Police tactics! *grumble*

[Texasgal]

This morning on my way into work, I stopped at the coffee shop for a latte'. I was in a slight hurry, but I was able to grab and go pretty quickly.

I got into my car, adjusted my long leather coat and took off without buckling my seat belt. My office is TWO blocks away from the coffee shop.

As I neared my office, I see a police car traveling eastbound ( I was westbound) I quickly pulled into my parking lot, got out, unlocked my office door and went in.

A few minutes pass ( enough for me to get all the lights on ) I come around the corner, and what do you know? The fuzz is standing in my reception area. He asked me if I drove the Green Chevy in the parking lot, and I informed him that it was indeed mine. He then proceeded to tell me that he witnessed me without my seatbelt and was going to WRITE ME A TICKET!

I told him that I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT and how could he know, since he didn't pull me over at the time of the alleged incident. He told me to TELL IT TO THE JUDGE and wrote me the ticket!

I called the city to inquire and no one has gotten back to me. The ticket is $160.00, not small change.

What should I do? Is this fair?

[Goldmund]

1. That dude really needs to get laid and get a fucking life.

[el_gato]

2. they want the revenue

obviously they need it so bad they have to chase you down for it.

Is it fair? No, but they don't exist to be fair their job is to
extract money from you one way or another.

[Wapsie B]

14. That's right.

With local governments as starved for cash as the states and feds, this is gonna happen a lot. Just a way of raising money without raising taxes.

[Ready4Change]

3. Were you driving without wearing a seatbelt?

And does your state have a seatbelt law? If so, you were in violation. You can still fight the ticket based on things like the officer not ticketing you in the car as you did what you did. However, even if you beat the rap, you still broke the law and you know it.

Honestly, you sound like the people who defend running red lights by saying "odds are there won't be any cross traffic, and besides, I do it all the time without wrecking, so it must be safe."

2 miles from your office is no excuse. Accidents don't happen based on how far you drive. That's why they are called ACCIDENTS. Can't be planned for or against.

And finally (my Dad Rant is nearly done) a seat belt does more than protect you in an accident. It keeps you seated during sudden car motions so you can better control your car. In other words, it can help you AVOID an accident, and perhaps keep you from killing ME.

Pay your ticket. Wear your seatbelt.

All my opinion. Flame away.

[Texasgal]

7. I'm not gonna flame you....

And no, I wasn't wearing my seat belt. And yes there is a law in our state. So yes.... I broke the law. What I don't understand is how the police officer could come to me AFTER the event!

Yeah... I know, I probobly pay the damn fine and move on....

No flaming here, thank you for your post.

[Ready4Change]

18. Thanks for your calm response.

I apologize for being harsh.

The officer probably isn't on solid ground for giving you a ticket well after the fact. Whether or not a judge will back him up depends on a lot of things. If you're in a small town th judge may know the cop and make a decision based on the cops reputation. Beyond that it probably depends on your states specific laws. And as I'm a lawyer I can't really speak to those with any real validity.

BTW, glad you made it to work ok, and hope the rest of your day is better.

[sangh0]

4. Learn about the seat belt laws in your state

In some states, a cop can't ticket you or even stop you for merely not wearing a seat belt. In some states, there has to be another reason to stop you.

[Renew Deal]

5. Plead not guilty

Go to court and tell the judge. It's your word against his and he didn't get you in the car.

[ContraBass Black]

6. Make sure there's no dash cam evidence against you.

[RagingInMiami]

8. Did you, by any chance, have a Kerry sticker on your car?

You are in Texas, after all.

[Texasgal]

11. HA!

I do indeed have a Kerry sticker, as well as " A village is missing it's idiot"

[bearfan454]

9. Demand a jury trial.

Stick to your story. The worse that can happen is the fine.

[Texasgal]

12. Yeah....

That's what i am thinking. I mean.,... I can understand if I was caught RED HANDED. But I was already out of my car!

[RivetJoint]

15. So if you were speeding

A cop saw you, turned to come after you, but you made it to your nearby office and got out of your car, he could not ticket you? If he SAW the offense, it doesn't matter if you were in or out of your car when he cited you.

[Texasgal]

16. I hear ya

I just realized what your post said. <---- on edit

Let's say that I was wearing the seatbelt, and he came to me after the event, and I told him that I was wearing the seat belt. How could he prove it?

[RivetJoint]

17. I'm sorry I was not clear.

I meant that IF he had seen you speeding or running a red light, he would have ticketed you after you got out of your car (assuming he could not catch up to you until after you exited), so why not the same for failing to wear your seatbelt?

[AllegroRondo]

19. But with speeding there is other evidence

usually a radar

[RivetJoint]

20. Usually

Not always. same with running a red light.

[RivetJoint]

13. Stick to her story?

Her story admits her guilt!

Pay the fine. You risked it, and got caught.

[StopTheMorans]

10. buy a tommy gun, bring it in to court, and go out in a blaze of glory