Harassed by the cops

[Jester]

I once got a speeding ticket when I wasn't speeding.

When the cop was writing me the ticket, he claimed I was going 60 in a 50. I told him I never topped 50. He told me that was a load of hooey, because I was so far ahead of the rest of the traffic. And that's when I saw the issue.

See, at the time I had a Dodge Shadow Turbo. And that turbo was really nice. So a lot of the time when I was at a light and it turned green, I flew out of there, accelerating faster than everyone else, but still staying under the speed limit.

I explained this to the cop and told him, "You are ticketing me for accelerating faster than everyone else, not actually speeding."

Cop didn't buy it, and I was too young and dumb to make a go of it at court. Still irritates me that I had to pay that ticket.

[Ben_Who]

Around here, police officers were hauling up so many people and doling out so many crappy tickets that they couldn't make all their court dates. So people who really had broken the law were getting away with it because they'd show up in court and the cop wouldn't be there. Cops often had to give up a "good" ticket to make the time to defend a "bad" ticket and got both tickets thrown out.

I think they've straightened things up since then.

Love, Who?

[Mr. Rager!]

Ticket was $135 for tint and $135 for the light.

I am going to the dealership on Monday. I am also going to a place that does tint to see if they have any ideas.

I still haven't found the light that was out. I am going to fight this. I will plead not guilty on the 30th.

[blas]

Haha, ask the guy that my cousin picked on in school.....

He's the sheriff now and still hates my family. He made it a point when he was a cop to go after as many of us as possible and nail us with anything he could find.

[NightWatch]

A lot of cops are the kids who got bullied in highschool, and they figured out how to be in control by being a cop. So they're douchebags. I work with them, so that's not my opinion, that's a fact.

[blas]

Maybe he was just pissed that Dunkin Donuts was closed on Thanksgiving.

Joking aside, wow....someone really felt the need to go on a power trip, and unfortunately Lad, you were the one who got a good taste of it. I wonder if anyone else got bullshit fines yesterday in your area?

[csquared]

You have time before your court date. You might be able to resolve this out of court. Send a copy of the ticket and the test results to the DA, Traffic Division. They may decide to drop the charges.

You should also write a letter to the Chief/Sheriff and Internal Affairs documenting the event. The police have the right to stop you to check license, registration & insurance. However, the false accusations are another story. Something funny going on there, and you deserve an explanation.

Also, ask for a copy of the dash cam. I'm betting they did not have one, but it can't hurt to ask.

[jedimaster91]

He asked the officer why he'd written the ticket and the officer said because he assumed I'd run the red light based upon the timing of the lights on his side.

Around here there is a delay of a second or two when one light turns red before the other turns green. Sometimes it's several seconds.

My only cop story was right before Li'l Sis went off to college, I took her out to lunch. We got to ranting about our jobs and how life sucks and next thing I know I see the flashy lights in my rearview. Turns out I was going 74 in a 55, but the state trooper let me off with a warning. He was cute, too.

[calulu]

Yeah, what everyone else said plus document the hell out of the fact that your windows are legal. You might consider going to the dealership and having someone there write out a statement that the tinting was factory installed under the legal limit. Document, document, document!

I got a ticket once for running a red light. The light had turned yellow just as I was going under. I fought the ticket because where the cop was sitting there was no way on earth that he could have physically seen what the light was. I went out and measured the intersection, took photos from my position and his of the lights. Took all of this to court and the judge threw out the charges after chewing out the cop for an assumption. He asked the officer why he'd written the ticket and the officer said because he assumed I'd run the red light based upon the timing of the lights on his side.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

The best thing to do when being detained is to keep your mouth shut. If you get questioned tell them you want an attorney first. If they write you a book of tickets let them. Just take it court and let them make a complete ass out of themselves in front of the judge.

This. Quoted for truth. Just say "yes, sir", "no sir," and if it comes to it, "may I go now, sir?"

Anything else you are just asking for trouble.

Read this.

And watch this.

[ditchdj]

Sounds like a loudmouth rookie cop.

The best thing to do when being detained is to keep your mouth shut. If you get questioned tell them you want an attorney first. If they write you a book of tickets let them. Just take it court and let them make a complete ass out of themselves in front of the judge.

[Broomjockey]

Do not let this stand and pay the ticket. Go to court. Fight the power!

This x1000

That was some bs behaviour from the cop.

[Jester]

As I understand this, he accused you of three things: speeding, a light out, and over tinting. But, correct me if I'm wrong, he only ticketed you for the over tinting. Which means you don't have to worry about the nonexistent speeding or the imaginary light out. Which means all you need to do is document the hell out of your vehicle with pictures and perhaps the original bill of sale from the dealership, if it lists the tinting, etc. And march into court with the documentation.

My guess is that the judge, unless he is a crack whore, will side with you. Hell, with the BS nature of this whole thing, I would not be surprised if Officer Friendly didn't even show up for the court date.

Do not let this stand and pay the ticket. Go to court. Fight the power!

[Dave1982]

That sucks......

I think the cop was trying to trick you into "admitting" to something so he'd have an excuse to give you a ticket. The first (and only) time I was pulled over, the cop tried that on me. He said I was going 40+ in a 30MPH zone, but I said my speedo told me I was going 30 (and it did). Only then did he get around to telling me why he REALLY pulled me over; I'd crossed over the double yellow lines to avoid a very deeply sunk storm drain. He let me off with a verbal warning.

At least you seem to have done nothing wrong.....I can tell you that it sucks even harder when the cops catch you for something and you know you're totally busted (not talking about the above incident), and they know you know.....

[hinakiba777]

I agree with Greenday. You should be able to argue this pretty clearly in court. Your window tint is obviously below the maximum, so you are legal.

But yeah, I was on your side but understanding for the cop until the light part. I mean, how can you FIX your broken light if he won't tell you which one it is.

Then again I'm afraid of cops ever since the first (and only mind you so far) cop to pull me over told me I didn't exist. I forgot my license in my other bag and he copied my birthday wrong. He came back to the car and said, "There is no one licensed that was born my birthday" he pauses "1989"

I was born in 1988. He went back and checked, and came back saying "Well you do exist."