Traffic ticket, should I fight it? (house, professionals, vs.)

[VAFan]

Originally Posted by mathogre

Now, regarding what you did...

If you stop in the middle of the highway, which includes an active turn lane, you endanger both you and other drivers. Maybe no one will run into you, but they might try to go around you and suddenly find themselves into the side of another vehicle. You're fine, but the people who just wrecked their cars might not be.

If you need to check your gps, get off of the road.

Fight the ticket if you want. Better to take it as a learning experience, imho. You're not the only person on the road.

Sorry, but I agree with this. I know that your grandfather was ill (and I truly hope that he is OK) but there are others on the road and you could have put others in danger. I know that area well and you could have caused an accident. Consider yourself lucky.

Am I wrong in the fact that TODAY is New Years Eve and you posted yesterday? or is the board behind?

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Taktix1

Im currently at the hospital as we speak, he's getting X-rays performed. I understand that what I did isn't legal but the cop acted as if I stopped in the middle of the road in a straight lane. When I told him my situation his response was "you're stopped on a highway, license please". I would think people would have more care in their hearts, I wasn't causing a scene or anything at all. The reason I stopped in the left turn lane was so if I was headed the right way I could just hop back in the straight lane instead of making a u turn. Not only that, when I told him we were in an emergency situation there was no hurry to him whatsoever. Still took him roughly 10-15 mins to get my ticket to me

I had a friend killed in a vehicle crash last night so not very sympathetic here. Your situation is different but still one that could have gone bad. I can't count how many times in my LE career I pulled someone over for driving fast/reckless only to find out they were taking someone to a hospital. The vast majority of times these emergencies were anything but. The need may have been there to go see a Dr but they were not true emergencies. At my former job we could not escort someone. You would sit there until rescue showed up to handle the transport or I could let you go and you drive like you have some sense.

Speeding didn't bother me but the extreme fast and reckless driving did.

Imagine if you were on 50 and you rear ended someone that stopped in your travel lane. You'd rightfully be upset, especially if this person caused an injury to your family member. If this was a true emergency you could have dialed 911.

Feel free to go to court and you might get lucky and find a sympathetic judge but in the cases I saw like this it rarely came out positive for the driver. Maybe they'll strike the fine but you'll still pay the court fees and it will still be on your record. This one ticket will NOT hurt your insurance.

[Bigfoot424]

Another thing. Why didn't you have a passenger (wife) deal with the GPS?

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I had a friend killed in a vehicle crash last night so not very sympathetic here. Your situation is different but still one that could have gone bad. I can't count how many times in my LE career I pulled someone over for driving fast/reckless only to find out they were taking someone to a hospital. The vast majority of times these emergencies were anything but. The need may have been there to go see a Dr but they were not true emergencies. At my former job we could not escort someone. You would sit there until rescue showed up to handle the transport or I could let you go and you drive like you have some sense.

Speeding didn't bother me but the extreme fast and reckless driving did.

Imagine if you were on 50 and you rear ended someone that stopped in your travel lane. You'd rightfully be upset, especially if this person caused an injury to your family member. If this was a true emergency you could have dialed 911.

Feel free to go to court and you might get lucky and find a sympathetic judge but in the cases I saw like this it rarely came out positive for the driver. Maybe they'll strike the fine but you'll still pay the court fees and it will still be on your record. This one ticket will NOT hurt your insurance.

This was my thought exactly. I can't tell you enough how much it's been drummed into me that if it is a true emergency, you do not DRIVE a person to the hospital. A friend of mine had sinus surgery. The next day, his nose started bleeding. He called his doctor who said to go to the ER. In the middle of the trip (also in Fairfax), he started bleeding PROFUSELY. So bad they had to stop the car on the shoulder and call and ambulance. A cop did stop and inquire and they told him what was up and they were waiting for an ambulance. I think they were also in a position to be ticketed (I don't think much stopping was allowed on this shoulder) but the cop set up flares and waited for the ambulance. I think that they had called one greatly helped their situtation. Had they been sitting their fiddling with a GPS or cellphone, I doubt they would have gotten the same treatment.

[Carlingtonian]

I have to admit I didn't realize when I first read the post that he'd actually *stopped* in the turn lane. Apparently my reading comprehension plummets after 10PM.

[elias9193]

Always fight a ticket, in a lot of cases you can get it reduced and sometimes dismissed, depending on the circumstances. In your case you have a very good chance of getting it reduced at the very least!

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by elias9193

Always fight a ticket, in a lot of cases you can get it reduced and sometimes dismissed, depending on the circumstances. In your case you have a very good chance of getting it reduced at the very least!

There is no reduction for a charge like this. Either he's guilty of this or nothing. Now the judge can reduce the amount of the fine but not the court costs.

[kevbros]

The starting point for this question is the law. The Virginia law is:

§ 46.2-888. Stopping on highways; general rule.

No person shall stop a vehicle in such manner as to impede or render dangerous the use of the highway by others, except in the case of an emergency, an accident, or a mechanical breakdown. In the event of such an emergency, accident, or breakdown, the emergency flashing lights of such vehicle shall be turned on if the vehicle is equipped with such lights and such lights are in working order....

So the question for the court will be, was this an emergency? There may be case law on what an emergency is, but it might be more expensive to fight than it's worth.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by kevbros

The starting point for this question is the law. The Virginia law is:

§ 46.2-888. Stopping on highways; general rule.

No person shall stop a vehicle in such manner as to impede or render dangerous the use of the highway by others, except in the case of an emergency, an accident, or a mechanical breakdown. In the event of such an emergency, accident, or breakdown, the emergency flashing lights of such vehicle shall be turned on if the vehicle is equipped with such lights and such lights are in working order....

So the question for the court will be, was this an emergency? There may be case law on what an emergency is, but it might be more expensive to fight than it's worth.

Looking at a GPS is not considered an emergency. At least in my humble opinion. It only really matters what the judge says as he/she has final say.

[NovaZombieDrivers]

I would have told the cop he can follow me to the hospital and give me the ticket once I arrive. If one of my family members are in serious danger, I'm not stopping for anyone, not even a cop. They can sort out the mess once I get to the hospital.