I recieved a traffic ticket for an improper left turn. I want to get out of the ticket or recieve no points.?

I was making a left turn at a four way stop in Jefferson City, MO and cut it to sharp and caused a cop to slam on her brakes (so she says). I have the ticket in front of me right now and know that if there are mistakes on the ticket the case is thrown out. So I looked at it very close and noticed that there is not ordinance number or Statute number listed that I should be punishable by. I was wondering if this would be enough to get it thrown out. If not I was going to go to driving class but my city doesn't do that but I talked to the city clerk and learned that I can pay a higher ticket but recieve no points for it. Which is the best to do. As a last resort I will try to contest it in front of a jury.

I don't know how things are done in Jefferson City, but your best option may be to pay the higher fine and avoid the points.

However (and I'll go against popular opinion here) if the officer did not write on the ticket the code or statute which your are charged with violating, this may, in fact, entitle you to a dismissal. You are not able to defend the allegation if you do not know what you are charged with. The Court could remedy this at your arraignment, but unless the officer is present, the court won't know either. In many traffic courts, there is no prosecutor to fix this.

I would indicate to the Court at arraignment that that you do not know what you are charged with and cannot enter a plea and request a dismissal. If the Court informs you of a charge, you may want to set the matter for trial and take the chance that the officer doesn't show up.

If the officer doesn't show, you get a dismissal. If she does, talk to her - discuss why she cited you and what she plans to say. If you didn't actually break the law, defend yourself and face the consequences (I don't think you are entitled to a jury on a traffic ticket, even in MO). Or, tell the court that after reviewing the evidence, you believe it is in your best interest to plea guilty if the court will allow you to go to traffic school (or do whatever is necessary to avoid the points in MO).

Well plead not guility and go to court. The officer will have to give her statement and yes there should have to be a "Statute" number , you might get off on that alone. But in many places they will also let you plea to some other type of violation that does not have points associated with it but it might cost more. I pleaded to some type of parking violation once instead of the making an illegal turn violation

If you ask the judge to drop the points he will. Accept that you have to pay the fine

"know that if there are mistakes on the ticket the case is thrown out" - Sorry, this is a common but completely false myth. Jury trials don't really help for these situations either. No one that has to sit on jury duty wants to listen to someone whine about a ticket, particularly since they admit to the charge.

Talk to the prosecutor about options (not the clerk). The prosecutor is the one that can make a deal.

no. And nothing is a bigger thrill for a busy court than listening to someone arguing with a cop about if they did or did not break the law.

If you did make the turn too sharply, why not admit guilt, and take responsibility for your actions, instead of trying to beat it on a technicality?

you can either pay the higher price

or contact a lawyer if you belive you did nothing wrong making the turn (ie there was no sign/notice saying no left turns/U turns for that intersection)

Quite a few states have an arrangement that can be reached that will not hit your record. However, if you already have a violation on your record, you may not be eligible.

Talk to the prosecutor, talk to the clerk. In one state I was able to make arrangements over the phone to simply send them a check for the cost of the ticket without it going on my record.

Some states will give you a "non-adjudicated" option. You go to court, pay the fee, and they don't hear the case. If you are a clean driver for the next year, the case drops and doesn't hit your record.