Your absolute first steps

[admin]

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ALERT - A new federal opinion permits a party to file 1983 action without exhausting administrative remedies. See 1983 thread. (consult with your attorney) Jerry Jamgotchain; Theta Holding I, Inc., (Jamgotchian v. Ferraro)
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1. Keep every document, every letter, every email, every envelope that relates in any way to the citation or your defense. Throw them in a box.
2. Be nice. Say nothing stupid or that you will regret. It will be used against you if you do.
3. Record all conversations. Check with local law. In California business conversations may have no right to privacy.
4. Take as many photographs as possible. Take photos of the officer taking photos of you. Yes you can do that.
5. Find and keep friends, family, neighbors, or witnesses that can attest to your version of the story.
6. Keep a log or a notebook of events.
7. If you do not pay fine or comply with demand you must "appeal" in the days set forth in the city code.
8. FAILURE to file on or before that appeal date means you lose!
9. First defense is labeled an appeal. This will be before a hearing officer or panel.