How should I defend my traffic ticket?

[Halon]

From your description and the officers estimate (maybe he had a radar unit in his car?), it sounds like you completed a lane change while being less than a car length from the vehicle in front of you in the next lane.

That's the thing, is that I wasn't close at all. If I was going 65mph, I would be doing about 95 feet/second. Cut that in half, because the officer said I was half a second behind the car, and you get 47.5 feet between me and the next dude. My car is about 15 feet long (14.6'), so that's 3 car lengths between me and the other guy. And considering I was only halfway in his lane, I see absolutely no reason for him to get all huffy-puffy like he did.


TYLER

 

[tedski]

Tyler ... good job on the calcs. I was viewing this in my head and did not stop to do the math. As you describe, it doesn't seem like an unsafe maneuver. Maybe the officer just had a bad day. :dunno:

Still I'd try for traffic school before wasting time over this in court. Good luck.

 

[Benzopyrene]

let us know how it works out!!!

 

[RigilKent]

if you do go to court make sure to mention the calculations you have made show that by the cops description you were still well within safe driving range

 

[caudio51]

Tyler, how'd you make out?

 

[cvm4]

Definitely impressive, if correct :yes:

 

[Halon]

Well the lady I talked to before the judge said that because I haven't gotten a traffic ticket in over 5 years I could get it reduced to a 1 point broken headlight ticket. So I ended up taking that, because it's an hour drive to go back to court and I'm a full-time student with 2 jobs. I think it's an alright compromise. I'm still going to call in and complain about how rude the officer was, tho.


TYLER

 

[caudio51]

That's a pretty good win in my book.

 

[Rich K]

Yeah, you made out pretty darn well. Good job!

 

[TexaSmoke]

Congrats on the win.

 

[Boppa-Wasch]

Well done..

 

[Saully]

Good result!

 

[solowgregg]

Well done Halon.

 

[jaba]

Good turn out!

 

[tazbigdog]

Sorry to hear about your predicament, but glad it turned out ok.

If you are going to complain, I would do so in writing instead of verbal. Verbal complaints very rarely make it to the officer's file. Written ones do. I would also contact his supervisor or chief of police to do this.

Good luck!

 

[tedski]

Good result in the end.

 

[Texas Cop]

The same could be said for speeding.

It is the Officer's statement against the Defendant.

No, it is your word versus the radar/laser unit and the dash-cam.....




drew

 

[Texas Cop]

Face it, traffic tickets have little to do with public safety and everything to do with revenue. So they have all these people lined up in court and almost all of them accept a smaller "punishment" because they think they got off light. Easy money for the town.

Not in Texas (and many other States), in Texas, (I can't remember the exact number, but it's very low) a little less than 5% of the money collected from traffic citations goes to the issuing jurisdiction. The rest of the money goes into the State coffers for roads, schools, parks, etc.




drew

 

[caudio51]

No, it is your word versus the radar/laser unit and the dash-cam.....




drew

I was referring to a ticket based on an officer pacing you.