and the CHP screws me again....

[I-25]

today headed to work after getting out of collage and i'm in the fast lane on the westbound I-8 just keeping up with the traffic in my ol' 83 Turbo diesel VW Jetta and all of a sudden a Highway patrol pulls up behind me fast and pulls me over.

he gets out of his car comes up to me ask for license registration and proof of insurance. takes it back to his squad car writes me up a ticket and hands it over to me to sign it without saying word of why he pulled me over or nothing
:stare:
honest wise Officers.... Ha yea right. looked like i got pulled by a nazi.

what an @$$:damn:

lets see how much this is gonna put me back.

what makes it worse i'm gonna have to pay it out of my tuition fund u.u

California says they're going bankrupt but dam are they making a killing off people.:shifty:

not only that this is the second time it happens to me:down:

[UnderseaLcpl]

Didn't the ticket have an offense and a fine detailed on it? If he pulled you over for driving the common speed, even if you were speeding, you'd have a good case in traffic court, or at least any traffic court I've ever been to.

California says they're going bankrupt but dam are they making a killing off people.:shifty:

Can't they do both? I thought that was state policy:DL

[I-25]

Ahh yea. for speeding.

81 in a 65 zone...

but as i said i was just moving along with the rest of the traffic.

as all southern californians know average traffic moves at about 85;)

im gonna take it to court.
i cant afford to lose 300 give or take dlls on something so stupid at the moment

[UnderseaLcpl]

The same statutes and reasoning that allow states to post minimum speed limits and take action against drivers who are going too slowly even when there is no posted minimum speed should then apply. Cars driving too slowly are a hazard to other traffic.

My guess is that the main reason you got a ticket is because the officer figured you'd just do what most people do: pay the ticket. If you can find a lawyer who will take the case for less than the ticket amount, my advice is to do it. Odds are that the pig won't even show up, and if he does, the state will just dismiss the case anyway. The primary reason for the existence of speeding tickets is to generate revenue, and it simply doesn't pay the state or munincipality to fight in court. It is far easier to just bring in a bunch of other motorists who will pay.

A word of warning, however. It would be best to see if you can get a free consultation before hiring a lawyer. I don't know anything about California state traffic laws or the laws in the munincipality in which you will be brought to court. It may well be more expensive to fight the ticket than to pay it. That often isn't the case, as all that is usually required is some fairly inexpensive legal boilerplate and the threat of a contested ticket, but it never hurts to be sure.

[I-25]

I don't know anything about California state traffic laws or the laws in the munincipality in which you will be brought to court.

Beautiful, warm, sunny (and expensive as hell:down:) San Diego CA

[GoldenRivet]

Well that sucks man, i know how you feel.

I got busted about a year ago for going about 14 over in my brand new truck, of course i paid the fines etc... then i later found out that a factory defect had resulted in a 12 mile per hour error in my speedometer and according to the service department, it had been that way since it left the factory... I had ALWAYS been going at least 12 MPH over whatever the gauge indicated. :nope:

I hate being pulled over by the police as much as the next guy...

but were you actually traveling at the rate of speed indicated on the ticket?

It indicates that you were traveling at a rate of 81 MPH in a 65 MPH zone... if this is the case - and i hate to side with the LEO here - but then you were in fact speeding... and the "I was just going with the flow of traffic" argument rarely works out in your favor either. :oops:

I made the mistake once of telling this to a cop... "I was only going with the flow of traffic"

his reply was simply

"Well, im one traffic officer on a highway with a thousand speeding vehicles... it had to be somebody that got pulled over and today, that somebody was you, try to be more careful in the future, have a nice day.";)

Sometimes you're the bug... sometimes you're the windshield my friend.

I used to see this all the time when my commutes would take me through the greater Dallas area.

every car and truck on the road was going 80 mph, but the cops, even when they worked in teams of 2 or 3 would only be able to stop a couple of cars out of a hundred - and if you got stopped, it was just not your lucky day. Traffic congestion can be so thick that they typically only go after the nearest offender in such situations. Unfortunately on that day, it was probably you.

That sucks, and i feel bad for you, but the only thing you can do at this point is either pay the fine... or take it to court and hope the cop has more important things to do than show up for your traffic stop case.

but one thing to remember, if you tie up the court for a traffic stop case, and the court does NOT rule in your favor, they tend to throw the book at ya. :shifty:

EDIT:

one time in college, i had borrowed my room mates car because mine was in the shop.

He is in the Air National Guard and had his uniform hanging in the back on the hanging hook, and his windshield had a parking pass for the local ANG base, not only that but his license plate frame was emblazoned with a large C-130 Hercules with "Air National Guard"

during a brief traffic stop, the officer just talked about how cool airplanes were and asked me what i flew. I told him i was in the aviation program at the local college and i was working on my commercial license (true) I never claimed to be in the ANG, i guess it was his assumption because he just said "i generally just give military personnel a verbal warning, so be careful out there" yadda yadda - he thanked me for "my service" and told me to have a nice day.

I didnt say sh*t... i just drove off. LOL

[Zachstar]

You were speeding. The "Oh they were doing it too" argument is bullcrap. And you will surely lose in court if you try to take it there. 5mph over maybe but 81 in a 65? un un that aint going to fly.

Pay the ticket and don't do it again in my opinion. It aint Calis fault for you driving that way.

[GoldenRivet]

You were speeding. The "Oh they were doing it too" argument is bullcrap. And you will surely lose in court if you try to take it there. 5mph over maybe but 81 in a 65? un un that aint going to fly.

Pay the ticket and don't do it again in my opinion. It aint Calis fault for you driving that way.

Perhaps a little bit of a harsh way to put it.



yet, true. ;)

[Jimbuna]

Although our countries are miles apart, when it comes to your word against officialdom the court usually rules against the motorist....especially in minor traffic offences where there is little requirement for irefutable evidence.

I'd pay the fine and take extra care in the future.

Too many uniformed jobsworths particularly in traffic cars these days.

[AVGWarhawk]

The fact remains that you were speeding. Sure, all the others were speeding as well but he caught you. Probably because you were speeding at 81 mph and the others were at 85 mph. He could not catch them :har: Just trying to save the state some money by not burning up the gas to catch those doing 85 mph. :O:

[TLAM Strike]

EDIT:

one time in college, i had borrowed my room mates car because mine was in the shop.

He is in the Air National Guard and had his uniform hanging in the back on the hanging hook, and his windshield had a parking pass for the local ANG base, not only that but his license plate frame was emblazoned with a large C-130 Hercules with "Air National Guard"

during a brief traffic stop, the officer just talked about how cool airplanes were and asked me what i flew. I told him i was in the aviation program at the local college and i was working on my commercial license (true) I never claimed to be in the ANG, i guess it was his assumption because he just said "i generally just give military personnel a verbal warning, so be careful out there" yadda yadda - he thanked me for "my service" and told me to have a nice day.

I didnt say sh*t... i just drove off. LOL Reminds me of what happened with my best friend and me once. My best friend just got out of the USN the year before, and we get pulled over (he is driving). He answers all the officer's questions and starts or ends the response with 'Sir'. The officer gets cross and asks "why are you calling me 'sir'?" Before he can tell the officer the cop goes back to his car and pulls up my friends record which I assume included his Navy record, the cop then let us go.

[UnderseaLcpl]

You were speeding. The "Oh they were doing it too" argument is bullcrap. And you will surely lose in court if you try to take it there.


It often is bullcrap but you're missing the point. The point is to make it not worth their while to prosecute. Even a mediocre traffic ticket attorney can usually make this happen quite easily. More often than not, the state will just drop the case. If they do pursue it then you can start filing for adjournments to make them waste more time and money, thus making them more likely to drop it, or for the officer to fail to appear. It also may be possible to obtain deferred adjudication.

