Contesting a traffic ticket (OFFICER DARIS NOT ALLOWED)

[pissclams]

i had google maps snap the pic around 1 pm so you are right

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

Or, as another example, the cops who get super angry and ticket people for flashing their headlights to warn oncoming cars of a speed trap. Far from aiding in committing a violation, the driver is actually telling people to "slow down" - but the cops are losing ticket revenue. Thankfully, courts are tossing these tickets based on freedom of speech.

Well lookee here. KCStar: Ticket for Flashing Headlights to Warn of Grain Valley Speed Trap Draws Federal Lawsuit.

The lawsuit will succeed. Why do people not like cops? I give you Exhibit A.

[Stevesie60]

Or, as another example, the cops who get super angry and ticket people for flashing their headlights to warn oncoming cars of a speed trap. Far from aiding in committing a violation, the driver is actually telling people to "slow down" - but the cops are losing ticket revenue. Thankfully, courts are tossing these tickets based on freedom of speech.

Well lookee here. KCStar: Ticket for Flashing Headlights to Warn of Grain Valley Speed Trap Draws Federal Lawsuit.

The lawsuit will succeed. Why do people not like cops? I give you Exhibit A.

I think Exhibit A would be when they kill unarmed people.

[deputy dawg]

Has anyone ever attempted this or more importantly been successful at it?  I was stopped last week a couple of blocks from work for an "improper left turn", or in other words not turning into the lane closest to the center of the street.  This was in Topeka going from the I470 off ramp East onto Huntoon.  The cop asked if there was a reason why I had "swung out so wide" to make the turn and I was like Umm, what?  Where?  So I explained to him I got in the right lane because that's the lane I needed to be in order to get to my office.  This is an absolutely pud and meaningless thing to be given a ticket for.  Maybe he was mad at the world for having to ride a motorcycle on a freezing cold morning or something.

Furthermore this is simply a cash grab.  The very next day I was sitting at the same light and I looked over and saw the same motorcycle cop had pulled a car over in the same spot, presumably for the same reason.  Also during the course of my recent bitching about this a coworker said his neighbor got a ticket for the same thing.  Hey motorcycle cop guy instead of generating revenue how about if you try and be on the lookout for some actual crime, or better yet try and get some leads on that quadruple murder from last year.

The most likely explanation is that there has been one or more accidents on this ramp that resulted from the behavior you describe, and the traffic sergeant put someone on that and similar intersections to deter drivers from doing the same thing you're doing.  A lot of emphasis on accident prevention would be a good guess.

Bless your little heart if you really believe this.  If their intent was actually about accident prevention he could have mentioned this during the stop and let me off with a warning - "Hey buddy just wanted to let you know there's been some accidents recently at this very intersection so just make sure you keep that turn to the inside lane. Have a good day!!"  Nope, no mention of this whatsoever, that'll be $142 please.

Nice conjecture, non-law enforcement person.  The easiest option is to do absolutely nothing, which would be my competing alternative, not revenue.  BTW, traffic stats are pretty solid on fines being a better deterrence than warnings.

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

BTW, traffic stats are pretty solid on fines being a better deterrence than warnings.

I tried googling that and didn't come up with anything. Link?

[Asteriskhead]

Has anyone ever attempted this or more importantly been successful at it?  I was stopped last week a couple of blocks from work for an "improper left turn", or in other words not turning into the lane closest to the center of the street.  This was in Topeka going from the I470 off ramp East onto Huntoon.  The cop asked if there was a reason why I had "swung out so wide" to make the turn and I was like Umm, what?  Where?  So I explained to him I got in the right lane because that's the lane I needed to be in order to get to my office.  This is an absolutely pud and meaningless thing to be given a ticket for.  Maybe he was mad at the world for having to ride a motorcycle on a freezing cold morning or something.

