Got a fvcking ticket

[MrScott81]

So I'm taking my SO's car out last night (Thursday night) to get gas so we can drive to work (we carpool) the next day....it's 11pm and we didn't feel like getting up earlier than normal so I decided to go fill it up now instead.

So I'm driving through the neighborhood and did a famous California stop at one of the stop signs. I will admit that I slowed down to about 2-5mph and carried on, no question about it....the fact is that no cars had probably driven on that street for about 30 minutes and I didn't see a single car in sight. Anyways, a cop just happens to be hiding around the corner and immediately pulls me over. After pretty much blinding me with his side lights (the lights next to the side mirrors), he pulls up with a flashlight and made my eyesight even worse.

He proceeds to ask for license, insurance and registration, and I casually explained to him it was my SO's car and I was filling it with gas before work. He said it looked suspicious because I had "blown" through the stop sign and I appeared as if I had been drinking judging by the way I went through the stop sign. I corrected him by saying that I didn't stop completely, but by no means did I "blow through" the stop sign. next thing I know he is back at his car and 3 more patrol cars pull up and start surrounding the car. They ask me to get out of the vehicle and asked for my permission to search the car for drugs or alcohol because my activity was suspicous. Well I had nothing to hide and wanted to get the fvck out of there so I said go ahead.

After the search came up empty, he wrote me a ticket for running a stop sign, and then proceeded to follow me back to me and my SO's house to verify that I was telling the truth. That fvcker ruined my day!! Some cops can be such dicks....I have never been pulled over in my 8 years of driving and have a perfectly clean record, yet he treats me like I'm on my third strike.

I think I should be able to go to traffic school, but does anyone have any idea how much the fine is for running a stop sign in California? Would it help to appear in court, or just pay my fine and go to traffic school? Any advice is appreciated.

Cliff notes:
Drive SO's car to get gas the night before work.
Pulled over by cop.
Harrassed and had car searched by above mentioned cop.
Given ticket for running stop sign.
How much is the fine for infraction in CA/should I try to do anything in court?

 

[crawford]

That sucks man. I actually drive more carefully during the late night because of situations like yours. Most people think that just because there arent many people out, that there arent many cops out.

 

[nageov3t]

haha.

 

[Mo0o]

Are you white or some other race?

 

[jagec]

Yeah, that sucks...but try your hardest to get the ticket changed to something that WON'T jack your insurance rates sky-high.

 

[DaWhim]

last time I blown through a stop sign at 20-30mph and didn't bother to stop, because it was 2am. the cop saw the whole thing because he was coming to my direction. of course when he passed me, his light started flashing and I pulled over. I simply admitted that I was stupid and should've stopped even no traffic at the spot. I got away with a warning. :happy;

when you know that you are at fault, just admit it.

now, STFU and pay the ticket.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
last time I blown through a stop sign at 20-30mph and didn't bother to stop, because it was 2am. the cop saw the whole thing because he was coming to my direction. of course when he passed me, his light started flashing and I pulled over. I simply admitted that I was stupid and should've stopped even no traffic at the spot. I got away with a warning. :happy;

when you know that you are at fault, just admit it.

now, STFU and pay the ticket.

it's moronic to just pay the ticket. Not because of the money, but because of the points. Admit you're at fault, but do ANYTHING to keep those points off your license (and keep your insurance company from finding out).

 

[jarfykk]

Originally posted by: crawford
That sucks man. I actually drive more carefully during the late night because of situations like yours. Most people think that just because there arent many people out, that there arent many cops out.

Not in rural Japan. The police literally close up shop, won't see a patrol car unless someone has an accident and they call them. Hence all the crazies out here at night. In the big cities, still a police presence at night though.

 

[mugs]

Been there, done that, minus the extra cops (I did have one cop call for backup before he pulled me over for driving too close to the yellow line). Mine was on a small residential street in the middle of the night in a small town in Indiana. I have no idea why the cop was just hiding there watching the stop sign, but I knew I broke the law so I paid the ticket. It sucks, but it was my own fault.

I wouldn't have let them search the car though, I don't like the cops can make up any BS reason and use it as an excuse to search your car.

