Canyou get a citation dismissed if any part of the name on it is wrong?

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Canyou get a citation dismissed if any part of the name on it is wrong?

My middle initial was wrong. I can see how you can say its a simple typo but it was handwritten and the cop had my driver’s license to copy it from. The police report has the same info on it too. This is not the name I was born with. I’m not trying to get out of taking responsibility of the citation but it’s just not my name.

Asked on October 14, 2011 under General Practice, Pennsylvania

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

A typo, even if it's a "dumb" one (i.e how could the officer possibly have gotten it wrong) will have NO effect on the validity of a citation as long as it is otherwise clear who you are and that you are the person the officer issued the citation to. So assuming either that there is other information on the citation clearly identifying you (e.g. your license number; make and model of your car; your home address; your car's license plate; etc.) or that the officer will come into court to testify at need that yes, you are the person he cited, then the incorrect middle initial will have no impact. Only if you could somehow prove that you are not the person in the citation, and it was sent to you in error, would you be able to get it dismissed on grounds like these.


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