Who would you have ticketed?

[ScottF]

About a month ago, I got a 3111A( I live in PA) for running a stop sign. What happened was this intersection I was at is a little tricky and the residents on the corner park their Excursion on the corner so you cannot see around it too well to check for on-coming traffic.

I made the stop, and pulled slightly forward to see around the SUV. I was driving my Civic at the time, and they sit low, so it is kind of hard to see over larger vehicles. As I was pulling forward, another SUV comes flying up on my rear and to avoid a collision, I proceed through the intersection. The SUV continues to tailgate me until the next intersection when he makes a left turn. The next thing I see is a police car with his lights on and I think he is going after the SUV that was behind me.

I continue on for a couple more yards when I notice he is following me.

I tried to explain to him what happened after he tells me why he is pulling me over.

He claims he did not see the red SUV tailgating me only that I ran the stop sign.

I am wondering who in this scenario should have been cited.

[Citicop]

Based on your story, it sounds like the officer wrote a citation for the only violation he observed. I would have done the same thing.

[mcsap]

In PA the CORRECT violation for a stop sign is 3112 ( Traffic Control Signals) which carries 3 points.

If you got cited for 3111 ( Obedience to Traffic Control Devices) , you get zero points. And because 3111 is not considered a moving violation , it does not go on your driving record.

3111 was intended for someone disobeying a sign such as " No U-turn" or some such sign that doesn't carry it's own penalty section.

You got a GIFT.

[ScottF]

I guess it seemed odd that he would not see a bright red full-size Tahoe is what confuses me...

[mcsap]

Perhaps from the officers perspective , the tahoe didn't appear to be the hazard that you perceived. If I were the officer who issued you a 3111 for a stop sign and you pled not guilty , I would withdraw and refile the actual 3112 violation.

FYI.

[mobrien316]

I can't even tell you the number of times I pulled someone over and they told me about some other car that was doing something that "made" them commit the violation I witnessed.

I generally don't believe them. Perhaps this officer has had similar experiences.

[ScottF]

Perhaps from the officers perspective , the tahoe didn't appear to be the hazard that you perceived. If I were the officer who issued you a 3111 for a stop sign and you pled not guilty , I would withdraw and refile the actual 3112 violation.

FYI.

That is what I did, I guess it is just that I really hate tailgaters, especially when I am in my small car and they are in a giant vehicle. I have put a ton of work into my Civic over the last 3 years and would hate to have something happen to it...It spends most of its time under a car cover, lol... I suppose I would rather take a 110 dollar ticket than have a car I spent 9 grand on totalled

[TEXASCOP]

It's always some other persons fault vehicle operators rarely take responsibility for their actions. The other night I stopped 3 different cars for improper start "smoking their tires" (its a city ordnance violation here).The 3 stops were all unassociated and each one said something was wrong with their throttle, I kid you not.

[ScottF]

Well, I have been rear-ended by SUV's before, not pleasant, especially when the car is a Miata or other small car.

[greg72982]

It's always some other persons fault vehicle operators rarely take responsibility for their actions. The other night I stopped 3 different cars for improper start "smoking their tires" (its a city ordnance violation here).The 3 stops were all unassociated and each one said something was wrong with their throttle, I kid you not.

Yeah, their foot was on it.

[ScottF]

It's always some other persons fault vehicle operators rarely take responsibility for their actions. The other night I stopped 3 different cars for improper start "smoking their tires" (its a city ordnance violation here).The 3 stops were all unassociated and each one said something was wrong with their throttle, I kid you not.

Well, when I first replaced my motor back in 2009, for about a week, my throttle would stick for a second when pressing it or lifting off, ended up replacing the cable itself and adjusting it so it had as little slack as possible.