Carpool Ticket (Alamo: how much, lawyer, school)

[yadidadi]

I received a carpool ticket entering a freeway ramp . As you enter on this particular ramp (if you are driving alone) you must switch to your right lane immediately & NOT stay on the left lane (which is the carpool lane).

I received this ticket on a Saturday afternoon. The meters were NOT on. I recently entered that same freeway on that same ramp & happen to notice that there is a sign that states CARPOOL LANE WHEN METERED. Now, does this mean that because the meters were not on that Saturday afternoon I should not have received this ticket ?

If there is anyone out there with information regarding this matter please reply .

Thank you

[Charles]

Originally Posted by yadidadi

I received a carpool ticket entering a freeway ramp . As you enter on this particular ramp (if you are driving alone) you must switch to your right lane immediately & NOT stay on the left lane (which is the carpool lane).

I received this ticket on a Saturday afternoon. The meters were NOT on. I recently entered that same freeway on that same ramp & happen to notice that there is a sign that states CARPOOL LANE WHEN METERED. Now, does this mean that because the meters were not on that Saturday afternoon I should not have received this ticket ?

If there is anyone out there with information regarding this matter please reply .

Thank you

Did you ask the cop why you got the ticket since the meters were off? What did he say?

[yadidadi]

Thanks for you reply. Actually, at that time I didn't even realize that the sign was posted. It wasn't until after I started noticing these signs on various freeway ramps. It's when I took a drive out to the ramp I got my ticket & it's also posted there.

[DowntownVentura]

I am not a lawyer but I think you have a shot at your defense. I would look up the specific infraction to see exactly what it says. On court day, bring pictures of the onramp so you can explain it to the judge. Make sure you catch the sign that says "when metered"

It reminds me of a story, perhaps urban legend, but it makes sense.

Guy gets pulled over for being the 2nd through a onramp green light that said "One Car Per Green". He said to the cop that there were two green lights so one car per green means two cars. Cop said "baloney" but the guy asked him if he felt any judge would not throw it out. The cop gave him a warning instead.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by DowntownVentura

I am not a lawyer but I think you have a shot at your defense. I would look up the specific infraction to see exactly what it says. On court day, bring pictures of the onramp so you can explain it to the judge. Make sure you catch the sign that says "when metered"

The thing is, our original poster friend has to go through the hassle of the court thing, miss work, and still take a chance on getting the judge to overturn the ticket. What is the ticket ($341??) If this guy is making $8 an hour, then it is worth it. What happens if he is a surgeon?

Similar thing happened to me four wheeling up around Alamo Mountain above Gorman. There was a sign facing west, that said "No vehicles" however there was a loop which I drove on and ended up on that road heading west (not able to see the sign). A ranger ticketed me. I think it as $50. So, big mouth Charles decides to take a day off work and fight it.

The judge lowered the fee to $25 which pissed me off because either I was right and it should be $0 or I was wrong and it should be $50. What does $25 mean? It means I wasted a day from work for $25 measly bucks and I didn't get closure on the argument.

[EscapeCalifornia]

If the lights were off, that ticket's a crock and the cop should go play on the freeway. I also think they should standardize which side of the ramp is the metered lane.

[s0nginmyheart]

I think you have a good chance at contesting the ticket, as long as you are 100% sure the sign says "WHEN METERED"... and this is usually during rush hour in the morning and evening. Take pictures!

I received a carpool ticket once, while using the "carpool" on-ramp lane. I forgot how much this was exactly but I think it was in th e $350 ballpark range even though a lot of the signs still say $271 or whatever it is. The good news is that it doesn't count as a point on your driving record and you do not need to cure it via traffic school.

[DowntownVentura]

Originally Posted by Charles

The thing is, our original poster friend has to go through the hassle of the court thing, miss work, and still take a chance on getting the judge to overturn the ticket. What is the ticket ($341??) If this guy is making $8 an hour, then it is worth it. What happens if he is a surgeon?

That is a good point.

I have no validation if this link is true but might be of value Ticket Assassin

[BayAreaHillbilly]

You are in the right and should fight it.

HOV lanes, be they on ramps or on the freeway, are only in effect during the posted hours / when metered.

Outside those hours, they are a normal lane.

Completely bogus ticket.

[fatmancomics]

Originally Posted by Charles

The thing is, our original poster friend has to go through the hassle of the court thing, miss work, and still take a chance on getting the judge to overturn the ticket. What is the ticket ($341??) If this guy is making $8 an hour, then it is worth it. What happens if he is a surgeon?

Similar thing happened to me four wheeling up around Alamo Mountain above Gorman. There was a sign facing west, that said "No vehicles" however there was a loop which I drove on and ended up on that road heading west (not able to see the sign). A ranger ticketed me. I think it as $50. So, big mouth Charles decides to take a day off work and fight it.

The judge lowered the fee to $25 which pissed me off because either I was right and it should be $0 or I was wrong and it should be $50. What does $25 mean? It means I wasted a day from work for $25 measly bucks and I didn't get closure on the argument.

I don't care how much money you make; $341 is still a lot of money and most of us have acrued vacation, personal days and sick days if we work for a company. I've been to traffic court for the last two tickets I received and got them dismissed both times because the cops didn't show up. I say go to court, it's worth it.