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Mirth · 08-05-2008, 01:51 PM

Hey guys and gals, I just got a citation because I "Failed to stop at red light before making right turn." As soon as I got on the highway, I noticed cop cars scattered different places, and one of em went for me, with the beautiful flashing lights. I knew I wasn't speeding, but I pulled into a parking lot, thinking maybe they are just doing a routine check or something.

He asked for my license, registration, and insurance card, which I provided for him. He asked why I thought he pulled me over, and I said "I'm not really sure, officer." He's like, "The other cop by the intersection of so-and-so saw you not come to a complete stop" and asked if I did. I said, "Well, I might have done a rolling stop, but I'm not really sure..." and I asked him what the proper way to come to a stop was, he explained, and I told him I'm not really sure if I did that or not. (I tried being as honest as I could, because when I got pulled over by a Highway Patrol guy for speeding, I was honest and he let me go, which is very rare in the state of Florida.)

So anyways, he goes back to his car, I'm thinking, "He can't really write me a ticket for this crap...". In the meantime, I'm seeing other cars getting pulled over for God knows what, one after the other. Anyways, he comes back and gives me the ticket, tell me, 1) I can pay it off and get points and insurance goes up, 2) I can go to traffic school, insurance won't go up, no points, but I have to pay the fine still, or 3) Go to court against him, if I'm guilty I could get up to a $500 penalty, insurance goes up, and points, or if innocent, walk away scotch-free.

So, I don't really know if I should choose door #2 or door #3. Does anyone know how easy it is to fight these things in court? Will I have to go to court against the officer that "SAW" me go through the red light, or will it be against the officer that pulled me over, and if the latter is true, would I have a better chance getting out of it since this guy litterally didn't see me do it?

By the way, the cost is $198.00. I think that is extremely excessive.

08-05-2008, 01:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mirth Tilted	Traffic Ticket: Court or Traffic School? Hey guys and gals, I just got a citation because I "Failed to stop at red light before making right turn." As soon as I got on the highway, I noticed cop cars scattered different places, and one of em went for me, with the beautiful flashing lights. I knew I wasn't speeding, but I pulled into a parking lot, thinking maybe they are just doing a routine check or something. He asked for my license, registration, and insurance card, which I provided for him. He asked why I thought he pulled me over, and I said "I'm not really sure, officer." He's like, "The other cop by the intersection of so-and-so saw you not come to a complete stop" and asked if I did. I said, "Well, I might have done a rolling stop, but I'm not really sure..." and I asked him what the proper way to come to a stop was, he explained, and I told him I'm not really sure if I did that or not. (I tried being as honest as I could, because when I got pulled over by a Highway Patrol guy for speeding, I was honest and he let me go, which is very rare in the state of Florida.) So anyways, he goes back to his car, I'm thinking, "He can't really write me a ticket for this crap...". In the meantime, I'm seeing other cars getting pulled over for God knows what, one after the other. Anyways, he comes back and gives me the ticket, tell me, 1) I can pay it off and get points and insurance goes up, 2) I can go to traffic school, insurance won't go up, no points, but I have to pay the fine still, or 3) Go to court against him, if I'm guilty I could get up to a $500 penalty, insurance goes up, and points, or if innocent, walk away scotch-free. So, I don't really know if I should choose door #2 or door #3. Does anyone know how easy it is to fight these things in court? Will I have to go to court against the officer that "SAW" me go through the red light, or will it be against the officer that pulled me over, and if the latter is true, would I have a better chance getting out of it since this guy litterally didn't see me do it? By the way, the cost is $198.00. I think that is extremely excessive.