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2) we get paid to "feel like big boys on our bikes"
3) Out of the 1000 to 10000 cars we see in a day you got singled out.. congratulations... you drew attention to yourself
4) Pay attention to your driving.. it is what you should be focusing on when you do the task
1.) Nope, I'm fighting this one.
2.) Good for you big boy. I would hate to have your job.
3.) There was only two other cars, who were going nearly the same speed as me. I'm sure the fact that I drive a nice car made me stand out, not my speed.
4.) I was indeed paying attention.
I love how you're offended (don't deny it)....especially because you're a big boy on his Huffy bike.
First, were you speeding? I don't know if it was ever said that you were. Definitely go to court. Best case the officer doesn't show up, which about 95% of the time is a win, and the ticket disappears. If you were not speeding, go to court and plead your case. You've never had a ticket before, and the officer didn't pull you over when you were speeding. He pulled you over in a 35 zone for doing 53 on a highway? What highway has a speed limit less than 55? I didn't know they existed. Obviously don't describe it like I just did, sarcasm won't help your case.
If you didn't speed, then fight the case. Be passive and nice when you talk to the judge. Do not get aggressive. Feel free to show your scared, and upset though. Worst case you waste half a day, and then have to do traffic school and pay a fine. Best case, it never gets on your record, which saves tons of money in the future.
To answer someone's question... you don't have to go to court. You can just send in the money and pay the fine, but this is an admission of guilt.
Is it worth it to fight a ticket even if you are not wrong?
I was four wheeling up on Alamo Mountain above Gorman about 20 years ago and a ranger gave me a ticket for motor vehicle use in a "No Motor Vehicles" area. Turns out I arrived where I was by staying on road but the route I took wasn't signed. Basically, I was in the wrong place but it was impossible to know so. (The ranger even admitted this.)
$50 ticket
Mr. Principle decides to take a day off of work at fight it at the Ventura Courthouse.
The ranger and I agree on what happened and the judge makes it $25.
Kind of bummed me out. Either give me a $50 fine because I truly was in an unauthorized area - no excuses, or give me a $0 fine because, though guilty, the signage was insufficient and it wasn't my fault.
2) we get paid to "feel like big boys on our bikes"
3) Out of the 1000 to 10000 cars we see in a day you got singled out.. congratulations... you drew attention to yourself
4) Pay attention to your driving.. it is what you should be focusing on when you do the task
I believe you are paid by the people who you serve. I know for sure that I do not pay you to act like a "big boy". I pay you to do your job, enforce the law, take careful discretion for every encounter, and behave like an adult. Sometimes you do overstep your duties, and it should be called out. It is your responsibility, and duty to understand that, and to not shout out something that makes you appear like an ass. You are not always right. Next time, think before you type. I do not pay you to feel like a "big boy". I pay you to do your job. Not to hear your opinion on what you think you are paid to do. Do your job, and shut up!
I believe you are paid by the people who you serve. I know for sure that I do not pay you to act like a "big boy". I pay you to do your job, enforce the law, take careful discretion for every encounter, and behave like an adult. Sometimes you do overstep your duties, and it should be called out. It is your responsibility, and duty to understand that, and to not shout out something that makes you appear like an ass. You are not always right. Next time, think before you type. I do not pay you to feel like a "big boy". I pay you to do your job. Not to hear your opinion on what you think you are paid to do. Do your job, and shut up!
Those comebacks that you let marinate for a while are the best ones, aren't they?
2) we get paid to "feel like big boys on our bikes"
-Which IMO is part of the problem. I used to have a tremendous amount of respect for police officers.
Not anymore. Somewhere along the way, they forgot that they are supposed to be public servants.
Now, the line between them and the thugs they purport to protect us from is so blurred as to be virtually indistinguishable. You know something is seriously out of balance and our priorities out of whack when you are ten times more likely to meet an officer for going five miles an hour over the speed limit than you are for doing a drive by shooting following a burglary where you robbed the house and raped the woman that lives there.
