$300 ticket???

[Language]

So I get pulled over today for failing to stop COMPLETELY at a stop sign (which should be a yield sign) right by my house today. Basically, I had to turn right and there are always cars parked on that side of the road, so I can't see anything if I stop right before the sign and look left.

The kicker is it's not like I just zoomed right past it to make the turn. I came to a stop, only my car was stopped already past the stop sign so I could see if there was oncoming traffic. How many people completely stop before the stop sign and slowly creep up when you have to make a right turn anyway?? Especially when it's a very wide turn like it was here.

I understand I'd deserve the ticket if I was in some commercial area downtown with people walking around, because then there could have
been an argument from her side, but I was in some desolate part of town with absolutely NO ONE around me. I actually thought I was going to get taken in because I absolutely snapped on the woman pulling me over because I posed no threat whatsoever to anyone, this was obviously a quota grab or something. After I found out it was $300 I got even more angry.

The thing that pisses me off is that I know I don't deserve this ticket at all but I'll be forced to at least pay quite a bit of the fine and even worse may have demerits taken off. I'm 21 and have been driving for almost 7 years (incl. the 2 years I had my learner's license) and they nail me for something stupid like this?!?! I'm so pissed.

[Slava]

Take the time and go fight the ticket. You will probably not have to lose the demerits as a result and might get out of the whole thing if you get lucky.

These kinds of tickets are ridiculous IMO. I have never had one, but I have friends who have. Just makes you want to say "Thank you for keeping the streets safe officer".

[ricoFlame]

i bet you'll stop completely at a stop sign from now on. i know i will for the next little while anyways...can't afford that kinda ticket.

[Dion]

Snapping at the female police officer eliminated any chances you had of pleading your case and possibly getting off with just a warning.

If you want to fight the ticket go talk to these guys. They have an office in the Rocky Mountain Plaza next to the downtown public library. You can explain your case and they will tell you if it's worth fighting. I've used this place before and gotten good honest advice.

http://www.pointts.com/calgary.htm

If you have a clean record you can also go to court and ask the prosecutor if you can plead it down to a fine with no demerits.

[Asian Lilliputian]

As far as I'm concerned, all 21 yr olds are the scourge of the streets and should take public transportation.

Funny, I thought when you come to a stop sign, the law says you must come to a "full stop", not "a rolling stop unless you're in some commercial area downtown with people walking around".

[PowerPlayoffs06]

I got a ticket a few weeks ago for doing 70 in a 50 zone. Normally, I don't speed, I do the limit. I was only speeding here because the 50 zone is maybe half a kilometer long and it's only there because they've put in a new set of traffic lights at what used to just be a 2 way stop on 22X and 6th St. Like people don't know how to use a stop light. Put up some "New Signal" signs further up the road. There's no need to have the speed limit nearly cut in half.

Anyways, I get singled out by the radar guy, probably because of my truck, and pulled over even though Im the middle vehicle of 3 all doing the same speed. Get a ticket for $130. Im all polite to the officer and what not because yeah, I admit that I was speeding. What really burns my ass about it is this:

A couple weeks ago I watched a car full of teenage girls get pulled over for speeding through a Playground Zone doing 50 or so. The cop just drove up beside them, didn't even bother to get out of his car or anything, puts the window down and gives them a warning then lets them go.

These girls can't have been driving more than two or three years, and they get off for speeding through a Playground Zone but my 10 year clear driving record gets tarnished because I was doing 70 in a zone that's normally 80 and is only lowered because they think there might be some moron out there who can't figure out what to do at this new set of lights. Where's my warning?

Screw traffic cops.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Actually,

If the cars were illegally parked too close for leonk19 to see around, then I believe he's in the right. However you'd have to take pictures of how close the car was and the need to peer around it. It sounds like he did make a complete stop, but had to compensate for another car.

Snapping on the police office was 100% without question the wrong thing to do. Plead your case, calmly and politely. But at the end of the day if the ticket is unfair, and you have your case prepared before hand you should be fine.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by PowerPlayoffs06

I got a ticket a few weeks ago for doing 70 in a 50 zone. Normally, I don't speed, I do the limit. I was only speeding here because the 50 zone is maybe half a kilometer long and it's only there because they've put in a new set of traffic lights at what used to just be a 2 way stop on 22X and 6th St. Like people don't know how to use a stop light. Put up some "New Signal" signs further up the road. There's no need to have the speed limit nearly cut in half.

Anyways, I get singled out by the radar guy, probably because of my truck, and pulled over even though Im the middle vehicle of 3 all doing the same speed. Get a ticket for $130. Im all polite to the officer and what not because yeah, I admit that I was speeding. What really burns my ass about it is this:

A couple weeks ago I watched a car full of teenage girls get pulled over for speeding through a Playground Zone doing 50 or so. The cop just drove up beside them, didn't even bother to get out of his car or anything, puts the window down and gives them a warning then lets them go.

