Furious over citation

TresCrows · Mar 23, 2003

Sheriden, yeah, I heard of it. You know, I am really tired of motorists being considered rolling revenue for hillbilly towns.
J

JATO_RaT · Mar 23, 2003

Bird, you've made some good points Bird. My wife was a police officer for years and eventually went to work for the DA's office where she currently works and is still a peace officer. I hear plenty of stories about the stupid things people did during her day as a police officer. After hearing (and seeing with ride alongs) just what it involves, I have all the sympathy in the world for cops. People can be real jerks. Your point about driving while drinking vs pulling over having a drink at a bar is certainly true. Personal responsibility is still our number one consideration, and since driving is a group effort, we rely on everyones full cooperation to keep ourselves safe. I may be the exception, but I routinely check my lights to ensure that I am doing my part to up hold my end of the deal. Since I have not had a ticket in many years and never a fix it ticket, I'm not sure what the charges are today for a burned out headlight etc., but I'm pretty sure the fine is not 120 dollars unless you continue to neglect it after being given plenty of oppourtunities to fix it. After that, they can take the car and smash it for all I care. My experience with police officers has been their ability to use discretion. I have been fortunate because of that. While working in the Bay are and commuting from Sacramento, I would be up at 4:00 AM and cruise often doing about 80 MPH. The speed limit at the time was 55 MPH. I was eventually stopped, asked where I was going, the officer saw my tools etc., must have thought I was OK. Officer asked if I knew what the speed limit was, I said 55mph and he said, keep it at that please and adios. My heart dropped back down to its normal pace and so did my speed. I've had great experiences with Highway Patrolmen, people on the road, now theres another story!!! Rat...

Richard · Mar 23, 2003

You sure he wasn't mad about those heavy duty tow hooks you welded to the back and front of that offroad beast?

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bird · Mar 23, 2003

Richard, in your first post in this thread, you said the fine was $121, but I've noticed since then you've posted the fine as $221 in some cases. I wonder which is correct; just idle curiosity, really. But since you've made me curious, I did just a tiny bit of searching on the Internet; didn't find the cities' fine amounts in this area (citations issued by city police go to that city's municipal court), but I did find Dallas County's fine list (citations issued by state or county police - sheriff, constable, highway patrol - go to the Justice of the Peace courts) here if you're interested in a comparison. Looks like your citation would be $128 here if you just wanted to pay the fine instead of going to court.

Richard · Mar 23, 2003

Oops.. happy fingers when typing, fine as per lady at courthouse is $121.00.

I went to the US Naval Observatory and found that

"Begin Civil twilight" 6:13 am
"Sunrise" 6:38

Not sure what civil twilight is, but I intend to take this with me

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Don't know what good it might do.

5030 · Mar 23, 2003

Isn't the motto in Texas "Drive Friendly"? I used to load meat at MBPXL in Friona, Texas, years ago. I seem to remember that. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Daryl
Forage Services, L.P.

Bird · Mar 23, 2003

Richard, I don't guess I know what civil twilight is either, but if nothing's changed, and memory serves, I think in Texas you are required to have your headlights on from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

Bird · Mar 23, 2003

Yep, Daryl, that's the motto posted a lot of places.

gerard · Mar 23, 2003

Just be happy you weren't in Rochester NY. Light out, guaranteed ticket, and FINE. Any of the surrounding towns, you can just get it fixed in 1 week and show a cop, but not in Rochester.

Sorry franz - have to correct you here - In NY AND in Rochester, you have 24 hours by the ltter of the law to correct the violation, have a notice of correction completed and the court has to dismiss, not optional on the part of the judge. Now if you wait a week, THEN the judge would NOT have to dismiss since you didn't comply with the 24 hour requirement but MOST judges are pretty liberal as long as the item was fixed in a reasonable amount of time. By the way - This is all spelled out on the notice of correction which the officer will hand you (generally) along with the ticket. (This doesn't mean in an isolated case the judge didn't comply with the law -they make mistakes too and if no one calls them on it they get away with it,)

TWINKLE_TOES · Mar 23, 2003

My experience with police officers has been their ability to use discretion. 

Same here RaT, never got a ticket I didn't deserve, never went to court. Had my fair share of warnings. No sympathy on this thread. Bird, pretty much nailed this one.

Gary_in_Indiana · Mar 23, 2003

if the driver said he didn't know the light had burned out (and I believed him/her) then I didn't issue a citation. And of course, it's been 35 years since I was doing traffic enforcement. 

