Chamblee Municipal Court

Court, police and justice has nothing to do with each other!!! Went to court today to answer some stupid allegation of driving with improper display of my tag, a joke! Was guilty before I was even pulled over, my conclusion, if you got a ticket in the city of Chamblee don’t look for justice, it’s not here, just pay the fine so you can help support the judge retirement plan and the police department vacation… A bunch of losers!

Had to come for a traffic violation. Definitely come an hour early, and be the first one in line. The entire ordeal only took me around 15 – 20 minutes, but I would assume it would have taken a little longer if I tried to plead not guilty. The whole process is very fast and may feel rushed, so don’t expect yourself to be part of an hour-​long special of Judge Judy.

Ticket worth $ 355 and 6 points for «failure to stop for a stopped school bus» on the other side of Buford Highway when exiting CDC, which actually puts you out beyond where the bus was. The cop either didn’t see that or didn’t care. So the ticket was groundless (we thought) and we had printed out maps, etc., to argue the case, but after talking to the prosecutor we ended up pleading guilty to the «ring our register but walk away with no points on your license» option. Took probably an hour and a half.
If there is a next time, I will call and see if the no-​points option is available without having to go to court. One evening spent hearing the judges tell a bunch of poor people that if they can’t afford their fines, they have to pay $ 49 a month in probation fees (on top of the fines they can’t pay) is enough for a while.
When we walked in, a defendant was earnestly telling the judge some story topped with «I have no reason to lie to you, your honor,» which brought a roar of laughter from all the cops standing around.
Also saw a guy contest his ticket for running a stop sign. He was probably hoping the cop wouldn’t show up for court, when it looked like every cop in Chamblee was there. Court night is probably the only time you’re not at dire risk of getting stopped for some BS offense to generate $$$ for the city. So the cop went first and said the guy did a «bump and go,» which means hit the brakes and continue without coming to a full stop. Ticketee’s lame argument was that there was a «difference of opinion» about how much of a stop he came to. Guilty. Next.

This is more of a comment about the Chamblee Police department than the municipal court. The Police department is like most other money-​grubbing, jerkwater towns: revenue collectors with guns on their hips. The municipal court (traffic court) is much like such courts elsewhere: if you think you have a fighting chance to beat an egregious charge, bring a lawyer with you, otherwise just pay the fine and save yourself some wasted time and trouble. Traffic Court judges don’t take too kindly to defendants who have the temerity to waste their valuable time by pleading innocent and then attempting to represent themselves in their courts.
My «offense» was allegedly not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign in a quiet, low /​no traffic residential neighborhood. I did stop, but just briefly, but apparently not to the required degree of exactitude to suit Officer T_​_​_​_​_​. I’ve had no traffic citations in over 25 years, and did I get a warning? No — no consideration for that — I got nailed for $ 150.00. I can’t imagine what a serious infraction would have cost me. Don’t expect to encounter a «good cop»: — the kind that will let you off with a warning, in Chamblee — the town whose motto is «A town on the right track.» Like most other such jerkwater towns, it’s a town right on the track.