It all depends on the circumstances surrounding the stop, prior infractions, and the legal environment in which the infraction is committed, which is why I again stress that a free consultation should be pursued before making a decision to fight.

[Schroeder]

But what if they don't drop the charges? Wouldn't I-25 have to pay all those extra costs that you hope the district wouldn't want to pay for?:06:

[les green01]

everytime i had been in court i had to pay court cost,with my class A i got to be careful anymore what i do in a auto,at 15 or over they can also write you a reckless driving ticket.the last day of truck driving school on my way home i got pull over for doing 80 in a 70 i just act like my speed almeter was off by 10 mph and i got was a warning

[UnderseaLcpl]

But what if they don't drop the charges? Wouldn't I-25 have to pay all those extra costs that you hope the district wouldn't want to pay for?:06:

Not really, no. That's why I told him to seek free consultation and hire a lawyer if he could find one that would be less than the ticket price. From there, he can make his own decision. He just needs a proper understanding of the legal circumstances surrounding his situation so he can make an informed decision. Best way to do that = free consultation, which is a service that many law firms provide. He tells his story to a lawyer, and the lawyer can then make the appropriate recommendation based upon what happened, who the judge is, whether there were any prior infractions, etc. If he finds the situation to be unfavorable, then he'll have to pay the ticket, but it is worth looking into.

[Ducimus]

Umm, sorry bud, im a native californian, and i don't think were getting the whole story here.

81 MPH on the freeway is not a big deal, most of the time, but it is cutting it close. Alot depends on WHERE you were speeding. If you were doing that in the number 2 or 3 lanes, that would single you out. Nevermind that most everyone who should be in the no 2 and 3 lanes is in the no 1 lane. As well all know, the rule of "slower traffic keep right" seems to be lost on people here, along with the lost art of merging onto a freeway. But thats beside the point, and quick lane changes (IE "weaving") will do it too, especially if your barely clearing bumpers by only a couple feet.

Your safe at 75. I've been driving here since i was 16 (36 now) and have never been stopped doing 75. However 80, or a single mile past 80 though and your pushing your luck. BTW, i hear most officers spend alot of their days off in court now days. Good luck dodging that ticket.

[I-25]

the fact i was speeding is clear to me. i know that but in the bit of research i have done i came across a basic speed-safety law.

CVC 22351 Speed Law Violations, basicly this states that the speed of any vehicle upon a highway in excess of the prima facie speed limits...or established as authorized in this code (includes the 65mph max speed limit) is prima facie unlawful unless the defendant establishes by competent evidence that the speed in excess of said limits did not constitute a violation of the basic speed law at the time, place, and under the conditions then existing.

Since my speed was not unsafe for the conditions, we use this law to justify that my traveling above the 65mph limit was not, in itself, unlawful.

i found a good example of this put to use
STATEMENT OF FACTS

Defendant's Name: XXXXXXX
Case No.: XXXXX

I respectfully submit this written declaration to the Court pursuant to CVC 40902. I plead Not Guilty to the charge of violating CVC 22349(a).

The facts of my case are as follows: While driving northbound on Interstate 5, just north of Sorrento Valley Rd., at around 2300 on 3-12-99, I noticed an overtaking car in my lane flash its lights at me. The overtaking vehicle was following very closely, creating an unsafe situation. Since I could not move to the right immediately due to traffic, I accelerated somewhat to pass this traffic so that I could yield to the right of the overtaking vehicle and alleviate this developing unsafe situation. Soon after I safely yielded to the right to the overtaking vehicle , I was stopped by CHP Officer XXXXX (I.D.#XX) and charged with violating CVC 22349(a).

CVC 21753 "Yielding for Passing" requires that "the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal or the momentary flash of headlights by the overtaking vehicle...." I do not think it is fair to convict me for momentarily breaking one law in my attempt to obey another and relieve an unsafe situation caused by an impatient driver.

The Basic Speed Law, CVC 22350, states: "No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property."

