idiot cop.

ugatennis08 · 3 Feb 2008 at 07:13

So my friends decide to go out tonight and consume alcoholic beverages. They ask if I will pick them up later tonight and I say sure no problem, I'm a good friend.

So Im driving and get to an intersection where I want to turn left, the light just turns orange and the cop goes through and then so do I. now all of a sudden the cop stop, switches lanes and pulls me over.

He says I ran a red light, which I didn't as it was yellow and there's no way he could have seen anyway as he was through the intersection so could not of seen the light change.

The fact is because we were still rolling if I had tried to break hard for the light the guy behind me would have ended up rear ending me and even he managed to go straight on through the light.

I will be contesting this ticket and was just wondering if there is anything I can add to my defense?

Im a little shooken up as this is the first time I've been pulled over.

The apparent violation is: 40-6-20

ugatennis08 · 3 Feb 2008 at 07:41

Clinkz said:
Running amber is not illegal
In this case, it is my understanding the cop ran the amber light then assumed the OP must have run red since he followed after him.

this is exactly what has happened.

I really cant afford to be spending $115 on a pathetic ticket right now, does anybody know how I can draw out the scenario on the computer?

I also plan to go back and film the time taken for it to turn form yellow to red, anybody know how long this is likely to be?

ugatennis08 · 3 Feb 2008 at 07:47

Clinkz said:
Running amber is not illegal
In this case, it is my understanding the cop ran the amber light then assumed the OP must have run red since he followed after him.

this is exactly what has happened.

I really cant afford to be spending $115 on a pathetic ticket right now, does anybody know how I can draw out the scenario on the computer?

I also plan to go back and film the time taken for it to turn form yellow to red, anybody know how long this is likely to be?

ugatennis08 · 3 Feb 2008 at 08:10

Soviet said:
I'd imagine US varies from the UK in terms of some laws and how you can contest them, but I'd imagine unless there is CCTV footage of you driving through the amber to back you up; you're not gonna have much to stand on.

I have a witness if that helps?

ugatennis08 · 3 Feb 2008 at 15:10

Hi everyone,

thank you for your help so far.

It was very cold outside so there was a high probability of ice or at least moisture, I was a reasonable distance for the police vehicle but the guy behind me all I could see were his head lights.

Will the police officer show up to my court date? I am going to opt for a no jury court as the other one will mean going to state court.

I will be taking my witness.

I have to show up on March 11th to "answer this charge"

Also, someone posted a definition of the law earlier, should I print that out as I don't think he had any pictures of me?

ugatennis08 · 3 Feb 2008 at 19:03

Do the cops have to show up to court here? I asked one of my friends and he said the cop isnt usually there anyway? :confused: