Wait, that's too much fake emotion. Let me try again.
I got a ticket yesterday. It wasn't a very normal one. And upon further inspection, it wasn't even valid. But hear me out. Let me explain. Here's some images to guide you along:
I left work at 5pm. I had plans to go to Acme to get some pasta and bread, so I get into the avenue. A car was in front of me. Suddenly, a cop pulls me over.
She tells me she stopped me because I didn't stop at the stop sign. I ask her which one, because there wasn't any that I remember. She gives me the street names corresponding to the second stop pictured (closer to Acme). Note that this stop sign is for those coming into the avenue, not those in the avenue. I tell her I wasn't on that street. She rolls her eyes and asks me for my license and registration.
After giving her the documents, I try very politely to explain where I came from (literally 3 streets down), where I had parked, and where I was going. She insists I was on the intercepting street and did not stop at the stop sign before entering the avenue. The ticket was given to me at 5:11pm, 10min after I left work. Logistically, it is hard that I was in the street she claims. Why would I go through a back road to reach the main avenue when it sits in front of the parking lot?
Anyway, the ticket is for $90. At first I thought, there must've been a sign I didn't see. I went by there again, and no, there's none. So now I'll have to fight it for no reason, and hope my word is enough, because that's all it falls to: word against word.
I'm not too upset, and though I can pay for the ticket, it irks me that I wasn't at fault. Fighting it means I'll have to pay court fees anyway (normally $45... or half of my ticket), but hopefully I can get it removed, if logic applies to court. For the record, I don't even know if the backroad from the parking lot would lead me to the offending interception, as this is a small town full of 1-way roads. I've never been through there and will drive by it today to make sure it's even possible to get to it from the parking lot.
From being in hearings, word against word are just complete mixed bags, and if the judge is as apathetic as the lady who pulled me over, I may not even have a chance. I'll start the proceedings, and get a signed letter by my manager stating that she knows where I park (because I've parked there for the past 3 years), and that I left work at 5, and where I work. Hope that's enough.
Hope your day went a LOT better yesterday!
That's bogus. I would have argued more, probably to my detriment. Sounds like the cop had an attitude problem.
ReplyDeleteYup. It was still raining, and she was already in a bad mood. Continuing to fight her about it was not gonna end pretty, sadly.
DeleteThat's ridiculous! Does your work have a security camera? Any traffic cameras along the way? Other stores with cameras? That would piss me off greatly...I'd probably be contacting the media and newspapers. I wonder if the cop just needed to fill a quota?
ReplyDeleteIt's a small town, so no cameras anywhere, unless she had a dash cam. I think it's all about the quota. New quarter, new half of the year, etc. This particular cop apparently is known for being extremely mean and has been switched twice to different areas because of complains. I just hope to get away without it on my driving record.
DeleteYeah, that's absolutely horrible. I'm probably thinking a little over the top here but I'd probably make an animation or print out an upscaled map with your route to Acme, kind of like you did here in your blog but map it out on google maps or something. I hope you can get out of the ticket altogether, it's just nonsense!
DeleteOh yeah, I am totally bringing graphs. Though not sure how necessary it is. I work RIGHT ACROSS the court house I'll be going to fight this ticket at. The Acme store is literally 5 blocks away and I walk to it when it's nice and not pouring, so if the Judge has ever gotten out of the court house, he should know what I mean.
DeleteWell let's hope the judge sees eye to eye with you! :)
DeleteWhat a crockoshit.
ReplyDeleteGather as much supporting evidence as you can....if you punch a time card/when you left work, go drive the route she claims you took and time it, have visual aids like the one on your post for the judge, etc. If you have an unblemished driving record, bring that up too. Be completely logical when you present it all.
Hopefully the judge doesn't just wave you off or the cop won't show up to court for the hearing(and they'll throw out the ticket).
Good luck!
Yeah, no punch card, but my manager will write me a letter with the address and times I go out, as well as that she knows where I park, because I've parked there for 3 years+. In the exact same spot too (only one that gets enough tree shade so my car is always cool). Fingers crossed!
Deletehow frustrating! We have had similar situations over the years and it's just totally amazes me that cops will just outright lie! I would hope that if you can tell the judge you weren't even on the street the cop says you didn't stop at, it will get thrown out. It infuriates me that cops spend their time on that kind of crap but won't come and do anything about the drug dealers down the street type of thing.
ReplyDeleteTell me about it. I remember being at my parents' place when I went to highschool, and literally, across from the school bus pick-up place, there were people approaching parents OR kids offering to sell them "things" (drugs). As much as they were there, I can only imagine they had a deal with the cops!
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