Nothing but a highwayman with a badge that he wears on his pecker sanctioned by the State. Cops may have big egos, but that's probably just a ruse for the cowards that they really are. If they were serious, they'd do something about the gang problems that are out of control in so many areas. But we all know they won't. Because 1) if gangs were eradicated, the justification for having half the police force in the first place would cease to exist, 2) confronting a gang carries a very high probability of having gunfire returned (as opposed to stopping a 40 year old woman in a Mercedes), and 3) who knows how many officers are former gang members and/or have close ties with that population. Why go after your former "homies"? and 4) harassing the general public is the proverbial "low hanging fruit" and "path of least resistance". Your typical middle class driver is highly unlikely to push back. Plus, that's where the money is. Since many police agencies largely exist solely to fund themselves and/or act as a proxy for the local and state tax boards, it's de facto tax collection and enhancement at gunpoint. Gang bangers have no money. So why waste your time on them?
At least with the robber, he's honest about what he's doing and won't give you some BS story about how "he's just doing his job" of "protecting you from yourself".
You would think that since Rodney King, and "Cops" and the countless incidents of bad publicity since then (like stopping and ticketing a woman in labor on the way to the hospital and other chickens*it acts) that they'd behave themselves a little better. But nope. Everything I see and hear tells me that they are getting more ornery, disrespectful, and offensive than ever. Hardly a week goes by without some new police brutality or out of line officer showing up in the news. Like here in my town where a bank was robbed within line of sight and walking distance to a long running speed trap (interesting that I haven't seen him at that spot since I posted that comment in the local op-ed section of my paper.)
Frankly, these days, when I hear about a cop killed in the line of duty, where 20 years ago, I would've bowed my head in respect, today, I think to myself "the SOB probably deserved it and had it coming. Karma's a real ßitch sometimes."
One other thing i take solace in is knowing that Nature tends to even things out. Cops, for all their bravado, live lives that frankly, aren't really worth living: all go every day in fear of their lives knowing that they are potential targets. I've read article after article that consistently ranks cops as having among the highest rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism, and depression of any profession. In that context, even when they are handing out tax bill...I mean..."safety violation", odds are that you the "customer" will likely have the last laugh in the long run.
2.) Good for you big boy. I would hate to have your job.
3.) There was only two other cars, who were going nearly the same speed as me. I'm sure the fact that I drive a nice car made me stand out, not my speed.
4.) I was indeed paying attention.
I love how you're offended (don't deny it)....especially because you're a big boy on his Huffy bike.
By your own admission you were not paying attention.
You are under age, figured this out by worrying about mom and dad finding out and you live at home.
You do not stand a chance in court. You do not have decades of non ticketed driving experience. No one fighting a ticket ever speed, judges love hearing your self proclaimed innocence.
Your attitude stinks. Own up to the guilt and grow with it instead of living a lie.
The prevailing advice is good advice. You'll get a courtesy notice to "pay this amount" and you'll be excused from appearing in court. (That's bad advice.)
You're not going to beat it in court unless the officer doesn't appear. (Unlikely but it happens.) You should show up in court and perhaps ask if the officer (witness) will appear. If he (or she) isn't there then you'll probably be dismissed.
What you should do is request traffic school. As far as I know it's the same everywhere in California. When approved (you might even get to do this in your courtesy notice) then you'll be given a list of authorized traffic schools (including on-line traffic schools). Pick one of the on-line schools and in 1-2 hours you can complete the class and take the test (all for a fee, perhaps $50-$100), and with an additional fee to the state your ticket will be dismissed and it will not appear on your driving record (and very importantly it won't be there to increase your insurance rate!).
Once you have satisfactorily completed traffic school and your ticket dismissed you will be on good behavior for one year. During that time if you get an additional ticket you will not have the option to take traffic school, you will pay the full amount of the ticket, and your driving insurance rate will increase by 25%. That's right your insurance goes up a full 25%!!! This is because California has a mandatory requirement that insurance companies must give you a "good driver" discount, and when you have tickets/accidents (at fault) you lose the discount.