Where I was stopped, Interstate 5 is a well-maintained multi-lane freeway, quite safe to travel on at a speed slightly above the 65mph maximum limit with the favorable weather (clear and dry) and road conditions that existed at the time of my stop. Since I was required for safety to momentarily accelerate to allow the car overtaking and tailgating me to pass, I contest that my speed in excess of 65mph was necessary, reasonable, and prudent pursuant to the Basic Speed Law.

Section (b) of Speed Law Violations, CVC 22351, states: "The speed of any vehicle upon a highway in excess of the prima facie speed limits...or established as authorized in this code (includes the 65mph max speed limit) is prima facie unlawful unless the defendant establishes by competent evidence that the speed in excess of said limits did not constitute a violation of the basic speed law at the time, place, and under the conditions then existing."

The favorable road and weather conditions existing at the time and place of my stop combined with the necessity to momentarily accelerate to alleviate an unsafe situation with a speeding tailgater, made the speed I was traveling at the time of my stop Safe and Reasonable for conditions. As such, I know that I was not in violation of the basic speed law at the time and place of my citation and, pursuant to CVC 22351(b), contest that my speed at the time of my traffic stop was therefore not per se unlawful.

I trust in the Court's fairness in this matter and believe that my citation should be dismissed in the interest of justice.

If the court does not find in my favor in this case, I request a fine reduction and a Court assignment to attend traffic school.

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.but yea i need more info on how the ball rolls too.

last year my dad got busted for the same thing (oddly enough on the same freeway and also 81 over)

he took it to court hoping that the cop would not show and well out of 10 persons that were there hoping for the same thing his was the only Officer that did show:x but he didnt have to pay any other extra fees.

so i really don't lose anything giving it a try.

i was also in the fast lane of a 5 lane freeway

[Snestorm]

So far I've seen posts here by cops, truckers, and "others".
The two former groups seem to be in agreement here, and it doesn't matter whether it be in Europe or North America, as the traffic laws are fairly uniform. (So are the Hours Of Service regulations for truckers!)

From another trucker:
You were in the left lane. (Keep right. Pass left.)
This indicates that you were NOT just keeping up with traffic.

81 in a 65.
You're 10 MPH over what most juristictions consider to be the discretionary/courtesy/tolerence/grace (for lack of a better word) zone.

You're a repeat offender, which means your license is on the line, as it should be.

Personal advice:
Pay the ticket.
Leave earlier, thus allowing yourself enough time to arrive at destination, without speeding.
Keep right, except to pass.
Drive the posted speed limit. (At least until your past violations have been cleared from your license.)
Don't bother applying for a driving job. (Poor driving record.)
Brace yourself for an insurance premium increase.

Side note: They do NOT have to but, most cops will allow you 10% over the posted limit.

The only question a judge considers is, did you break the law as cited.

The only out is that obeying the law would create a hazardouse situation.
(This clearly does not apply to your case.)

[Ducimus]

81 in a 65.
You're 10 MPH over what most juristictions consider to be the discretionary/courtesy/tolerence/grace (for lack of a better word) zone.

...
Keep right, except to pass.
...
Drive the posted speed limit.


California is a little different in this regard. There's really two speed limits here. The posted one nobody pays any attention to, and the acceptable one that will result in someone bumper hugging you if you don't reach it. (75 being the "real" speed limit)

This place is way over crowded. Everyone has somewhere to be, and they needed to be there yesterday. Which is one reason why speeding here is the norm. It's also the reason why many people regardless of speed, head straight into the number 1 lane. There's always many people coming on and off the freeway your constantly dodging them. So, people tend to lock it up in the no 1 lane and stay there. EVEN if they're driving slower then the flow of traffic, it is maddening. Few here keep right.

What you end up with is a total reversal of how traffic should be. The passing lane becomes the no 2 and 3 lanes, and the slow lane becomes the no 1 lane. This has the additive effect of REALLY needing to use the onramp when getting on the freeway to its maximal potential - in otherwords, FLOOR IT, because you have a better then average chance of being forced onto the shoulder by oncoming traffic half the time, assuming its not jammed by rushhour traffic, in which case nobodys moving.