 

[Lonyo]

Maybe you should learn to drive legally instead, then you won't get points/tickets.

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: DaWhim
last time I blown through a stop sign at 20-30mph and didn't bother to stop, because it was 2am. the cop saw the whole thing because he was coming to my direction. of course when he passed me, his light started flashing and I pulled over. I simply admitted that I was stupid and should've stopped even no traffic at the spot. I got away with a warning. :happy;

when you know that you are at fault, just admit it.

now, STFU and pay the ticket.

it's moronic to just pay the ticket. Not because of the money, but because of the points. Admit you're at fault, but do ANYTHING to keep those points off your license (and keep your insurance company from finding out).

ok, I forgot to add.

Deal with the consequence for breaking the law.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: mugs
Been there, done that, minus the extra cops (I did have one cop call for backup before he pulled me over for driving too close to the yellow line). Mine was on a small residential street in the middle of the night in a small town in Indiana. I have no idea why the cop was just hiding there watching the stop sign, but I knew I broke the law so I paid the ticket. It sucks, but it was my own fault.

I wouldn't have let them search the car though, I don't like the cops can make up any BS reason and use it as an excuse to search your car.

Well, they can. You'd just have reason to fight it later to discard the evidence if a Judge feels they overstepped their boundries. If you say no, and they still want to search they tow/impound the car, get a searchwarrant and go after it. Probably put you in a holding cell too.

This is from what I've read, never actually had that happen--yet.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: dman
Well, they can. You'd just have reason to fight it later to discard the evidence if a Judge feels they overstepped their boundries. If you say no, and they still want to search they tow/impound the car, get a searchwarrant and go after it. Probably put you in a holding cell too.

This is from what I've read, never actually had that happen--yet.

Yes, I know. There would be no evidence to discard, because I wouldn't have anything illegal in my car. I doubt there would ever be a time when a cop asks to search my car, but it does bug me that I get pulled over for drunk checks when I'm not doing anything wrong (i.e. "driving too close to the yellow line" - that's happened a few times). There is a town near me that I don't even bother driving through at night, because I always get pulled over by two cops (one sits at one end of town, one sits at the other; when they see someone "suspicious" they meet in the middle and pull you over).

 

[T2T III]

What? You felt that the cop harassed you? Next time, either:

1) Stick with driving your own car, which you are more familiar with.
2) Realize that S-T-O-P means Stop.
3) Appreciate the fact that cops have high-powered lights because many times, people never cooperate with them and they need such equipment.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
What? You felt that the cop harassed you? Next time, either:

1) Stick with driving your own car, which you are more familiar with.
2) Realize that S-T-O-P means Stop.
3) Appreciate the fact that cops have high-powered lights because many times, people never cooperate with them and they need such equipment.

Tickets suck,
STOP means stop.

especially this time of year,when the Police are doing Announced blanket patrols,
looking for Drunk/stupid acting drivers.

The message from New York State and county officials is very clear.

Albany County Sheriff James Campbell said, "When you go out and drink and deliberately drive and you cause an accident, it's not an accident, it's a crash."

This weekend is Albany County's second STOP-DWI blanket patrol of the year. It's meant to change drinking and driving habits.

Adding to the initiative's power this year is a new state law, lowering the blood alcohol concentration limit for DWI offenders by 20-percent. County residents believe the plan is working.

Jeremiah McGrath, from Albany, said, "I got a call from my fiancee, and she's the designated driver tonight. So she's not drinking."

As part of the blanket patrol, 60 to 90 officers from 11 police agencies are working together with state police, setting up sobriety check points and patrolling streets, looking out for suggestive behavior.

Sheriff Campbell said, "Sometimes they don't lower their beams when the come across their headlights. They make sudden turns, they drive too slowly. They go through red lights."

Sheriff Campbell said this initiative was timed to coincide with the start of the academic year, when thousands of university students come into the area and may be tempted to take chances with alcohol.

The patrols generally result in 30 arrests, which deters some people from going out to drink, but local bars owners said if the patrols increase safety, then they're for it.

 

[Crazymofo]

Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it would mean a lot more as in drunk idiot.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it then he of course deserves this ticket

So, traffic laws should only be looked at as a general guideline? STFU already. He broke the law and he deserved that ticket. Failing to stop at a stop sign is a big deal. I don't care what time of day it is. Failing to stop at a red light is IIRC the most expensive moving violation you can get. I rank failing to stop at stop signs right up there because you put other people in danger by doing this. If you don't want a ticket then always assume there is a cop around and come to a complete stop.

Have I ever not stopped completely at a stop sign? Yes, I have. That doesn't matter though because that's not the issue here.

I have no problem with cops writing tickets for this.

BTW-If you treat cops with respect and don't act like a dickhead they generally won't hassle you. I suspect the OP was behaving in a way to arouse suspicion. What kind of car were you driving?

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it would mean a lot more as in drunk idiot.

So we should be allowed to drive through red lights when its late at night now? Give me a fvcking break. :roll:

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it would mean a lot more as in drunk idiot.

whoa there. go fire up another rock and relax. If you do not do drugs maybe you should start Oh and overdose that way we don't have to read your crap.

He broke the law then smart mouthed off to a cop. So yeah they are going to do anything they can to him.

 

[Imdmn04]

Running a stop sign is the same thing as running a red light.
It doesn't matter if there was nobody around.

 

[Crazymofo]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it then he of course deserves this ticket

So, traffic laws should only be looked at as a general guideline? STFU already. He broke the law and he deserved that ticket. Failing to stop at a stop sign is a big deal. I don't care what time of day it is. Failing to stop at a red light is IIRC the most expensive moving violation you can get. I rank failing to stop at stop signs right up there because you put other people in danger by doing this. If you don't want a ticket then always assume there is a cop around and come to a complete stop.

Have I ever not stopped completely at a stop sign? Yes, I have. That doesn't matter though because that's not the issue here.

I have no problem with cops writing tickets for this.

BTW-If you treat cops with respect and don't act like a dickhead they generally won't hassle you. I suspect the OP was behaving in a way to arouse suspicion. What kind of car were you driving?

So you're saying that if you creaped up to a stop sign at 5 mph (I can walk faster than that BTW) and looked both ways several times before actually going thru the intersection you still deserve a ticket? The fact is you checked for traffic and confirmed none was coming you should be able to proceed without wasting brakes and gas by coming to a complete stop.

BTW a cop can give you a ticket for disregarding a traffic control device just for not stopping 100% at a sign as in you come to basically what is stopped but your tires are still rolling a bit after releasing the break and you go THAT's the same offense as the OPs in the laws mind. How is that not ludicrous?

At 11pm and later an intersection on a side street is going to get one maybe two cars every 30 minutes at most if not much less depending on what time it is. Rolling that stop sign is not in any way, shape, or form the same as blowing a stop light. The light alone means that traffic volume is MUCH greater at that intersection vs. one with a sign. Also why do we have yield signs if it?s so dangerous to roll an intersection? Why are school zones now only 25mph when kids are going to be around the streets? Because we aren't f'ing sheep like you and only know how to do or not do something unless a law says so and follow it blindly because the herder knows best. F that I know the intersection is clear for the 1 second it takes to go thru and that?s what matters.

And yet another thing laws are simply guidelines and can be changed at any time by governing officials.

 

[Crazymofo]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it would mean a lot more as in drunk idiot.

So we should be allowed to drive through red lights when its late at night now? Give me a fvcking break. :roll:

Find me one spot in that post that I said ONE FVCKING THING ABOUT LIGHTS and I'll have you knighted by the Queen of England.

Give me a fvcking break, sheep.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Crazymofo

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it then he of course deserves this ticket

So, traffic laws should only be looked at as a general guideline? STFU already. He broke the law and he deserved that ticket. Failing to stop at a stop sign is a big deal. I don't care what time of day it is. Failing to stop at a red light is IIRC the most expensive moving violation you can get. I rank failing to stop at stop signs right up there because you put other people in danger by doing this. If you don't want a ticket then always assume there is a cop around and come to a complete stop.

Have I ever not stopped completely at a stop sign? Yes, I have. That doesn't matter though because that's not the issue here.

I have no problem with cops writing tickets for this.

BTW-If you treat cops with respect and don't act like a dickhead they generally won't hassle you. I suspect the OP was behaving in a way to arouse suspicion. What kind of car were you driving?

So you're saying that if you creaped up to a stop sign at 5 mph (I can walk faster than that BTW) and looked both ways several times before actually going thru the intersection you still deserve a ticket? The fact is you checked for traffic and confirmed none was coming you should be able to proceed without wasting brakes and gas by coming to a complete stop.

BTW a cop can give you a ticket for disregarding a traffic control device just for not stopping 100% at a sign as in you come to basically what is stopped but your tires are still rolling a bit after releasing the break and you go THAT's the same offense as the OPs in the laws mind. How is that not ludicrous?

At 11pm and later an intersection on a side street is going to get one maybe two cars every 30 minutes at most if not much less depending on what time it is. Rolling that stop sign is not in any way, shape, or form the same as blowing a stop light. The light alone means that traffic volume is MUCH greater at that intersection vs. one with a sign. Also why do we have yield signs if it?s so dangerous to roll an intersection? Why are school zones now only 25mph when kids are going to be around the streets? Because we aren't f'ing sheep like you and only know how to do or not do something unless a law says so and follow it blindly because the herder knows best. F that I know the intersection is clear for the 1 second it takes to go thru and that?s what matters.

And yet another thing laws are simply guidelines and can be changed at any time by governing officials.

So we can break some laws, but not others?
I know a place with a stop sign, and I WOULD always stop, because it's a 100% blind turn out, and it's near a school.
I don't give a fvck about the time of day, there's no way to know what might be coming.
I hope one day someone rolls a stop sign and puts you in hospital for a week or so. Then maybe we'll see if your view changes
Laws are not guidelines.
If aws were guidelines, then you wouldn't get ticketed and fined for them, dumbass. Laws are a legal thing, and if you break them, you get in trouble.
Sure, you don't have to follow them, so in a way the may be guidelines, but if you break them, you are an ass, and you shouldn't complain when you get punished.
Breaking laws means punishment if you are caught. I don't give a fvck, and neither do the police, if you think they are guidelines or not.

And 1 or 2 cars every 30 mins?
What happens if he happens to hit that one car in 30 minutes? He gets fvcked over much more than a ticket would fvck him over.
The risk is still there, 11pm or 5pm.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Crazymofo

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Give me a break you self-righteous pricks like none of you have never rolled thru a stop sign on a side street in the middle of the night at <10mph. And I don't want to hear one of you snot-nosed punks that still lives at home with mommy say no either, you're not allowed out after dark anyway. If the OP really hasn't ever had a ticket then he should fight this one for sure so that he can keep his record clean. Judges will work with someone that has a clean record... I f'ing hate laws like this its one thing to do it in the middle of the day but at night as long as it wasn't a blatant disregard that ticket has no meaning other than acting as an unfair tax. I can roll up to a stop sign and look both ways more than 5 times each without coming to a complete stop, how is checking for clear 5 times each way not sufficient enough? It?s the middle of the night the amount of traffic on the streets even in large cities is a 10th of normal if not much less. Some traffic laws should have a SOL for night time. I won't even get into the fact that he was treated like an escaped prisoner because he "rolled" thru a stop sign, now had he (and he may have we don?t know for sure) just "blown" thru it would mean a lot more as in drunk idiot.

So we should be allowed to drive through red lights when its late at night now? Give me a fvcking break. :roll:

Find me one spot in that post that I said ONE FVCKING THING ABOUT LIGHTS and I'll have you knighted by the Queen of England.

Give me a fvcking break, sheep.

Time for your Lithium yet today?

 

[Crazymofo]

BTW-If you treat cops with respect and don't act like a dickhead they generally won't hassle you. I suspect the OP was behaving in a way to arouse suspicion. What kind of car were you driving?

WTF does it matter what kind of car he drives? I can see some hotrod being a problem with the cops but the dude was going to get gas in his commuter vehicle. He blew thru a stop sign according to the cop which was most likely exaggerated over the radio when he called all his friends to harass a citizen for no reason. There's no way in hell those cops would have searched my car the most the officer that stopped me would have got was a smell of my breath to confirm I wasn?t drunk.