Ticket for driving like a race car driver

[Cass]

Question. I was pulled over by an unmarked police car that had been following me for a while. The cop commented that I "drove like a race car driver". I told him there was no way I was speeding and he said I wasn't over the speed limit at all, but that my "driving style" was out of whack i.e. I would accelerate quickly after slowing down/stopping and not slow down enough when going around a bend.

He gave me a ticket for "unsafe driving" and I'm pretty upset. I didn't speed, didn't make wrong turns, didn't disregard any signs, didn't cut anybody off, really didn't do anything illegal. Stepping on the gas "too quickly" is a crime now? And there was no reduced speed limit posted for any of the bends.

When he gave me back my license he said: "Just trying to make sure you get to go to your Prom, kiddo." Kiddo?? And I already went to my Prom. :confused: Did he just give me a ticket because I'm young (18)?

This was in the state of NY if that matters.

[txinvestigator1]

Question. I was pulled over by an unmarked police car that had been following me for a while. The cop commented that I "drove like a race car driver". I told him there was no way I was speeding and he said I wasn't over the speed limit at all, but that my "driving style" was out of whack i.e. I would accelerate quickly after slowing down/stopping and not slow down enough when going around a bend.

He gave me a ticket for "unsafe driving" and I'm pretty upset. I didn't speed, didn't make wrong turns, didn't disregard any signs, didn't cut anybody off, really didn't do anything illegal. Stepping on the gas "too quickly" is a crime now? And there was no reduced speed limit posted for any of the bends.

When he gave me back my license he said: "Just trying to make sure you get to go to your Prom, kiddo." Kiddo?? And I already went to my Prom. :confused: Did he just give me a ticket because I'm young (18)?

This was in the state of NY if that matters.

If you feel so strongly plead not guilty. The court will ask the officer to describe exactly was was unsafe about your driving.

[mcsap]

It is possible to drive in an unsafe manner without speeding or running red lights. If you want to play , go to the playground, the highway is not recess. Sounds like he got your attention and I'll bet you'll drive somewhat more normally now.

[pac201]

It is possible to drive in an unsafe manner without speeding or running red lights. If you want to play , go to the playground, the highway is not recess. Sounds like he got your attention and I'll bet you'll drive somewhat more normally now.

I bet he doesn't...:D

[phantasm]

tailgating, weaving in & out of traffic, cutting off other vehicles could all constitute NYS VTL 1212 (reckless driving).

[kels]

Will the officer issuing the ticket please step forward.
We would like to hear the rest of the story........

[scott715us]

[Cass]

If you feel so strongly plead not guilty. The court will ask the officer to describe exactly was was unsafe about your driving.

Actually I asked the cop what was gonna happen and he told me I can either just mail in the fine OR I can go to court and plead guilty to a parking ticket instead and I won’t get the points. I asked him if I could really do that and he said “Sure, I’m the prosecutor. The judge usually goes along”. I was like: “YOU are the prosecutor here?” and he said “All officers prosecute there own tickets.” :eek:

I probably shouldn’t be complaining about him cutting me a break, but why on earth would he first right me a ticket for something I didn’t really do and then reduce it to something I definitely didn’t do? The only “parking” I did was when he pulled me over. And he wants me to lie in court and claim that I illegally parked in his town? :confused: Wouldn't that be perjury (on my part)?? :eek:

[Cass]

It is possible to drive in an unsafe manner without speeding or running red lights. If you want to play , go to the playground, the highway is not recess. Sounds like he got your attention and I'll bet you'll drive somewhat more normally now.

Yes Sir he sure got my attention, but I’m not going to drive like a grandma on a Sunday now.

It wasn’t on the highway. It was on a rural two-lane road that wasn’t even busy that time of day (Rt. 94 in Orange County, NY if anybody is familiar w/ the area).

Oh yeah and thanks for rubbing the “kiddo” crap in (playground, recess). I always thought once I turn 18 people will start treating me like an adult, but boy was I wrong.

[Cass]

I bet he doesn't...:D

SHE does/not. Cass is short for Cassiopeia.

How much did you bet? :D

[Cass]

tailgating, weaving in & out of traffic, cutting off other vehicles could all constitute NYS VTL 1212 (reckless driving).

I was NOT tailgaiting since there was hardly any cars and the few there were were going faster than me (as I said, I never went over the speed limit). There was NO weaving in and out of traffic since it is a two-lane road with a double yellow line and ‘no passing’ signs for much of the way. I did NOT cut anybody off since everybody was just going straight and since it’s the main road I had the right-of-way pretty much the entire time except for very few traffic lights.

What else can constitute reckless driving? Anything about going fast (but within the speed limit) around a bend/curve?

This is a country road that’s very windy and hilly in some places. I just like going around the bends and over the hills fast. It gives me a little excitement on a boring commute and keeps me alert. I know the road inside out so I’m familiar with all the “tricky” parts that a visitor would have trouble with and would need to slow down for. I know exactly how far I can push the envelope without flying off the road. So yeah I don’t slow down as much as other people do, but there’s no rule against that as far as I know.

And the stepping on the gas after stopping is ridiculous. How long does he expect me to take? Unless my car made a lot of noise when starting up fast which it doesn’t.

Maybe he was upset because I actually did drive the speed limit (unlike everybody else on that road) and he had to sit behind me for the longest time because there was no passing. I’m sure he could have passed me anyway though being a cop.

The other thing I find strange is that he followed me for quite a long stretch and I think a lot of it is Trooper territory and through a few other towns. And once we got to "his" town he pulled me over based on my "whacky driving style" prior to entering his town. Can cops really collect points against drivers outside of their town?

This isn't even meant so much as a complaint about the officer, I'm just surprised that this is how things work.

[Cass]

Will the officer issuing the ticket please step forward.
We would like to hear the rest of the story........

Yes, please step forward. I would like to hear your full explanation as well. :D

[Cass]

LOL LOL LOL

That’s funny. Wrong, but funny. ;):D

[phantasm]

a) None of us were there, so we have no idea what happened
b) accepting a plea deal to a non-moving violation is not perjury, its accepting a lesser penalty for what you are accused of w/o having to go through a trial. The benefit of that is no points on your license, and a lesser fine.

[Roger Dat]

First of all being 18 doesnt mean your mature. People dont show us respect just because we are over 21 and wear a uniform. Second of all I am familiar with the road you were on. Traffic and time of day dont mean anything, I cant remember how many kids we've pried out of cars driving by themselves involved in 1 car accidents. Take the advice and slow down.