Thinking about disputing a school bus ticket... should I go to court?

I got a $250 school bus ticket and I’m thinking about disputing it in court. Is there a court fee I should expect? Also, what’s the typical attorney fee for this kind of ticket? If I win or lose, will this show up anywhere? It’s not a DMV ticket… it was sent by the School Bus Safety Program in New York.

Yeah, typically you’ll have to pay a court fee if you dispute it. It varies, but it’s usually not too high. You should check with the court for exact details though.

Amari said:
Yeah, typically you’ll have to pay a court fee if you dispute it. It varies, but it’s usually not too high. You should check with the court for exact details though.

I think the fee will depend on where the hearing is held, so definitely reach out to the court to confirm. Better to know before you go.

As for the attorney fee, it can range from $300 to $1,000. A lot of lawyers may offer a flat fee for something like this, but if the case gets more complicated, it could cost more.

Indra said:
As for the attorney fee, it can range from $300 to $1,000. A lot of lawyers may offer a flat fee for something like this, but if the case gets more complicated, it could cost more.

That’s helpful, thanks! I’ll probably shop around for consultations. No harm in comparing rates.

If you win, there shouldn’t be any lasting record since this isn’t a DMV ticket. But if you lose, it might get recorded in the school bus safety program’s system, not on your driving record though.

Wyn said:
If you win, there shouldn’t be any lasting record since this isn’t a DMV ticket. But if you lose, it might get recorded in the school bus safety program’s system, not on your driving record though.

Oh, so if I lose, it doesn’t affect my license? Good to know!

Yeah, even if you lose, it doesn’t affect your driving record. And if you just pay the fine, that’s not technically a guilty conviction, it just shows that you paid it.

Aza said:
Yeah, even if you lose, it doesn’t affect your driving record. And if you just pay the fine, that’s not technically a guilty conviction, it just shows that you paid it.

So paying the fine isn’t the same as admitting guilt? Interesting. I wasn’t sure about that.

It’s unlikely that either paying the fine or losing in court would have any negative effects on other areas of your life, especially since it’s not a DMV offense.

Paz said:
It’s unlikely that either paying the fine or losing in court would have any negative effects on other areas of your life, especially since it’s not a DMV offense.

That’s reassuring to hear. Seems like this won’t cause too many issues down the road. Thanks for the clarity!