Got a ticket. Should I fight it?

[jmcbeth]

Originally Posted by CaliEMT

My aunt is an officer, and i asked her, and she said fight it. She said that if there is no evidence, and you let the judge know about the hill that you will be able to get it dismissed. She said just tell them that you tried to keep your eyes on the officer instead of taking the chance and looking over your shoulder and signaling and moving over (that you didnt feel you had time).

She also said that you will more than likley be able to take care of it.

Excellent advice. Thanks for asking your aunt. Fight it!

(However, you should try to move over for no other reason than for the safety of the officer.)

[Russell James]

Pay it. Maybe you'll move over next time if this one cost you.

If you get off scott free, the lesson will be how easy it is to get out of legit tickets. Man up and take responsibility.

Fight every BS ticket is my opinion. I.E. if someone is not speeding but the officer's radar obviously picked up the car blasting past you. Fight that. But when you are 100% in the wrong, write the check.

[BEARS-SS]

This doesn't have to be a huge argument based on a pay it/don't pay it theme. The law has given you an opportunity to go before a judge and have him/her decide if what your did was wrong. We all have these rights, and too many people choose not to use them. It's not "fighting it", it's giving your side of the story.

Make that judge earn his/her paycheck, those gavels ain't cheep!

[billmiller8]

If I am not mistaken this is a rather new law now being enforced for there safety, but he could have given you a warning just to make you aware of it. If it was a close call of actually hitting him yes maybe you should get a ticket. Seems lately the cops have it out for camaro's all over the country PLEASE READ " Guess what happened " and " Guess what happened again " in this forum. Getting back to your situation, when you get your court date call the courts and request a new trial date. ( you will have to write a letter to the judge explaining why you need a new trial date ) and usally the officer will not show. this is no garruntee though, but a chance. It worked for me. If he does show take caliEMT'S advise. Do not worry about what " SLINGSHOT " said you did not ask for SMART A$$ REMARKS JUST SUGGESTIONS let those remarks just roll off your back. sounds like one of those A$$HOLE POWER HUNGRY COPS TO ME. Nothing against 99% of law enforcement out there, but the truth is that is why some become police officer's POWER HUNGRY. Like it or not this is the truth. When I was in court there was a young officer who had 50 some tickets on trial that day. I think he made his quota for the month Ha! Ha!

[KDInTheWind63]

If there was a chance to move over thats good but if you did not have time to get in the other lane oh well it happens. There are times i could not move over for the Officer on side of the road. Now if he is going to be sarcastic like that and you was not at all sarcastic with him i would fight the ticket. We all got our rights.

[ESqezMe]

oo how i love all the comments like
a$$hole cops
quota

I am SURE you wont be thinking that next time you find yourself calling for one of those "assholes" to come save you a$$. Or maybe when your scared because you seen a "big scary bad looking" dude around your nice Camaro and would like Police to check it out...... O SORRY BUT ALL OF OUR OFFICERS ARE BUSY MEETING THEIR "quota" stopping people breaking the laws that were passed my the political people YOU elected!

The law is
http://www.isp.state.il.us/media/pressdetails.cfm?ID=98

It has more to do with gapers .. a$$hole people who take their eyes off the road so they can look ny the officer gas them pulled over

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by Matrix

The cop was a bit unfair and also unprofessional to laugh at you with his sarcastic comments.

In all honesty dont bother fighting it. The law is the law if that is the law in your state. How would you win??

Do you honestly expect the judge to take your side when the cop applied the law? It will make a mockery of the whole system. It will show that the judge has no confidence in the police officer or the law he is abiding by and on paper he is rightly following.

Despite the fact I feel the cop could have let this slide I feel you will waste time and $$$ trying to fight something that is written down in the books as the LAW. The law is an ass sometimes but until they are changed you will lose.

Also, honestly, move over and give them room to do their jobs.

I ALWAYS move and leave one lane clear if I see a cop, motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian on the side of a road/highway. I would never want anyone darting out suddenly and wrecking both our days. I just dont give them chance.

Im sorry this happened to you, I feel you were hard done by, and this could have easily been dealt with a few words in your ear if the cop felt threatend. One conversation wth you and I bet you would have learned for next time. Sometimes I just dont see why they hand out tickets unless its a fund raiser for their dept.

Originally Posted by Matrix

I agree with you TOTALLY!! But alas, I feel the judge will sway towards the written word of the law.

Like I said the law is an ass sometimes.

Is it worth fighting over $133 cos your gonna miss work etc etc. Its just not worth the hassle in my books.

In almost all states this is a major traffic violation and can result as much as 300% increase in your insurance. If a $133 ticket isn't worth fighting then how about the $133 plus another $200 a month or more increase in your insurance for the next 3 years (total cost of over $7,000). Now does it become worth fighting? You most be one of these idiots who thinks a $75 ticket for passing a stopped school bus isn't worth fighting and fail to recognize they increase your insurance by a minimum of 500%.

As for the op, fight it. We don't know how it happened and neither will the judge. Simply tell him/her that once you crested the hill you didn't have enough time to react and safely merge into the other lane. And that you moved over as far as you could in the little amount of time you had.

[TommyTSquared]

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

I Simply tell him/her that once you crested the hill you didn't have enough time to react and safely merge into the other lane. And that you moved over as far as you could in the little amount of time you had.