Furthermore this is simply a cash grab.  The very next day I was sitting at the same light and I looked over and saw the same motorcycle cop had pulled a car over in the same spot, presumably for the same reason.  Also during the course of my recent bitching about this a coworker said his neighbor got a ticket for the same thing.  Hey motorcycle cop guy instead of generating revenue how about if you try and be on the lookout for some actual crime, or better yet try and get some leads on that quadruple murder from last year.

The most likely explanation is that there has been one or more accidents on this ramp that resulted from the behavior you describe, and the traffic sergeant put someone on that and similar intersections to deter drivers from doing the same thing you're doing.  A lot of emphasis on accident prevention would be a good guess.

Bless your little heart if you really believe this.  If their intent was actually about accident prevention he could have mentioned this during the stop and let me off with a warning - "Hey buddy just wanted to let you know there's been some accidents recently at this very intersection so just make sure you keep that turn to the inside lane. Have a good day!!"  Nope, no mention of this whatsoever, that'll be $142 please.

Nice conjecture, non-law enforcement person.  The easiest option is to do absolutely nothing, which would be my competing alternative, not revenue.  BTW, traffic stats are pretty solid on fines being a better deterrence than warnings.

Swift, certain and severe. *cough* deterrence theory is bullshit *cough*

[deputy dawg]

BTW, traffic stats are pretty solid on fines being a better deterrence than warnings.

I tried googling that and didn't come up with anything. Link?

Sorry to use common sense here, but your auto insurance goes up with a ticket (moving violations), making the next one much more costly in insurance costs.  "Warnings" are not going to do that. 

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

BTW, traffic stats are pretty solid on fines being a better deterrence than warnings.

I tried googling that and didn't come up with anything. Link?

Sorry to use common sense here, but your auto insurance goes up with a ticket (moving violations), making the next one much more costly in insurance costs.  "Warnings" are not going to do that.

Ok so no actual stats then? Just because a ticket is more costly than a warning doesn't mean that receiving a ticket is any more or less likely to deter future infractions than receiving a warning. It's the threat of getting a ticket that provides deterrence.

Besides, if "points on the license" is the desired deterrent, then why does virtually every city prosecutor allow you to plead down tickets to non moving violations for a higher fine? Almost seems like the cities are more interested in something else....

[deputy dawg]

BTW, traffic stats are pretty solid on fines being a better deterrence than warnings.

I tried googling that and didn't come up with anything. Link?

THAT'S your revenue angle.  You get milked at the prosecutor's office.

Sorry to use common sense here, but your auto insurance goes up with a ticket (moving violations), making the next one much more costly in insurance costs.  "Warnings" are not going to do that.

Ok so no actual stats then? Just because a ticket is more costly than a warning doesn't mean that receiving a ticket is any more or less likely to deter future infractions than receiving a warning. It's the threat of getting a ticket that provides deterrence.

Besides, if "points on the license" is the desired deterrent, then why does virtually every city prosecutor allow you to plead down tickets to non moving violations for a higher fine? Almost seems like the cities are more interested in something else....

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

Oh gotcha - there's no coordination between the cops and prosecutors. I bet cops are super pissed about prosecutors pleading down speeding tickets - removing that deterrent and all. 

[deputy dawg]

Hey, most of my offenders become experts on the laws they've broken, I can see you're doing the same thing.   Best of luck with that ticket.

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

Hey, most of my offenders become experts on the laws they've broken, I can see you're doing the same thing.   Best of luck with that ticket.

I think you're confused - and that sorta makes sense. I'm not the OP. I already paid my ticket. But thanks for exactly the sort of churlish response I would expect from a cop.

[deputy dawg]

Hey, most of my offenders become experts on the laws they've broken, I can see you're doing the same thing.   Best of luck with that ticket.

I think you're confused - and that sorta makes sense. I'm not the OP. I already paid my ticket. But thanks for exactly the sort of churlish response I would expect from a cop.

Yeah, you sure burned me there.  Cops always do things for the wrong reason, and are completely oblivious to public safety.