Anywho, alot of traffic problems would be solved here if slower traffic kept right. But that will never happen.

[CaptainHaplo]

PJC

Nuff said......

[Ducimus]

PJC

Nuff said......

http://www.google.com/search?q=PJC&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t

Pensacola Junior College
Paris Junior College
Pacific Jewish Center
PIPER JAFFRAY COS
Piper Jaffray Companies


ambiguous dig is ambiguous.

[FIREWALL]

Find a lawyer in So. Cal or anywhere else for that matter for $300.00 or less ? :har::rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2::har:

[Platapus]

it all depends on the judge and that you have no control over.

Good luck with it, but it does not sound like anyone "screwed" you over. :nope:

Speeding is like playing an anti-lottery. Most of the time you will get away with it and often some other guy gets pulled over. This was your time.

[Platapus]

This place is way over crowded.


California freeways were insane back when I lived there. You could be driving at 0200 on a Wednesday and there would still be traffic jams. :damn:

Southern California is a 24/7 traffic jam. I don't ever want to move back there.

[Zachstar]

Why are some of you trying to give him advice for fighting it? That's false hope. 81 in a 65 means he is well outside of grace and is screwed in court. They wont mind showing up as that means he gets to have the book thrown at him and court costs for the state. They wont show up for less than 10 but past 10 and this is just too juicy for the state to ignore.

Just pay the ticket.

[Platapus]

When I was auditing court cases for my undergrad degree, it was a rarity for a police officer, in Nebraska, not to show up. In many (most?) states the police are now paid for their court days and judges coordinate the trial with the officer's court schedule.

So if your defense is based on the officer not showing up, I think you will be mistaken.

If you would like to be represented by an attorney but cannot afford one, contact the Legal Aid Society or the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program:
Legal Aid Society (http://www.lassd.org/): (877) 534-2524
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (http://sdvlp.org/): (619) 235-5656

[CaptainHaplo]

Sorry Ducimus - I really should have been more clear.

PJC - Prayer for Judgement - Continued. May not apply in CA - but basically you ask for the case to be in abayence - as long as you don't get another ticket for a specified amount of time - then the whole thing disappears. If you get another ticket - you get slapped with both of them. Its a way to stay clean and have a good reason not to be silly and speed again.

[I-25]

tnks a bunch man:up:
i never got a speeding ticket in SH III :cry:

[CaptainHaplo]

I-25 - never used my nuke boat mod then huh? :rotfl2:

[Ducimus]

I used to drive 80 all the time. I slowed down when i traded my V6 for a 4 banger.

Im looking at where some of you all are from, because of the constant mentioning of 81 in a 65, but im telling ya, a posted limit of 65 on the freeway doesn't mean much here. Even when the posted speed limit was 55 back when i was 16, the "real " speed limit was 75. I cop won't stop you for 75 unless he's REALLY having a bad day.

My point is, its a different driving culture out here. I completely believe he got stopped for 81. States bankrupt and needs the money. In the past, he probably wouldn't have. To give you a contrast, the posted speed limit in a school zone in missippi is 10 or 15 MPH if memory serves, here its 25.

The posted speed limit on a freeway is more of a formality really. In some places it is posted at 70, but again, ive never been stopped (on the freeway) doing 75 regardless if the posted limit was 55, or 65, or 70.

That said, a single mile past 80 and your pushing your luck.

I guess i say this more out of protest to "Mr 65 MPH in the fast lane". Everyone else is doing 75 MPH (give or take a few MPH), but this guy has to park himself in hammer lane and be an obstruction to everyone nearby. I don't know where these people come from, but they need to get with the program.

[Zachstar]

If the speed limit needs to be changed write to those in charge. If someone is dare I saw following the law. People need to just be patient and stop the speeding madness.

