Rep Power: 335

hello friends, I got pulled over last night for the first time ever. I feel that it was totally uncalled for and unfair. Here's my story -

I was heading to an intersection at lawful speed of 15 mph. I get a few feet from the stop line of the intersection, the green light turns yellow. I didnt feel i had enough proper braking distance. Besides, the car behind me didnt leave me with the choice of smashing the brake pedal. So i go through the intersection with the yellow. Just so happens there was a cop on the crossing street. a few blocks down, the cop is behind me and that's when i get pulled over for "Failure to observe signal". he said when i went through the intersection his light was green therefore mine was red, therefore i ran a red light.

this is the fun part.
He had a trainee. both of them got out initially and the officer was the one i spoke with first. The officer went back to the squadcar but the trainee stayed there and started mouthing off at me. "THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL STREET THERE COULD HAVE BEEN KIDS YOU COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND KILLED SOMEONE WE OUTTA TOW YOUR CAR AWAY!" that went on for a few minutes and the officer radio'd in "that's enough" in a humorous tone and the trainee went back with the officer.

he didnt even have a badge or a name tag yet and he's getting all excited. It iritates me that i was the lucky person used as an example. I made a good punching bag, I cooperated and just wanted to get out of there. hope he doesnt think he can yell at everyone like that because others will try to defend themselves.


so I will go to court in a few weeks. the officer said if i go they might take back the 2 points if i have a clean record (mine is spotless, but not anymore thanks to them). how does going court work? i definitely dont want points, but i also didnt do anything. is it worth fighting it? thanks in advance

 
Rep Power: 0

did you explain to the officer you had no brake distance because the guy behind you was on your ***? well, just be sincere and honest and tell your side of the story as calmly as you can. cuz i was doing a 93 in a 60, driving with only an intermidiate driver's license (WA state first 6 months can only have your immediate family in the car while you drive, and the next 6 months you can't have more than 3 people in the car not part of your immediate family in the car) so i had a friend in the car. so that was two things on the ticket, and another intermidiate driver's license rule in WA is you cant drive between the hours of 1am and 6am unless accompanied by a driver with 5 or more years driving experience. so it was about 130am. thats 3 things on the ticket. oh, did i mention i did this in a 1990 town & country van. yea. the ticket came out to 343 bucks. but the officer didnt feel like stacking fines so he wrote that my friend was immediate family. so i went to court. told my story. and the judge reduced it from 343 to 110. lol. but i was calm, and just kept saying yes your honor no your honor. sorry, kept on babbling. but just show that you didnt mean to do it and that you didnt have any room to stop because of the person behind you.

 
Rep Power: 306

If its your first time, then def go to court. I dont know about fighting it or not, but I would prob just plead guilty and let the judge decide. Im almost certain he wont deduct points, being a first timer and all. At the very least, you should get a reduction in the amount of fine.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have been to court for speeding and reckless driving almost 5 times now, never been to jail, never had a suspened, just a fine less than $80. Heres how...
Go to court
make sure your dressed nicely with a "smart appearence"
Tell them why you felt the stopping distance was unreasonable
try using big words (seriously)CORRECTLY!
Tell them that you apologize and what you did was unexceptable and dangerous and thank the officer (which will be there) for acknowlegding your voilation and tell them you apologize for wasting the officer's and judge's time.
plea GUILTY!