Court date FTL

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

So me and my friend are on our way back from Taco Bell and I just merged on to a highway. about a 1/4 from where I merged, I saw Police car lights. I was going to move over but I saw a car in my review mirror. This cop had someone pulled over and was talking to them. I stayed in my lane and passed him doing the speed limit. After another quarter mile, I see headlights gaining on me so I figured it was him. He pulled me over right before an off ramp where about 3 cars passed us in the lane next to where I pulled off.

This cop comes up to my window and starts screaming "what the **** where you doing, do you not know how to ****ing drive?" I just looked at him. He goes "did you not see my lights? you didn't bother to merge over into the other lane." I started to explain that there was a car behind me and I wasn't sure of the car's position in the lanes behind me, but he cut me off and said "your full of shit". "Are you aware of that law" and I said "I had no idea you *had* to merge. So he took my license and gave me a non waive-able citation. I've had a perfectly clean driving record with no problems with any cops, ever. But because I didn't know of this law, I have to go to court. This cop is acting like I tried to hit him when I wasn't even close to him. The most ironic thing was, after I got off the highway, I went on to a main road where a cop had someone pulled over in the right lane (4 lane road, I was in the left lane). So am I supposed to merge into on coming traffic?

It doesn't make any sense to me and now I'm worried that this could go on my record. I guess I don't understand how this guy can just be so rude and obnoxious to someone who didn't know a stupid *** law. Regardless, I'm going to file a formal complaint with the police station whether or not I actually get fined for this incident. I'll keep those of you who actually care about this thread posted.

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[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Probably won't show in court

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

What makes you think that?

 

[twisztdpunisher 10+ year member]

f***** cops are all d***he bags...

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

because cops are douches and usually don't show

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Do you know the maximum penalty?

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

I just felt it was ridiculous for him to be so pissed. I've always been nice and polite to every police officer that has pulled me over and I think it was unprofessional and stupid for him to act like that. I guess my attitude to that police department will be changing very soon.

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

Do you know the maximum penalty?

No. I'm not worried about the max. If I do get nailed with a fine it won't be max. I have a clean record and good grades in school. I doubt I'll get anything. I mean I guess its not ok for me not to know the law, but this law is so insignificant, I don't see the reason why they would make it a big deal.

 

[savagebee 10+ year member]

file the complaint

he probably WILL show up in court, since he sounds like a dick

the thing is, that is a valid ticket, and its a law in many states, so Im sure hes clear there, but if he really did treat you like that (which it sounds like, due to the mature post) then he def needs to be reported

I dont know how big of a town this was, but if its a smallish city/large town, then try and speak with the chief about it

dicks like that have no right to treat others this way

speak with the judge, with no record, you will probably get out of it, but make **** sure you're there for court, thatd be about as bad as getting a seatbelt warrant

 

[savagebee 10+ year member]

I just felt it was ridiculous for him to be so pissed. I've always been nice and polite to every police officer that has pulled me over and I think it was unprofessional and stupid for him to act like that. I guess my attitude to that police department will be changing very soon.

it shouldnt, he sounds like a dickface, speak with the admi there, I bet they will at least reprimand him, police chiefs are politicians, and they hate to be made out as an ******* dept

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

file the complaint
he probably WILL show up in court, since he sounds like a dick

the thing is, that is a valid ticket, and its a law in many states, so Im sure hes clear there, but if he really did treat you like that (which it sounds like, due to the mature post) then he def needs to be reported

I dont know how big of a town this was, but if its a smallish city/large town, then try and speak with the chief about it

dicks like that have no right to treat others this way

speak with the judge, with no record, you will probably get out of it, but make **** sure you're there for court, thatd be about as bad as getting a seatbelt warrant

I am going to file the complaint. Since my truck is a 1974 Chevy, all I had was lap belts, and he almost wrote me up for that till he saw I had it on. I have a feeling he might have done this on purpose but that is not a story I wish to share with everyone because it deals with family. I left that dialog out of the story because it isn't relevant to my point.

 

[Scoobydoo 5,000+ posts]

haha

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

it shouldnt, he sounds like a dickface, speak with the admi there, I bet they will at least reprimand him, police chiefs are politicians, and they hate to be made out as an ******* dept

I'll be contacting the department tomorrow to find out what I have to do and I'll file the complaint after the court date.

 

[Alpineforever 10+ year member]

Schedule for court and then reschedule it like 5 days before. Chances are he's already taken time off, and won't take time off for the second time. If he does, plead your case to the judge and tell him your side of the story, you might not be able to get out of the fine because it is a real law, but you can definitely get out of the points on your license if you play it off right.

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

Schedule for court and then reschedule it like 5 days before. Chances are he's already taken time off, and won't take time off for the second time. If he does, plead your case to the judge and tell him your side of the story, you might not be able to get out of the fine because it is a real law, but you can definitely get out of the points on your license if you play it off right.

I'm sure its a legitimate law, I just didn't know about it. I'm not going to bother trying to reschedule. I'll explain it to the judge just like I did on here. I can admit I made an honest mistake and I feel that I should be punished to a degree. I just don't appreciate the way I was treated as a citizen. I mean I pay my taxes and give this guy a paycheck every week and I don't need to hear his crap. If I started blatantly cussing at him, I'd probably get arrested or something. Its bad enough we give these people authority over us and they have to abuse it. I'm not saying I wasn't wrong in all of this, but I'm only 18, and I do not know everything. And a pissed off cop is not going to help.