[I-25]

I guess i say this more out of protest to "Mr 65 MPH in the fast lane". Everyone else is doing 75 MPH (give or take a few MPH), but this guy has to park himself in hammer lane and be an obstruction to everyone nearby. I don't know where these people come from, but they need to get with the program.

well said.

what pissed me off was not the fact i got pulled but how the officer treated me like a nobody. he didnt even tell me i was gonna get the ticket till he handed it to me to sign.

[GoldenRivet]

well said.

what pissed me off was not the fact i got pulled but how the officer treated me like a nobody. he didnt even tell me i was gonna get the ticket till he handed it to me to sign.

I had this exact experience with a cop in Louisiana.

he was a real ass. :shifty:

[Platapus]

Sorry Ducimus - I really should have been more clear.

PJC - Prayer for Judgement - Continued. May not apply in CA - but basically you ask for the case to be in abayence - as long as you don't get another ticket for a specified amount of time - then the whole thing disappears. If you get another ticket - you get slapped with both of them. Its a way to stay clean and have a good reason not to be silly and speed again.

In some states it is also known as PBJ Probation before judgment.

[UnderseaLcpl]

If the speed limit needs to be changed write to those in charge.

And then what? Do you really imagine that the number of people who are dissatisfied enough with the speed limit to write to City Hall or the state will ever be enough to change the opinions of anyone who makes policy?

No, ZS, they will not. That's why people are speeding. When the law gets stupid or overly restrictive, people just quit obeying it. Singling out one motorist every thirty minutes or so on a stretch of highway where everyone is speeding is not effective safety policy, it's a cash scam.

If city or state policymakers really cared about motorists' safety, they'd up the driver's-ed requirements and make the driving test much more difficult. They'd also stiffen the incarceration penalties for drunk driving. But that isn't what they care about, or at least, not primarily. The main thing they care about is keeping their jobs, and in their line of work that means not pissing off voters or the budget committee and appearing to care.

Insurance companies have long been aware of what really causes traffic accidents, and it shows in their business models. They charge higher rates for young drivers because they know that driver-training is bad, and that young drivers are more prone to driving under the influence. If you get a DUI, your rates really shoot up, and sometimes the company just drops you to the curb. They adjust rates based on where you live, especially if there are a lot of intersections in the area.

Which brings me to another point: the main causes of vehicle accidents. Do you know what the main cause of vehicle accidents is? I don't. Statistics vary. My guess would be alcohol or intersections. But I can certainly tell you it isn't from people driving above the posted speed limit in the same direction on a multi-lane freeway. German autobahns have only advisory speed limits and that seems to work just fine for them.

Like I said, cash scam. And above that, it is dereliction of duty by the officials of government who are entrusted with the establishment of an efficient and safe transportation system. As such, I have no compunction about (wisely) suggesting that I-25 seek free legal consultation in an attempt to determine whether he can get out of this ticket.


People need to just be patient and stop the speeding madness.

Unfortunately, that is not always an option. People have places to go, obligations to fulfill, and deadlines to meet..... even your venerated and trusted state overseers.

[Zachstar]

Geezus its called leaving 5 mins earlier instead of staying to see the end of the soap opera. Is it really that difficult?

[Ducimus]

Geezus its called leaving 5 mins earlier instead of staying to see the end of the soap opera. Is it really that difficult?


As if 5 minutes would help during rush hour when your going to or leaving work.

http://www.treehugger.com/20090501-california-traffic.jpghttp://www.treehugger.com/20090402-california-traffic-jam.jpghttp://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ccms/images/commuter%20traffic2.jpg

Did i mention California is overcrowded? Last i was in the south, (lousiana, mississippi, alabama) i don't remember traffic being anywhere near as bad as it is in california.

Now, my GF finds this a ridiculous and foreign notion, so maybe its something uniquely californian, but she finds it preposterious, so i'll mention it here. I, my family, and everyone i know raised here does something that is apparently really wierd. Arranging trips to avoid traffic.

