Got a fvcking ticket

[schwinn8]

Originally posted by: Patt
The thing that bothers me about complaints like this is that everyone seems to believe that driving a car is a right, not a privilege.

If only that was the real situation in the US. Old people who can hardly see or have the necessary reaction time to drive are still being given licenses because the "need" them. Nothing against old people specifically, it's just that they represent a large majority of people who shouldn't be driving due to inability, yet they have licenses. Heck, the DMVs give licenses to people who can hardly take 4 right turns during the test... and these people are licensed? The system is a wreck, period.

People are ticketed (myself included) for not following laws, and when they get caught there is always a reason to justify their actions. This may even be true.

The laws *should* be there to protect us from hazards. However, the way they are established is total crap. Did you know that stop signs are not supposed to be used to "control speed" or "slow down traffic"? This is according to the FEDERAL Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Yet, most states ignore this, why? Because, it's not about safety... it's about making money. PERIOD.

For this reason alone, laws like this should be questioned and broken, if desired. Of course, I am not for just breaking all the laws - some are there for good reason. However, there are too many that are BS, and this simply dilutes the importance of following them, which makes them all the harder to enforce in the end anyway.

I will admit that I have not read this entire thread, so I don't have anything specific to say about the OP. However, I can imagine that the OP did run the stop sign, and maybe there was no traffic there... so then what's the point of the sign at all? Granted, you can say, it's still the law... but you need to look deeper than that. Remember, the law is there for safety... if it was safe to pass without a full and complete wheel-stop, then what's the big deal?

Granted, the US can't handle "gray areas" very well, and you will never win such a case in court because the system is designed to screw you. But, if we don't question the laws that we are allowing into our society, who will?

I could go on for days on this topic... but I will get off my soapbox now. For that matter, you can checkout the link in my sig if you want to learn more.

 

[Doc Brown]

Originally posted by: MrScott81


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.

If you go to court and don't have a real lawyer .. and the cops shows up ... you most likely will be found guilty and then pay court costs also ... sometimes extremely high ... I would go to school get the discount and pay the fine .. result in Florida is clean license and carry on ...

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?