UNBELIEVABLE!!! pulled over...

[lawdawg]

Tonight I was coming home from school where I study criminal justice so I can be a cop someday. I'm about a block from a red light and a cop pulls out behind me; fine I don't break traffic laws and I know he's there so I'm extra careful. I get to the light to make a right turn and there are only two cars in front of me and the wait to turn would have been about a whole minute or so. To my right in the convenience store parking lot (right on the corner) is a motorcycle cop with someone pulled over. This cop is right behind me and I'm blocking the entrance to the convenience store. I think "oh, he must be backup", so I pull into the convenience store to clear the way and I drive out the other side. Well guess what? He decides instead of assisting this other officer, he comes after me. I explain that I was trying to be helpful and move, but does he care? NOOOO.

Yeah, I'm sure he has heard every excuse in the book but under the circumstances, I think he would have used better judgement and discretion, but he writes me a ticket and suggests traffic school; usually meaning the fine is significant. He tells me he doesn't use much discretion because he's a motorcade officer (although he's driving a patrol car) and his job is to issue citations. I was very respectful throughout the ordeal until I see he's written me a citation and then I question his judgement as I become very annoyed.

Here I am walking on egg shells because I apply for metro in January and this happens! So what have I learned? Not to help an officer unless forced to do it until I am myself an officer. :(

[Nminx]

What did he write you a ticket for?

[lawdawg]

NRS 484.283 (7d)- Driving thru private or public property to avoid a stop signal.

I will take this to trial if I have to as I was acting in good faith and he can't prove I did it to avoid a stop signal. I am so frustrated.

[metallicat]

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...utting+through

Shouldn't you, one that is wanting to be a police officer, not have flipped out and "become very annoyed" about the ticket?

Pay the fine and move on.

[lawdawg]

Um, considering I was trying to help me? I became mildly annoyed, I didn't "flip out". I understand his probable cause to pull me over, but come on...

[gdowkpc]

I think you have a good case since cutting the light was not your intent.

However, I wonder if you will ever have to work with the officer that ticketed you.

[lawdawg]

EricTheBald wrote: Of course, if the driver has even half a clue about the law and he's willing to take it to court, it's unconvictable.

(see http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...utting+through)

Exactly what I thought.

[metallicat]

It would appear to me also that you were trying to avoid a traffic control device. If he desperately needed to get past, he could have flipped on his overhead lights.

[lawdawg]

I understand that, but its the intention that counts.

He also tried to comfort me and tell me that 2 weeks before he entered the Academy he got a speeding ticket from his FTO. Wow that really help, HE WAS ALREADY HIRED! I don't think it will really affect my chances because my record is clean, but geez.

[metallicat]

Well whatever, by all means fight the ticket, but you shouldn't have "become very annoyed" at the officer, especially considering you are planning to become one yourself and will have people giving you crap all the time.

[hdpd.explorer k]

metro is all ways alittle pushy.

[lawdawg]

Originally posted by lawdawg
Um, considering I was trying to help me? I became mildly annoyed, I didn't "flip out". I understand his probable cause to pull me over, but come on...

Lol. Metallicat, let me repeat.."mildly annoyed", I held back most of my frustration as I am professional. I was very cordial and cooperative through the stop.

[hdpd.explorer k]

thats is so like metro.

[metallicat]

I didn't read much of that other thread, but I do know that people here think there are holes in that law, so by all means fight the ticket...I was just more concerned about your attitude towards the cop, but I think I read too much into it by thinking you were overboard.

Do what would be best for yourself.

[coucousis]

Life is a b.... tch...

Like I always said.... think of all the time you speeded or all the other times when you did not get caugth...

Then today was not your lucky day...

Figth it with respect and you will win... even cops makes misjugement sometimes ...

You seem like a cool dude... If you have to figth it in court ... don't brag about it ... this would not help your application for any dept...

You only have one person to convince of your intentions ... It's the judge... You may win if you stay cool ....

Good luck...