I was so scared to attend court! This was my first time ever entering one for anything in my entire life. The reason? Not being 100% vigilant and driving past a stopped school bus on the opposite side of the road. $ 355.00! My court date time was at 6:00pm-after my work schedule-​so I decided to go and make the best of it.
I called ahead to the courthouse on at least three occasions on three different days. The women that I spoke to were surprisingly pleasant and helpful and even wished me luck. I read the reviews on Unilocal and took the advice to arrive early. I was the first one there at 5:00pm and the doors opened at 5:10pm. It really is first come, first serve; I was called first for everything.
Here’s how it goes: You walk in and go through a metal detector first thing. There’s a long table to the left. Since I was the first one, I walked right over, but they were setting up a queue that was completely full and wrapped around the entrance 30 minutes later. The girls at the table asked for my license for verification, then handed me a right to an attorney waiver (can’t remember the correct name) to fill out while waiting in the first courtroom. After about 15 minutes, a really informative woman came in and gave us a basic etiquitte rundown (phones off, mouths shut) and called us up one by one to collect our forms and ask how we would plead (nolo/​no contest in my case). I asked to speak to the solicitor at that point, to figure out what options I had for paying my ticket and avoiding points, etc.
After sitting for about 5 – 7 minutes more, the group of us that asked to speak to the solicitor was called and taken around the now SUPER long line of people that arrived after 5:30pm. The solicitor explained that she could change my offense to a basic rule charge, which would mean paying the full fine, but eliminate points/​insurance hikes and would not show up on my driving record.
I sat through maybe 13 – 15 cases that were being continued from previous dates. Judge Angela Duncan presided over the courtroom I was in. She wasn’t a pushover, but she seemed very understanding and willing to give those who deserved it a fair trial. She joked and smiled, but also put a few mouthy defendants in their place. Towards the end of the night, she began to group us based on how we pled and just went down the line asking us to answer her questions. I was out of the courthouse by 7:05pm.
In the end, my plea was accepted and I paid the $ 355.00. My wallet hurts, but my driving record is clean. A hefty price to pay for a stupid mistake.

Let’s face it going to court is never a «good thing» and after reading some of the reviews on Unilocal I was pretty nervous coming here.
After everything was «all said and done» I left with an $ 85.00 fine for not changing my address inside of 60 days.
Words of advice:
Show up early I got there at ten after five court was at six but I was hoping to speak to the judge about a problem with GEICO. (a scathing review will be written in the near future) We were not permitted into the building until five thirty.
First in line will be the first called.
Have all documents in hand this means insurance, tickets, registration etc. I had to go back to the car and get the registration ugh how embarrassing.
Remember to use your manners or you will be put in your place this is not your home close your mouth, only speak when spoken too and remember to use the words «yes sir, thank you and please.»

Chamblee you must be really hurting for money as you have issued me three tickets this summer for ridiculous offenses that did not warrant tickets up to $ 150. Last month this rude officer issued me two tickets for $ 80 and $ 150. I think he should have given me a warning as I had no idea my license had expired and that one of my headlights wasn’t working. Then just yesterday, another cop pulled me over for driving over 300 ft or yards in the center lane. Fee = $ 150… I am disabled and on fixed income… I have no idea how I’m going to make ends meet this month… Thank you SO much City of Chamblee.

I did not see a sign that said no u turn it was dark and there was not a car in sight! They must have cameras. Three or four cars wait wait for you until you get half way down a block on Peachtree industrial. It is ridiculous that you cant make a left turn at that exit point to go back to Peachtree iNdustrial. Thanks again useless cops for taking money from the working class. $ 150.00 really? I guess you don’t get paid for stopping real crime.

Typical railroad process of a bunch of working people for silly offenses. Mine was failure to maintain lane – I supposedly swerved –BS. Officer also lied on the ticket that I refused to sign, so much for integrity. Dont expect justice, but Nolo is usally sufficient to keep their wheels of justice turning and ringing that cash register!

If you’re going to traffic court, GET THERE EARLY. I got a lovely $ 150 ticket (3 points) for making an «Improper U-​Turn» out of the Chamblee Walmart. Instead of just paying the fine, I showed up for my court date (Monday at 6pm) in order to plead nolo and hopefully avoid the points. Court sessions are held in the Chamblee Civic Center (next to the Chamblee Police Department), and I think it’s safe to say that every officer in the city shows up for the event. Yeah, I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere by pleading «not guilty,» but that’s just my guess.
There’s one line to get into court, one line to see the judge, and one line to pay. If you don’t arrive early, then plan on spending a couple of hours there. I arrived 30 minutes ahead of time, and it took me 50 minutes from start to finish. When I was waiting in line to pay my fine, I counted 38 people waiting in the line to get into court. Turn off your phone, take off your hat, and only speak when you’re spoken to… good luck!