This basically means leaving where your at by a certain hour, or even a certain day. I would cut a vacation short to avoid sunday going back into town traffic. My GF finds cutting a vacation short a day to avoid traffic a completely foreign concept. To me, its just common sense and part of daily living.

As for your daily commute, you know what? It doesnt really matter when you leave half the time. Sure you could leave alloting time for distance and your typical traffic. But what you can't account for is CalTrans and accidents. All it takes is one idiot, and the next thing you know all the traffic in the above pictures is being funneled down to 1 lane.

Calfornia department of transportation (CALTrans) is also a joy. Because if they're is no traffic, fear not, they'll make some for you by shutting lanes down doing whatever work it is that they do.

My theory is that alot of people here are frustrated due to the congestion. When i lived in Buena Park, a 10 minute commute could take 45 minutes. At any rate, my point here is when schit happends, you find yourself forced into a situation where you have to make up for lost time. As i said earlier, everyone has somehwere to be, and they needed to be there yesterday.

This public service announcement brought to you by a Californian against Overcrowding. Sweet jesus on a pogo stick people! STOP MOVING HERE!

[ReallyDedPoet]

Friends of mine were recently there on a trip, said the traffic was :o:o:o:yep:
Now I see why.

[magic452]

When I lived in SO. Cal I planed my trips vary carefully.
I drove to Reno Nevada and never went back.
That was 30+ years ago and it was insane there then.

Any time I had to go back to see the folks I left at 11:00 pm and rolled in there at about 6:00 am.

Magic

[I-25]

UPDATE


384 dlls...:nope:

dam

[Zachstar]

What does 384 dlls mean? USD?

[I-25]

yupp..

384 USD

[krashkart]

http://www.treehugger.com/20090501-california-traffic.jpghttp://www.treehugger.com/20090402-california-traffic-jam.jpghttp://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ccms/images/commuter%20traffic2.jpg


Nope, that are not krashkart-friendly territory. I would go bugsh- insane there. :o

Typically we have three lanes here, four at the most. The traffic is thick during rush, but not that thick.

[thorn69]

I'm a cop and I'll tell you that most cops only write tickets to those folks that give them some form of attitude or show some form of disrespect. A police officer does not have to write you a ticket so think about that for a moment.

What sort of expression were you displaying on your face and how did you respond to the officer's questions? Did you appear to be frustrated or annoyed with him? If so, then that's probably why he gave you the ticket. Then again, maybe the highway patrol were told by higher level state officials to hand out tickets that week to send a message to drivers in your area to start slowing down. This usually happens when there's been an influx in traffic fatalities in a particular location due to speed related crashes. If that's the case, you really can't blame the cop because you just admitted you were violating the speed limit laws. He may have saved your life that day!

Cops are usually just doing their jobs. They're not out to get you! You can't use the excuse that others were speeding too and it's not fair that he singled you out. He can only pull one car over at a time. The bottom line is you were breaking the law and you're the one he stopped. If he had pulled somebody else over you wouldn't have complained about that and you wouldn't have learned a valuable lesson!

There are enough of these "I hate the cops because they gave me a ticket today" posts on the Internet to make me want to laugh. People don't seem to see the other side of police work enough unfortunately. It's a very thankless job considering what we have to deal with on a daily basis.

In my career so far, I've been shot four times (All during traffic stops! Thank God for Type 3a vests). Stabbed 2 times in my back by women that were mad I was arresting their abusive husband - after they called me to come and arrest their abusive husband :doh: (Domestic calls. Bulletproof vests don't work too well against knives. Many stitches needed!), and been in more fights than a drunken sailor trash talking jarheads on a Marine Corps base (1 during a traffic stop and all the others at domestic calls).

Trust me, most of us don't do this thankless job because we get a kick out of upsetting people with traffic tickets. Most of us have let more people go than we've ticketed by far.

You want my advice - SLOW DOWN! :stare: