Good Day In Traffic Court - $410 in Citations Dismissed

slow&rusty · 05:08 AM

Last year November 11pm on a Sunday, my fiancé and I were coming back from the grocery as we had a pot luck to prepare for.

I got pulled over by a cop lurking in the nursery school parking lot, I was only 500-ft from my house and driving at maybe 8-10mp/h in my 1991 560SEC, which is licensed, registered and insured as an antique vehicle, which means only one (1) plate is issued by the DMV.

I was given two (2) tickets for:
1) Not having a front plate
2) Not using my right turn signal

I tried to explain several times to the officer that a car registered as an antique is only issued one (1) plate to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle and even showed him the DMV's website, to which he accused me that I built the website and put false information on it! It absolutely infuriated me.

I told him that I did not put my turn signal on, as I was clearing a path for him as I thought he was actually on the way to a legit emergency when he pulled out rapidly after me (it actually startled me) not realizing he was actually pulling me over.

Anyway I couldn't reason with him and he was hell bent on giving me the tickets, I told him I would see him in court to which he had a smug smile and said "yes I'll see you in court".

Fast forward to my court date this week, I explained the incident to the Ass't DA and what transpired, he was kind enough to dismiss both tickets.

How do we have officers enforcing laws that they do not know?

Jim Bremner · 08-10-2018, 05:09 AM

Wow. He was a jerk. Congrats

sc_rufctr · 08-10-2018, 05:10 AM

Well done. Some truth and common sense prevailed.

Baz · Baz's Garage

"Power Trippin'"....that's what happened when you got those citations. Same thing happened to me in my 356 one Saturday morning on the way to buy dog food for my Winkipop, who was with me. Cop pulls me over after some prick tries to brake check me for no reason what's so ever, cites me for following too closely and not using my turn signal. I got both dismissed in court after explaining the brake checking incident.

Congrats, great thread, and thanks for sharing with us!

Pazuzu · 08-10-2018, 05:59 AM

Why were you driving an antique plated car to the grocery store?

He could popped you for that.

Steve Carlton · 08-10-2018, 06:10 AM

560SEC. Money in the bank for the county coffers.

Gogar · 08-10-2018, 06:12 AM

You embarrassed him. Twice! Watch out

legion · 08-10-2018, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

How do we have officers enforcing laws that they do not know?

The root of the problem is that too many actions are criminalized. No one could know them all.

LakeCleElum · 08-10-2018, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

How do we have officers enforcing laws that they do not know?

I have 3 vehicles with collector plates. Never been stopped in one, but keep a copy of the law with me to show them. Besides only one plate, my state restricts the types of driving you can do.

widgeon13 · 08-10-2018, 06:39 AM

Did the a-hole officer appear as he is supposed to?

sc_rufctr · 08-10-2018, 06:44 AM

Seeking revenue... My State is broke and guess what. The Pollies send the cops put to collect any way they can.
They claim it goes into the state coffers but they reality is they've turned to cops into tax collectors.

Our cops actually have a quota to fill every shift. I'm sure it's the same were you live.

Talk to an honest ex cop and ask him why he/she left the force.

varmint · 08-10-2018, 08:33 AM

Fight the power!

pwd72s · 08-10-2018, 08:37 AM

I got one for failure to dim lights years ago. Cop didn't buy that my fog lights only worked on low beam. I did the same with a young assistant D.A. Dismissed. Porsche prejudice is out there...not all cops, but some.

Baz · Baz's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteremsley

My unfortunate experience is that short cops are jerks, but thankfully DAs are reasonable people.

Baz · Baz's Garage

In a perfect world the cop pulls you over..... just as an excuse to ask about your classic car. No citation given.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

In a perfect world the cop pulls you over..... just as an excuse to ask about your classic car. No citation given.

I have had this happen way more times than I have gotten tickets.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

One one of my trips to California I was stopped for a gas fill-up. I cop on a motorcycle pulled in started walking inside. He looked over at my car and saw no front plate. He pulled out his ticket book, and walked to the rear of my car and saw the Oklahoma tag and put his book away and walked inside. I just smiled. We are a one tag state.

john70t · 08-10-2018, 11:29 AM

Once got a Cali ticket for one headlight out.
(just changed the radiator and forgot to plug it in.)
It was about 4pm. Nobody had their headlights on.
I plugged it in right there but "the ticket was already written".

Really the only time I saw California cops was when they were pulling me over.
Earthquakes? Power out entire city? Riots? Mehhh. They all disappeared.

WPOZZZ · 08-10-2018, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

Last year November 11pm on a Sunday, my fiancé and I were coming back from the grocery as we had a pot luck to prepare for.

I got pulled over by a cop lurking in the nursery school parking lot, I was only 500-ft from my house and driving at maybe 8-10mp/h in my 1991 560SEC, which is licensed, registered and insured as an antique vehicle, which means only one (1) plate is issued by the DMV.

I was given two (2) tickets for:
1) Not having a front plate
2) Not using my right turn signal

I tried to explain several times to the officer that a car registered as an antique is only issued one (1) plate to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle and even showed him the DMV's website, to which he accused me that I built the website and put false information on it! It absolutely infuriated me.

I told him that I did not put my turn signal on, as I was clearing a path for him as I thought he was actually on the way to a legit emergency when he pulled out rapidly after me (it actually startled me) not realizing he was actually pulling me over.

Anyway I couldn't reason with him and he was hell bent on giving me the tickets, I told him I would see him in court to which he had a smug smile and said "yes I'll see you in court".

Fast forward to my court date this week, I explained the incident to the Ass't DA and what transpired, he was kind enough to dismiss both tickets.

How do we have officers enforcing laws that they do not know?

Nine months for a traffic court date? Did the officer show up?

slow&rusty · 08-10-2018, 01:11 PM

The officer did not show-up and where I live it doesn't matter really. The courts wanted a "token" and wanted to stick me with at least one citation to at least get some $$ out of me - but I was not having it, but after much discussion with the DA and explaining exactly what happened we went from $410 in tickets to $205 for one ticket to $109 plus an online defensive driving course to finally agreeing to dismissing the tickets...let me say I had my sales game on point and was courteous, professional and smiled...it all helped.