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I am angry about this ticket! I have never gotten a speeding or any type of ticket, ever in my 20 plus of driving.
I was at the William Davis park making a left on Pineville Matthews Road which is a 4 lane street with a turning "lane" in the middle. I made my left into the turning lane and was waiting for a car that appeared around the curve and was goinf very fast. I waited till he passed me, checked my mirror again and saw no cars. I pulled into the first lane and proceeded straight. About 2 seconds later I hear sirens and looked in my rearview mirror, it was an undercover car with sirens in the bumper. I watch him pull up behind me close as I changed lanes. He sped past me and I thought that he must be chasing that speeding car.
I saw the police officer had indeed pulled over the speeding car but was waiting for ME and motioned to pull over as well.
He ticketed me for cutting him off! Dude, he was doing like 80 around the curve and I was already pulling into the lane which in that 20 seconds was clear. He never had to slam on his brakes or swerve. I actually saw him pull up close while I changed lanes to let him pass.
I am angry about this ticket! I have never gotten a speeding or any type of ticket, ever in my 20 plus of driving.
I was at the William Davis park making a left on Pineville Matthews Road which is a 4 lane street with a turning "lane" in the middle. I made my left into the turning lane and was waiting for a car that appeared around the curve and was goinf very fast. I waited till he passed me, checked my mirror again and saw no cars. I pulled into the first lane and proceeded straight. About 2 seconds later I hear sirens and looked in my rearview mirror, it was an undercover car with sirens in the bumper. I watch him pull up behind me close as I changed lanes. He sped past me and I thought that he must be chasing that speeding car.
I saw the police officer had indeed pulled over the speeding car but was waiting for ME and motioned to pull over as well.
He ticketed me for cutting him off! Dude, he was doing like 80 around the curve and I was already pulling into the lane which in that 20 seconds was clear. He never had to slam on his brakes or swerve. I actually saw him pull up close while I changed lanes to let him pass.
Am I wrong? Ugh!
Awww...what rotten luck! Though I am glad the cop caught that guy - what a jerk going so fast in that area!
I think I know what happened...from your vantage point you could not have seen the cop coming at all at such a high rate of speed - but from the cop's vantage point I believe he could see you. This is because I believe you were sitting a little lower down there at that point in the road. So to the cop it looked like you did pull out in front of him, though I don't think you did anything wrong either. Consider going to court to fight this one. Sometimes just showing up to plead your case is all it takes to get it dismissed.
Do you think I should take pictures of the curve from the turning lane there and take it to court?
I know people try to figh legitimate tickets but I really feel that this cop was being a jerk. Now if he had to slam on his brakes, or swerve, than yeah I understand. But he actually drove up to me speeding. Plus it can't be too safe going that fast around a curve in front of a busy park! There were two Harris Y buses in there too!
I know the exact spot you are talking about- was just there and had to make a left hand turn onto 51, same as you. Not the easiest place to get out of, first of all, and I can totally see how this happened! How upsetting. I am so sorry. I would try to get this ticket dropped. I would take pix, yes. Bringing anything w/ you to court could help! Again, so sorry . . .
If you go to court dress like you are going to a job interview I see so many people who have no respect for the courts and wear t shirts and jeans so if you dress to impress the judge will look at you with respect.
Right off the bat mention your good driving record and for how long it has been.
Mention any prior or current civic duties you do . This helps judge see that you are a responsible citizen.
Dont be defensive in your answer to the situation.
At the end of your testimony of the way you saw the situation apologize to the officer and the court.
hey, sorry to hear you got a ticket, but I have a different opinion about this....they don't call them TURNING lanes for nothing. you get into this lane when you are ON the road and want to turn off it. all too often I see people scream out to the middle of the road into the turning lane and then wait for an opportunity to jump into the main road. It's just too dangerous. from what I read of your statement, newcharlottan, if you didn't see any cars coming, why would you have gone into the turn lane and not just a regular lane? I can't speak for that exact location, but I just see it too often and I think it's dangerous.
If you go to court dress like you are going to a job interview I see so many people who have no respect for the courts and wear t shirts and jeans so if you dress to impress the judge will look at you with respect.
Right off the bat mention your good driving record and for how long it has been.
Mention any prior or current civic duties you do . This helps judge see that you are a responsible citizen.
Dont be defensive in your answer to the situation.
At the end of your testimony of the way you saw the situation apologize to the officer and the court.
Good luck
Talking to the DA before a court case in NC is a great big overblown myth. I called the DA's office, after I received a BS ticket, and was told that it was illegal for the DA to discuss a case prior to the court date. On your first court date, you will speak with an ADA. The only thing they can do is (1) accept a guilty plea- pay fine and costs (2) Offer a plea deal which is already prescribed for your type of violation, or (3) accept a not guilty plea and give you a court date. The only opportunity you'll have to speak to the ADA is on your court date, prior to going before the judge. Typically even then they'll only offer to reduce the fine, unless the officer is absent. This is your best hope, because then they will drop the charge all together.
So sorry this happened to you. I would fight it! Good luck!!
wow! absolutely take pictures . i to have a ridiculous ticket. i'm going to court on the 3rd. definitely take pictures. i have an acquaintance that is on his 7th ticket in 2 years and has had every one dismissed because he took pictures to court. it's unbelievable because he truly does drive like he owns the road, pulling out in front of people, following so close you honestly can not see the license plate, then slamming on the brakes when someone does it to him . he is the MOST AGRESSIVE driver i have ever seen and every time he goes to court i hope they will take his license because he deserves to lose it but he always gets dismissed. the judge is impressed because he takes the time to get pictures and do the legwork that that counts even if he's wrong.
go to the place it happened and take pictures from every angle you can. park for a little while and see how often it happens, write some notes it's hard to remember everything especially when you're put on the spot. you should be great.
i got one for passing a state police car that had pulled over to let me go by???!!!! the first thing that came out of my mouth, unfortunately, was "are you serious?" that was all it took. apparently he was not having a good morning, maybe he had a fight with his wife i don't know but i am taking pictures of where it happened and writing down what i'm going to say. i get nervous in places like that.
awhile ago i had stopped to make a corner just up the road from my house and as i started turning (i'm in the middle of the next lane) this cruiser comes flying , , doing about 60mph (it's a 30mph zone) no lights no siren nothing and if i hadn't floored it i would probably not be here. i didn't say anything because i was concerned i would be harassed by all the town police. i was turning another corner going to see my daughter and here comes a police woman driving in my lane on the corner not looking because she has this giant cup of coffee she's drinking. i actually had to go into her lane to avoid her. she never even hit the brakes slowed down nothing. i am extremely tired of this. extremely tired. i will be praying for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry this wasn't supposed to be a book , guess i am just a little worked up over this huh? god bless
hey, sorry to hear you got a ticket, but I have a different opinion about this....they don't call them TURNING lanes for nothing. you get into this lane when you are ON the road and want to turn off it. all too often I see people scream out to the middle of the road into the turning lane and then wait for an opportunity to jump into the main road. It's just too dangerous. from what I read of your statement, newcharlottan, if you didn't see any cars coming, why would you have gone into the turn lane and not just a regular lane? I can't speak for that exact location, but I just see it too often and I think it's dangerous.
For the very reason that it is a curvy road and you can't see from the park exit the last two lanes. If it were a straight road, then yes I wait till I can cross all the way over.
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ridiculous ticket
