What did I do right, or was I just lucky?

[l8f57]

In Toronto, Canada (Scarborough to be specific). I acknowledge that there are likely few Canadian LEO here. I also acknowledge that my knowledge of the Highway traffic act and the legal system is limited (at best).

A few days ago, I performed a U-turn, around a 'no u-turn' sign. About 2/3rds of the way around the u-turn, a police car came around the corner, and observed me doing this.



He pointed at me, and I acknowledged him. As I was pulling over, the car behind me did the exact same U-turn. Now the lights came on, and pulled the 2nd vehicle over.

As we were now fairly well obstructing traffic, the officer got out, spoke to the other driver, and then indicated to me to pull into a parking lot across the street, which we both did.

When the officer came to the window, he asked for my license, insurance & registration, which I provided him. He then asked how my driving record was. I told him that I had a small speeding ticket from about 18-24 months ago. Before going to speak to the 2nd driver, he told me that if I didn't have any serious problems on my license and everything is in order, that he would give me a break and go easy on me.

He then went and spoke to the other driver, and then went to his car.

A few minutes pass, and he comes back to me, and says that I do have the 1 ticket I told him about, and that he was going to give me a break. He gives me a ticket for 'Interfering with traffic' under a municipal bylaw which carries a fine of $3.75 (there is also a victims fund fee of $15 added to any fine in Ontario). He also apologized for giving me a ticket.

I acknowledge that I got a huge break on this (I think that the U-turn I did would be $110 and 2 points). I've already paid the fine.


My questions (after this long, rambling tale) are this:

- How often do people get a break like this?
- Was I just lucky, or did I do something right?
- The 'going easy' if you have a (mostly) clean record - Why? This seems like piling on people who are already down & out.

Thanks

[pac201]

You caught HUGE break.

As to the piling on, some people just never learn...It is like disciplining your children, you try to get their attention to correct their behavior, sometimes it works-sometimes not.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

In Toronto, Canada (Scarborough to be specific). I acknowledge that there are likely few Canadian LEO here. I also acknowledge that my knowledge of the Highway traffic act and the legal system is limited (at best).

A few days ago, I performed a U-turn, around a 'no u-turn' sign. About 2/3rds of the way around the u-turn, a police car came around the corner, and observed me doing this.



He pointed at me, and I acknowledged him. As I was pulling over, the car behind me did the exact same U-turn. Now the lights came on, and pulled the 2nd vehicle over.

As we were now fairly well obstructing traffic, the officer got out, spoke to the other driver, and then indicated to me to pull into a parking lot across the street, which we both did.

When the officer came to the window, he asked for my license, insurance & registration, which I provided him. He then asked how my driving record was. I told him that I had a small speeding ticket from about 18-24 months ago. Before going to speak to the 2nd driver, he told me that if I didn't have any serious problems on my license and everything is in order, that he would give me a break and go easy on me.

He then went and spoke to the other driver, and then went to his car.

A few minutes pass, and he comes back to me, and says that I do have the 1 ticket I told him about, and that he was going to give me a break. He gives me a ticket for 'Interfering with traffic' under a municipal bylaw which carries a fine of $3.75 (there is also a victims fund fee of $15 added to any fine in Ontario). He also apologized for giving me a ticket.

I acknowledge that I got a huge break on this (I think that the U-turn I did would be $110 and 2 points). I've already paid the fine.


My questions (after this long, rambling tale) are this:

- How often do people get a break like this?
- Was I just lucky, or did I do something right?
- The 'going easy' if you have a (mostly) clean record - Why? This seems like piling on people who are already down & out.

Thanks

There are no statistics about how often people get breaks rather than tickets. As to your second question, likely, he appreciated that you acknowledged him, pulled over immediately, and followed his directions without giving lip or copping an attitude.

As far as question three goes - people dig their own holes. By definition, someone with a laundry list of violations obviously could care less about obeying the law. If I am writing a ticket to someone like that, why should I cut them a break knowing that they probably could care less, otherwise they would take pains to be a better driver. Make sense?

[Curt581]

- How often do people get a break like this?

Pretty often, actually.

- Was I just lucky, or did I do something right?

Both. You complied with the officer's direction without copping an attitude, which goes a long way. You were lucky in that, the officer's supervisors weren't on a zero-tolerance enforcement kick.

- The 'going easy' if you have a (mostly) clean record - Why? This seems like piling on people who are already down & out.

The fundamental goal is "voluntary compliance". If someone has only a minor record or no record at all, we see that person as willing to comply with traffic regulations, even though they might make the occasional mistake.

Those who have lengthy records are naturally seen as being unwilling to follow the law, therefore a warning or a break will not convince them to comply. Only penalties of escalating severity have any chance of getting though to them. If taking their license away and eventually jailing them is the only way to get them off the road, so be it.

[Legoate]

My questions (after this long, rambling tale) are this:

- How often do people get a break like this?

I give people breaks on cites all the time.

- Was I just lucky, or did I do something right?

Being truthful and respectful goes a long way with me. If you start lying right off the bat your are pretty much guaranteed a cite.

- The 'going easy' if you have a (mostly) clean record - Why? This seems like piling on people who are already down & out.

If you are "down and out" and already have a bunch of points on your license then you shouldn't be committing traffic offenses. The phrase "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime" comes to mind. Besides, everyone makes mistakes, but if you habitually disobey the law then you deserve to be cited.

Thanks

I've always looked at traffic enforcement as a two pronged approach- education and enforcement. If you seem like someone who made a mistake or did something dumb I'll advise you and ask you not to do it again. If you commit an offense because you are just a plain jerk, think you are special, or because you are in a hurry- then you deserve to be cited.