Pulled over, no ticket: Cops getting bad wrap

I'm a very safe driver, however, I simply made a mistake in this case. Technically, when a light turns red for you, No, you cannot whip a quick right hand turn without stopping first. I didn't know this. I whipped around the corner since the opposing traffic was just starting out, and this is technically running a red light.
Pulled over.
Contrition, submission, acceptance of responsibility.
I was Prepared to take the ticket. He asked for my information and license, and I gave it without a bunch of hassle.

Checked to see if I was drunk, looked into my glove compartment with his light as I hunted around through paperwork, and guess what folks, no drugs, dubies, cocaine or handguns; because I'm a loudmouth, not a criminal, there is nothing to find. All that's in there is an extra fan belt, some wrenches and a pack of smokes.

He checked my record and came back, "You want a ticket or a warning?" Asked me to get out of the car (dunno why) to talk on the sidewalk and basically felt my attitude out.

Some will call this White Priviledge (the guy was Asian incidentally), but no matter what anyone says, contrition, politeness, and mainly submission is the key.

He said "Well, you didn't give me a hard time, and I appreciate that. I have some place to go anyway, so you're going to get away with a warning."

What it basically means is this. In a borderline case (where running a red light in CA has become very hefty in fine recently) where the crime is dubious (making a right on a red is okay under some conditions), late at night without a lot of peds on the sidewalks, you can help yourself out a lot by just being cool.

I'm very lucky, and I appreciate this guy's attitude, although in the end, if I had gotten the ticket, there'd have been no one to blame but myself.




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Kurt B
'84 Carrera Cab.
carrera_cabriolet@yahoo.com

http://www.ehowa.com/nospeeding.html

If you can get past the language, there is some useful tips about avoiding a ticket.

I worked in NC for 15 months and went thro a red turning light without slowing down ( I was driving a Dodge Caravan so wasn't exactly burning rubber) and it was dark, wet and no cars on the road except a cop parked in a dark side street. After hearing my Scottish accent, after givng me the ticket, he told me to pleade not guilty and after two court appearances, I got off as he came to the second...but I agree, being polite etc can help...but so does a foreign accent!!!

That is assuming it is not a revenue raising situation. I got a ticket recently for doing 48 mph in a 40 mph zone - a two lane road, with woods on both sides, perfectly straight for 3 miles, 7:00 am on a Saturday. He just pulled me over and wrote the ticket, as pleasant as can be. In 13 years in Illinois, I have gotten three tickets, all for going 48 mph or less. Twice I was doing about 45 mph in a 35 mph zone, both times I got hit exactly where the speed limit changed from 45 to 35! Once I am sure he got me too early, because I was last in a line of 8 cars.

Its embarrassing to get a ticket in a p-car for doing 48. I have to tell people I was doing 70 around a hairpin turn just to get some respect.

Illinois?

Why didn't you ask for supervision?!

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Chris Streit
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1982 930
1970 911S RSR Replica

I did. I go to the mandatory class tomorrow as a matter of fact, so it won't go on my record. But it was still a ticket.

Malcom,

A very close friend is a Scotsman and you can cut his brogue with a knife. Good thing you didn't have a cock rash...Davey, my friend told me a joke one time about a woman who had a cock rash...I asked if she used some ointment on it...he looked at me all puzzled ... Once we worked it out he was telling me she had a car crash!!! I played pool with this guy and I've never heard anyone put more rrrrrs in the word thirrrrrteen or fourrrrrteen in my life! Of all things he wanted to be an air traffic controller...Heck by the time he got through telling the pilot he was on aprrrrrrroach the plane was over the departure end of the runway!!! Gooo Rrrrround lad...go rrrrround agin!!! (Gotta love Davey Berrigan!!! Helluva pool player...Had to get used to "put the 3 in the bog mate"!)

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Howie
79SC

So this guy, he gets pulled over and the cop asks, "So, did we speed a little tonight?"

The guy replies, "yeah I did a little speed"

Keith
79 930

I certainly have to tone down the accent when I am on trips to the US and slow down my speech rate!!