Bird,

I've seen pictures of cars from back then. Couldn't you just relight the candle that had blown out? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

bgott · Mar 24, 2003

Candle? I thought they had footmen with an oil lamp leading the way back then! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Mar 24, 2003

Gary and Brad, I feel old enough without ya'lls help. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon · Mar 24, 2003

Change your picture to one from bygone days Bird and we'll all be in awe at the sage advice that there young fellow provides.
Egon

Bird · Mar 24, 2003

Egon, do you mean like the attached one when I had more hair and less weight? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Egon · Mar 24, 2003

That's the one Bird.

Egon

Gary_in_Indiana · Mar 24, 2003

Bird,

I didn't mean to make you feel bad. On a related note, though, I thought I'd tell you of a plan I intend to implement you might want to consider.

I'm 48 years old and pretty much think I look 48 years old. Most people either don't seem to think so or just lie to me about it, though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Nonetheless, I've got an idea how I can make sure it's true.

As a former law enforcement officer, I'm sure you encountered more than a few kids with fake ID's showing them to be older than they actually were so that they might buy beer, etc. I'm going to do that very same thing again but for a different reason.

I figure if I get an ID that shows me to be 65 years old people will be amazed at how youthful I am. I'll get free drinks at a lot of restaurants, senior discounts on things and be the envy of anyone at a bingo parlor. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I know you're probably thinking that this is pretty sneaky and self-serving but it's actually a public service. Just think of all the people who'll see me with all my hair and teeth so spry. They'll all feel good about getting older themselves so everybody wins! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bird · Mar 25, 2003

( ID that shows me to be 65 . . . senior discounts )

If you don't look your age, I think that's good. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), they usually give me the senior discounts without even asking how old I am. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

BigDave · Mar 28, 2003

Okay, I'll admit to beating the system, but I wasn't trying to be clever like the reaper.

I was driving my Jeep where I wasn't supposed to, and got caught by a police officer. He took down all of my information and told me that I would be getting a court summons. About a week later, a squad car paid me a visit at home and delivered a summons to state criminal court. Sounded odd, but I had a plan: Plead guilty and pay the fine and not do that again.

I showed up to court early, this was my first time in a court room, and had a seat until my name was called. The clerk handed the judge my file and I was called before the judge. I approached this stand where a bailiff motioned me. The bailiff was standing at my side. Apparently there was some confusion, since the judge called the clerk back and they had a short discussion. After a few moments the judge asked my name and address, and stated that I was being charged with violating state park rule #7. He asked me if aware of the charge. Well, that's what it said on my summons, so I told the judge "yes." The bailiff whispered into my ear, "your honor", and I quickly blurted out "your honor." The judge paused for a moment to think about something, then he asked me how did I plead? I said, "I plead guilty." The bailiff again whispered into my ear, and I again blurted out "your honor." My answer seemed to cause some concern for the judge, but my nervousness was cause for amusement in the gallery. He thought a little bit, and asked me if I knew what park rule #7 was? I told him, "I think so." Again the bailiff, and again I blurted "your honor." A few people in the audience started to chuckle aloud. The judge told me that I couldn't plead guilty if I wasn't positive to what park rule #7 stated. He said that I needed to get some legal counsel and that he would set a date for a jury trial. Of course, I was about to panic. I told the judge that I would prefer to plead guilty. Bailiff again, "your honor" again, laughter again. The judge appeared to become uncomfortable with the situation. He expalined to me again that I couldn't plead guilty to crime without being fully aware of what the crime and what its ensuing penalty entailed. Again, I told him I just wanted to "plead guilty", bailiff, your honor, laughter. The judge now was becoming upset, asked me to recite park rule #7. I said it had something to do with operating vehicle on proper roadways. Bailiff, your honor, laughter. The judge seemingly rising out of his chair asked me what should the penalty for such a crime be? I told him I thought a couple of hundred dollars would be appropiate. Bailiff, your honor, laughter. He sat back down took a deep breadth and regained his composure. He stated obviously that I couldn't plead guilty to a crime the didn't really understand and that I would need counsel and a proper jury trial. My heart dropped again, and I asked the judge, "can't I just plead guilty and pay the fine?" Now before the bailiff could get a your honor into my ear the judge slammed down his gavel and said case dismissed. The bailiff then whispered "thank you your honor" I quickly blurted out a "thank you your honor." The last burst of laughter. The bailiff then told me to get out of there, and I walked out of the court room a confused 19yr old, not really sure what just happened, but I quickly realized the thousand dollars in my pocket, my entire savings, would be going home with me, and not into the Treasury of the State of Massachusetts. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It took me a while to figure out what happened. If I look back and think what would of happened if I listened to the judge, or thought I was clever enough to fight the charge, I bet I would have been out a whole lot more money than I carried into the court room that day.

BTW, that was the last time I was in a court room. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif