Truly a long f'n weekend....

[JcsMP3]

Ok well friday night after work I was jumping with joy... the long weekend is finally here.

Go up to Sibbald Provincial park Sat morning. I was following the speed limit, no problems there. Not one cop the entire way up. I get to the entrance of the park huge line up, waited 45 minutes in line... then to top it off their is alot of traffic right after the check in gate.... so I am following traffic at about 20 km/h bumper to bumper... I see a 4 way stop sign in the front of me. I notice that no one is really stopping just rolling stops... I get to it and I do the same as the entire line up has done.... I see a cop parked on the right side. I think nothing of it... I park my car in the farthest parking spot in the shade to avoid dust and door dings from other cars. I get out of the car, get my dog out, bag and start walking away... look over and the cop car is speeding towards my end of the parking lot with the lights on, no sirens... once he gets closer he honks is loud ass horn at me... gets out of his car and points to my car and he said.

Cop: Is that your car?

Jamie: Yes ( as their was no other around)

Cop: I will need to see your license

Jamie: Sure but why?

Cop: You didn't stop at the stop sign over there you didn't even make an effort. I was letting the ones that did slow down go but you stuck out like a sore thumb. Didn't you see the stop sign?

Jamie: Yes that is the reason why I did slow down

Cop: No you didn't, I was watching.... I will be honest with you, the others aren't either but I can see they are making an effort so I am letting them go.

I was talking with the gf outside so we decide to move into the shaded area... cop runs out

"Dont' go anywhere I am writing you a ticket"

Jamie: We are just moving into the shade

Cop: Make sure I can see you

Jamie: ok...

I was seriously starting to get peeved with this guy's attitude.He then hands me the ticket 20 minutes later. I put it in my bag. He then says:

"Getting the ticket wet or lost isnt' a reason for not paying it, you will eventually get your license suspended. If I where you I would put that in your car so you dont' lose it..."

Jamie: What? Like seriously I came out here for a nice day at the beach and your attitude with me seriously stinks. I did exactly what the other have done and you are simply picking on me cause of my bright blue car. Yes I do stick out like a sore thumb cause it's one of the brightest blues you ever seen, not cause I did something different the all the others (I put the ticket in the car)

Cop:If you want it reduced or something you can take it to court, I am not going to argue here with you.

Jamie: Not going to argue but you will give me attitude and unfairly tag me as well.

Cop: unfairly?? You didn't stop...

Jamie: You just told me neither did the others, your exact words where: "I will be honest, the others aren't either but I can see they are making an effort so I am letting them go." How in the world did you see my brake lights from your position?

Cop: I have years of training and experience I don't need a radar to see that you are speeding or not slowing down. I don't have time for this, I seen what I saw and I gave you a ticket for it. You don't like it, go and see the judge about it.

Jamie: Good day to you too..... as I walk away...

This royaly pissed me off. He let pick up trucks with the box filled with kids ( not wearing any seat belts and beach balls and stuff just go by.. isn't that illegal? and a much worst offence then doing what everyone else is doing. Just because your car is a little different and you look young... boom they tag you with something... I am seriously going to fight this. If anyone has any advice on how to deal with this in court please do tell me.

Jamie

 

[Kooldino]

What an @sshat. Step 1: get witnesses from that day.

 

[gene in cincinnati]

Personally, I would not bother fighting the ticket. Consider the opportunity cost of fighting this compared to the value of your time.

I would let it go.

 

[JcsMP3]

Personally, I would not bother fighting the ticket. Consider the opportunity cost of fighting this compared to the value of your time.

I would let it go.

higher insurance rates and loss of 3 points... I think it's worth my time...

Jc

 

[gene in cincinnati]

higher insurance rates and loss of 3 points... I think it's worth my time...

Still not worth it in my opinion - I wouldn't bother, unless you are close to losing your license or you have high-risk insurance.

 

[ZoomZoomH]

sounds like a case of discrimination to me. He picked out the car that looks like a Fast and Furious car and wants to 'make an example of the young punk'

I hope you have witnesses (other than your gf) so you can take it to court.

good luck

 

[fastdrvr23]

Go to court and tell them exactly what happened here...
Write down everything you remember before you go, and have your gf go with you if possible. Wear a suit the day you go, be courteous, and explain everything just like you did in your post. The worst thing that could happen would be you have to pay the ticket (you would anyway if you didn't...) and a court cost. (~$15) here in Mississippi.

I have only been to court one time for a moving violation in my former 1994 Probe GT.
(I am a former MP in the military, and currently a reserve officer for the county sheriff's office, but I never told them because of the situation) I was written a ticket for going 110 in a 60 by a Jackson City police officer. He was driving a drug confiscated vehicle (1991 Pontiac grand prix, limo tint, fading paint...)on the interstate behind me one afternoon, and I had to brake very hard because of a car in front of me driving like a lunatic. He came very close to rear-ending me, and then proceeded to follow extremely closely behind me. (~2 feet). I changed lanes a couple of times, just sort of curious as to why he was back there, him still in tow. Well, I decided he'd been there long enough... I accelerated, on a damn near deserted stretch of interstate up to about 120MPH with my hazard lights on, then coasted back down to the speed limit casually. He comes flying back up, almost hitting me as he goes by, and slows down by my driver's side window with his passenger window down... He is in uniform screaming at me to pull over, while talking on his radio.

I figure what the hell, I pull over and wait while he comes up to my car screaming that I am "F'ing crazy, and driving like a lunatic." I just shrug my shoulders and say, Ok. He said I was going over 100, I again agree. I ask then if he had a radar gun -- NO, A calibrated speedometer? -- NO, where's your light? -- BROKEN, A civilian passenger? -- YES. After walking back to his car and taking about 15 minutes to write the ticket he brings it to my window... This time he notices my scanner/radio in the passenger seat, sitting right beside my Glock duty pistol and belt. (They were there the whole time) He gets a strange look on his face, but by now I have my copy of the ticket in hand. I told him to show up at court at the date listed on the ticket, and to make sure to make up a good story before he came. He started to say something, but I performed a ~6000 RPM full clutch dump about a foot from him and drove away rather quickly.

I waited 3 weeks on him to turn in the ticket, which he actually never did. I went to the date listed on my ticket in my uniform, and he was actually there serving as Bailiff (I actually found out later that he was a detective in the Drug Enforcement section for the city). I presented my case exactly as it happened, to which the officer responded that I was "driving like a stupid mother f#$%@#" (all he said, and his exact words...) Anyways, he ended up getting fired, and actually went to jail (still there) for other stuff. I was actually interviewed about this from the county paper, and had a little write up done over it. Much better than here obviously, lol...

I watched a bunch of people go before me though in court, for minor stuff... running redlights, stopsigns, lane changes, ect... As long as they were polite, and didn't try to make any excuses they did ok... I mean, it can't hurt anything to give it a shot. I figure that we all pay for the judicial system, might as well try and get some use out of it. Sorry this was so long, It's easy to tell that I am at work.... Supposedly programming Java at the moment.. LOL

 

[big_ben]

You can swim at the beaches in Canada? Isn't it too cold? Anyway, take it to court, he may not even show up. Have your g/f go with you as a witness.

 

[JcsMP3]

You can swim at the beaches in Canada? Isn't it too cold? Anyway, take it to court, he may not even show up. Have your g/f go with you as a witness.

It's 44 here today... .... LOL

Jc

 

[Syzygy]

...(snip)...It's easy to tell that I am at work.... Supposedly programming Java at the moment.. LOL

So...did they reduce the ticket?

I'm actually (pretending to be) programming in a mini 4GL, so I know how it is...

 

[fastdrvr23]

Heh

The judge tore my copy of the ticket up in front of us, and told me thank you for my attention to the matter...

Right now I am actually debugging, well, should be...

 

[Syzygy]

Re: Heh

The judge tore my copy of the ticket up in front of us, and told me thank you for my attention to the matter...

Right now I am actually debugging, well, should be...

Thanks for the epilogue.

I just finished developing a DB in 15 minutes that is scheduled for 2 days. Ahhhh...extended holiday week! I love this job!