So short answer, take the traffic school option and pick an on-line traffic school. Then drive for one full year with no more tickets/accidents. After a year you regain the traffic school option.
Those comebacks that you let marinate for a while are the best ones, aren't they?
It only took him four years!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Des-Lab
-Which IMO is part of the problem. I used to have a tremendous amount of respect for police officers.
Not anymore. Somewhere along the way, they forgot that they are supposed to be public servants.
Now, the line between them and the thugs they purport to protect us from is so blurred as to be virtually indistinguishable. You know something is seriously out of balance and our priorities out of whack when you are ten times more likely to meet an officer for going five miles an hour over the speed limit than you are for doing a drive by shooting following a burglary where you robbed the house and raped the woman that lives there.
Nothing but a highwayman with a badge that he wears on his pecker sanctioned by the State. Cops may have big egos, but that's probably just a ruse for the cowards that they really are. If they were serious, they'd do something about the gang problems that are out of control in so many areas. But we all know they won't. Because 1) if gangs were eradicated, the justification for having half the police force in the first place would cease to exist, 2) confronting a gang carries a very high probability of having gunfire returned (as opposed to stopping a 40 year old woman in a Mercedes), and 3) who knows how many officers are former gang members and/or have close ties with that population. Why go after your former "homies"? and 4) harassing the general public is the proverbial "low hanging fruit" and "path of least resistance". Your typical middle class driver is highly unlikely to push back. Plus, that's where the money is. Since many police agencies largely exist solely to fund themselves and/or act as a proxy for the local and state tax boards, it's de facto tax collection and enhancement at gunpoint. Gang bangers have no money. So why waste your time on them?
At least with the robber, he's honest about what he's doing and won't give you some BS story about how "he's just doing his job" of "protecting you from yourself".
You would think that since Rodney King, and "Cops" and the countless incidents of bad publicity since then (like stopping and ticketing a woman in labor on the way to the hospital and other chickens*it acts) that they'd behave themselves a little better. But nope. Everything I see and hear tells me that they are getting more ornery, disrespectful, and offensive than ever. Hardly a week goes by without some new police brutality or out of line officer showing up in the news. Like here in my town where a bank was robbed within line of sight and walking distance to a long running speed trap (interesting that I haven't seen him at that spot since I posted that comment in the local op-ed section of my paper.)
Frankly, these days, when I hear about a cop killed in the line of duty, where 20 years ago, I would've bowed my head in respect, today, I think to myself "the SOB probably deserved it and had it coming. Karma's a real ßitch sometimes."
One other thing i take solace in is knowing that Nature tends to even things out. Cops, for all their bravado, live lives that frankly, aren't really worth living: all go every day in fear of their lives knowing that they are potential targets. I've read article after article that consistently ranks cops as having among the highest rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism, and depression of any profession. In that context, even when they are handing out tax bill...I mean..."safety violation", odds are that you the "customer" will likely have the last laugh in the long run.
My impression is that the officer was just making a wry retort to the dumb "big kid on his bike" comment.
By your own admission you were not paying attention.
You are under age, figured this out by worrying about mom and dad finding out and you live at home.
You do not stand a chance in court. You do not have decades of non ticketed driving experience. No one fighting a ticket ever speed, judges love hearing your self proclaimed innocence.
Your attitude stinks. Own up to the guilt and grow with it instead of living a lie.
This thread is four years old. I ended up fighting the ticket through a trial by written declaration, and the CHP did not submit his paperwork. Therefore, I was refunded the $273.00 I initially paid, and the ticket was null and void. I win.
I'm an adult now, no longer living with mom and dad, and haven't been pulled over since. My feelings toward [most] cops haven't changed (well, for the CHP anyway).
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Not so fast
