court.  If you forgot, you forgot.  <strong>When you got your car inspected, they should have given you a certificate of inspection (usually a computer print-out with your name, car's VIN number, and the checklist of everything they inspected).  </strong>And if they're like North Carolina, that information also goes into a computer database run by the state, so they know you've done it when you go to renew your registration.  Does virginia still do inspection stickers?
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]<div>
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MyNameIsNot

PP is correct, the citation is for not having a valid inspection at the time you were stopped, so getting it inspected later is not grounds for dismissal.  To get it dismissed, you would have to show that the inspection was current at the time of the stop.  However, the fact that you did update it is normally a mitigating circumstance that the judge can consider in deciding whether to reduce the normal fine.  Most traffic courts have a set policy on how they handle these.  You can try calling the court to see if they have a standing order in place regarding this.   

greeneke2

Avion- Virginia does still do inspection stickers. You get a little pink slip as well though showing what all passed/didn't pass inspection.

A lot of places just throw that pink slip in your glove compartment so I would check there if they didn't hand it to you directly.