So my teenage son rear-ended another driver and we just got notice that he got a citation for following too close (169.18.8(a)) at the time of the accident. We didn’t know it was a payable citation at first, but now we’re worried that paying the fine might make us plead guilty and trigger a license revocation under Minnesota’s Vanessa’s Law. Has anyone dealt with something like this before? I’d really appreciate some advice.
Oh man, that’s a tough situation. As far as I know, paying the fine usually means admitting guilt, but it doesn’t automatically mean his license will be revoked unless there are other factors like previous violations or a serious accident. Vanessa’s Law is more about DWI or driving violations after a license suspension. I’d say it’s worth looking into contesting the citation if you’re worried about the long-term effects.
@Vanya
Yeah, I agree with def. It’s probably worth it to contest it in court. You can often get the charge reduced to something less serious, and that might keep it off your record. Definitely look into your options.
@Vanya
Didn’t know that, thanks for the info! I’m in a similar situation and might try contesting it now. IDK if I want to risk paying the fine and messing with my record.
Just wanted to add, you can contact the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to confirm if paying the fine will trigger Vanessa’s Law. They should be able to give you a straight answer. Better to know for sure before you decide to pay.
@Zeke
Thanks for that tip, I’ll definitely reach out to them. At least we’ll have all the facts before moving forward.
I’m with def here—contesting it might be your best bet. If it’s his first offense, it’s unlikely Vanessa’s Law will apply, but you don’t want to take any chances. Court could be a way to reduce the charge or avoid it affecting his license.
@Vesper
Yeah, same here. If it was just following too closely, it seems like that wouldn’t be enough to trigger the law. But still, better to be safe than sorry.
I had a similar thing happen with my kid a while ago. We chose to contest it, and it worked out well. The charge got reduced and nothing happened to his license. Definitely something to consider!
Rafe said:
I had a similar thing happen with my kid a while ago. We chose to contest it, and it worked out well. The charge got reduced and nothing happened to his license. Definitely something to consider!
Good to hear! How did the court process go? Was it difficult to get it reduced?
Rafe said:
I had a similar thing happen with my kid a while ago. We chose to contest it, and it worked out well. The charge got reduced and nothing happened to his license. Definitely something to consider!
It wasn’t too bad! Just made sure to show up on time, be respectful, and explain the situation. The judge was pretty understanding. Worth a shot!
Also, make sure you keep an eye on the deadlines for contesting the citation. If you miss it, you might lose the chance to fight it in court.