These girls can't have been driving more than two or three years, and they get off for speeding through a Playground Zone but my 10 year clear driving record gets tarnished because I was doing 70 in a zone that's normally 80 and is only lowered because they think there might be some moron out there who can't figure out what to do at this new set of lights. Where's my warning?

Screw traffic cops.

I would have politely asked the office to mark on the ticket that you were the middle of three cars doing the same speed.

They'd have fun explaining to a judge why you were singled out and not the others.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I would have politely asked the office to mark on the ticket that you were the middle of three cars doing the same speed.

They'd have fun explaining to a judge why you were singled out and not the others.

I agree. I know that's one ticket i'd be fighting.

[FlamesAddiction]

I've had a few "quota-type" tickets in my time as well. Fairly recently I received a ticket for going through an amber light. It was like $160 or something like that. The conditions were extremely icy and I tried to brake, but I figured I was at the point of no return. Add to that, there were no other cars or pedestrians in the area (except for the police as it was right in front of the station).

I could see if the light actually turned red while I was going through, but it didn't.

[Aeneas]

A friend of mine recieved the $300 ticket at a stop sign 2 years ago if I recall correctly. He went to talk with a prosecutor I guess it was, and had the ticket dramatically reduced after a polite but firm discussion of it. I would try that route, though as mentioned above, if you verbally abused the officer; note of that may have been made.

If you want I'll ask him exactly what occured, my memory is less than perfect.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I would have politely asked the office to mark on the ticket that you were the middle of three cars doing the same speed.

They'd have fun explaining to a judge why you were singled out and not the others.

I can't see that getting him anywhere. He was speeding, it really doesn't matter what the other cars on the road were doing. Flow of traffic means squat when compared to the legal speed limit.

[FanIn80]

I was on 36th street in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I was right behind a motorhome, so the sight angle is a bit steeper...

Anyway, we're all stopping and starting and stopping and starting - going 5 kmh through all the lights, etc on 36th (this is in NE by Marlborough)... I have a cop to the right of me, driving right beside me for the whole time...

Suddenly, we all stop, and he flips on his lights and gets out of the car... then comes over and gives me a ticket for going through a yellow light...

I mentioned to him that the motorhome in front of me and the bumper-to-bumper traffic made it kind of difficult to see a yellow light in enough time to stay back, or clear the intersection... and even reminded him that he was driving right beside me the entire time...

That's when he started whipping out the whole, "I'm sure I can find something else to ticket you for, if you want to keep talking" BS.

The problem with crap like this, though, is that it would cost me more money to take the day off work to go down and fight the stupid thing, than it would to just pay it. They know that, too, which is why they keep handing this crap out.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I would have politely asked the office to mark on the ticket that you were the middle of three cars doing the same speed.

They'd have fun explaining to a judge why you were singled out and not the others.

Ya, but you go to court in order to remove the speeding charge, not to make it clear the cop was a dick. I don't see how this would make a difference. It doesn't remove the fact that he was still speeding.

[Regorium]

I got ticketed doing 78 in a 60 zone on a 3 lane divided road at 7AM one day. It's so frustrating because EVERYONE does 80-85 through this 2km stretch of road where there are no traffic lights. So now, I do about 65 through this stretch of road, and I watch as 8-9 cars weave through me, usually onto traffic that's going 15-20km/h faster than them.

I just think to myself "Wow officer, you really really made the streets safer with that ticket!"

I'm going to speak with the prosecutor anyways, it's ######ed.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

The problem with crap like this, though, is that it would cost me more money to take the day off work to go down and fight the stupid thing, than it would to just pay it. They know that, too, which is why they keep handing this crap out.

Fill out one of these and send it in. Costs nothing to find out if you have a case. Can't remember the cost ( i know it wasn't that much) but I used this guys services to beat a ticket I got a few years back.

http://www.pointts.com/getquote.html

I love threads like this.

I will add the obligatory, 'if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.'

Nothing like clogging the courts because 'there was no one around and therefore the law doesn't apply here' or 'i was the middle car of 3' comments.

[PowerPlayoffs06]

Originally Posted by Bent Wookie

I love threads like this.

I will add the obligatory, 'if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.'

Nothing like clogging the courts because 'there was no one around and therefore the law doesn't apply here' or 'i was the middle car of 3' comments.

[Columbia]

I was driving down a 4 lane city street when some idiot backed out of his driveway a couple of meters infront of me. My choice was to either keep going and smoke the guy or change lanes. I knew from doing a mirror check a few moments before that no one was around me so I quickly swerved to my left to avoid hitting the guy. Next thing I know a cop behind me puts his lights on, pulls me over and gives me a 400 dollar ticket for dangerous driving (changing lanes without signalling). Lesson learned? If a guy backs out of his drive way infront of you, it's better crash into him than avoid the accident because atleast if you hit the guy it'll be his fault and his insurance would cover your damages.

[BlackArcher101]

leonk19,

Take a look at this page:
http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/INFT...n/dhpage70.htm
Cars parked on the side of the road have NO effect on stopping. You MUST stop before a crosswalk/stop line, THEN check if you can proceed. Remember it for next time.