+1. Keyword there is safely. I wouldn't mention anything about the officers comments during this process as it will be a your word vs his word and might not come off as you're hoping it would.

[Drew10]

Originally Posted by BEARS-SS

This doesn't have to be a huge argument based on a pay it/don't pay it theme. The law has given you an opportunity to go before a judge and have him/her decide if what your did was wrong. We all have these rights, and too many people choose not to use them. It's not "fighting it", it's giving your side of the story.

Make that judge earn his/her paycheck, those gavels ain't cheep!

[SlingShot]

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

In almost all states this is a major traffic violation and can result as much as 300% increase in your insurance. If a $133 ticket isn't worth fighting then how about the $133 plus another $200 a month or more increase in your insurance for the next 3 years (total cost of over $7,000). Now does it become worth fighting? You most be one of these idiots who thinks a $75 ticket for passing a stopped school bus isn't worth fighting and fail to recognize they increase your insurance by a minimum of 500%.

As for the op, fight it. We don't know how it happened and neither will the judge. Simply tell him/her that once you crested the hill you didn't have enough time to react and safely merge into the other lane. And that you moved over as far as you could in the little amount of time you had.

Don't forget to sue the parents of the kid who's mangled body you just hit, dented your fancy new car ... Sad !!!

[Angrybird 12]

In Tennessee our law states you must move over OR slow down when passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. that is not only for police but all emergency vehicles... If you can honestly state you slowed because you couldn't get over safely then you may be able to beat the ticket.

I foud a news artical on the Alabama law

Alabama’s ‘Move-over’ Law Strengthened, Increases Roadside Safety of First Responders
An expanded Alabama “move-over” law provides an added measure of safety for Alabama emergency responders stopped or parked roadside with emergency signals activated, according to Col. J. Christopher Murphy, director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The newly enhanced law adds wreckers to emergency response vehicles for which motorists must move over one lane. When moving over is unsafe or not possible, such as on two-lane roadways, the law requires motorists to slow at least 15 mph below the posted speed limit. Motorists must slow down to 10 mph when the posted limit is 20 mph or less.

A six-month warning and educational period for the new law began Aug. 1. Once the warning period concludes, citations for violation of the “move-over” law will carry a fine of up to $25 for first offense and increasing fines for second and subsequent offenses.

Murphy said DPS is working to promote public awareness of the law and its requirements. Thanks to the Alabama Department of Transportation, posters will be placed in state rest areas and welcome centers, and DPS is posting information in all state driver license offices. State trooper public information/safety education officers are helping educate Alabamians about the new law during public appearances and safety talks. In addition, information about the law is available on DPS’s Web site, http://dps.alabama.gov.

Alabama first enacted “move-over” regulations in 2006, and the majority of states have adopted versions of the law. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Fund, 154 officers nationwide have been killed as the result of being struck while working roadside during the last 10 years.
.

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

In Tennessee our law states you must move over OR slow down when passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. that is not only for police but all emergency vehicles... If you can honestly state you slowed because you couldn't get over safely then you may be able to beat the ticket.

Yea. In NC if you can't merge over you must slow to a speed below 55 MPH.

[two_wheel_mayhem]

You are supposed to slow down if you can't move over.

If you move to the extreme left of your lane and slow down, it doesn't piss them off.

If you want to fight it, that's your right to do so.

You can even lie in court if you want, you can bet your ass the officer will lie so you may as well keep the playing field even.

[ELDuran]

Originally Posted by ESqezMe

oo how i love all the comments like
a$$hole cops
quota

I am SURE you wont be thinking that next time you find yourself calling for one of those "assholes" to come save you a$$. Or maybe when your scared because you seen a "big scary bad looking" dude around your nice Camaro and would like Police to check it out...... O SORRY BUT ALL OF OUR OFFICERS ARE BUSY MEETING THEIR "quota" stopping people breaking the laws that were passed my the political people YOU elected!

I went to eat at a restaurant with a few friends. As we were exiting to my car, 3 black and whites come at us with their bright white lights, telling me to but my hand over my head and step away from the vehicle. I did as they said, me and my friends all did this. The officers I'm sure had their guns drawned on us but we couldn't see them because of the white bright light they pointed at us. I was cuffed and they didn't even ask to search my car, they just did it. Afterwards he just said, ok you may go. WTF? What was that all about?

Another ocation, I was with my cousins watching a movie. We went outside and sat on a bench just to chill. Some guy started talking to us so we were polite and we talked for a few minutes. I kid you not, 5 to 6 black and whites came out of nowhere, again we were cuffed, after answering a few questions, he says, go home and don't be haning around this person. WTF? What was that all about? Did we have to be embarrased in front of everyone getting cuffed for the second time?

And again, I'm driving my car in a busy street and I get pulled over. Cop asked me if the car is mine or if it's stolen? WTF? Are you kidding me? He rips my temporary plates given to me from the dealer and looks at it. He actually ripped it in half from my windshield....then just slapped it back. He then orders me to step out of the car and sit on the curve. A lot of people watching me there judging me. Then the officer tells me to remove my shirt, turn around....and he checked my arms for needles. After all that, he just says, have a nice day and he leaves. WTF?

Now you tell me, COPS aren't A-holes! If we say it, we have reasons!!!

And by the way, I have a clean record, have never been arrested or have any outstanding tickets. No history of anything. So why do they pick on me? Because they're A-holes!