A couple months ago I got pulled over by CHP and given a ticket for running a stop sign. I did not do this. And I’m sure everyone who does do it says the same thing but I know for a fact I did not do it.
This was close to my house. Just a few blocks away actually. And it’s an intersection I go through every day on my way to work. This happened to be a Saturday in October during the Pumpkin Festival weekend. The cops were out in force – I assume to nab tourists as well as drunk drivers. I had seen CHP around and on Highway 1, pulling cars over, all week long.
I mentioned to the cop that he must be mistaken since I know I looked at the 4 different streets/traffic flows as well as looking for pedestrians since I cross at this intersection almost daily when I walk my dogs. And I have been almost taken out by jerks who DO blow through the stop sign. I explained that, frankly, I look more for dogs and their walkers at the intersection than cars so I knew I stopped fully and looked.
I speed on the freeway all the time. Daily really. And when I’ve gotten speeding tickets in the past, I don’t argue with the officer or fight them. But what I do NOT do is speed or drive recklessly in neighborhoods. I am always looking for animals or kids in the street. Always.
So when this cop first said I didn’t come to a complete stop at the stop sign, I said that I know I did and in fact, had stopped longer than the county community bus that had been at the stop sign in front of me. I pointed out that I am a local and stop at this intersection EVERY day. Then after giving him my license, registration and insurance information and he came back with my ticket, he said that I had blown through the stop sign. I pointed out that is not what he just said a few moments ago and that I now know he is definitely mistaken since there is no way I did that. I also knew that would just piss him off but he already wrote the ticket so he wasn’t taking it back..
He handed me documents back with the ticket and he went right back sitting in his tourist trap. Nice. Don’t even get me started on using the police/CHP this way.
I was angry. And I was determined to fight it. So I filed a Written Declaration with the court stating I was not guilty and wrote up my version. And mailed it off with the “bail” (they want the money up front in case you are found guilty!) They have 90 days to respond. So I waited…
Now, this is actually the 2nd time I have fought a ticket. The first time was for running a red light in San Francisco. I did not run a red light so I fought it. I took pictures of the intersection, timed the light and wrote up my version. I went to court (first time ever in a court room!) and the place was jammed pack full. First, they offer everyone there the chance to plead guilty and get your bail reduced by 50% and you can leave. Everyone but 3 people did this – 1 of them was me. Now…I thought of taking the deal for a brief second. Mainly because I knew my husband would freak if he knew I could have paid 50% less, didn’t take the deal and then lost. BUT – 1) I knew I was right and refused to plead guilty when I was not. And 2) I am a much bigger gambler than my husband.
So the first 2 guys went up and plead their cases. The judge found them both guilty. Yikes. My turn…I went up to the Judge, was very polite and professional, handed him my packet of pictures and information and after reviewing it and asking me a couple of questions, he found me NOT GUILTY! I was so relieved. I walked out of there so, so relieved. I called my husband right away and he could not believe it. HA!
I was more doubtful of this time though since that was San Francisco and the cops there have a lot better things to do than show up in court. This time was CHP officer who job is to write tickets. My guess was he would write up his version and the judge would find me guilty and I would then have to actually go to court to fight further (because I have a LOT of spare time during the day…) or just bite the bullet, be guilty and take the point on my insurance (husband’s head would also explode at that point.)
After I mailed away my Written Declaration I put it aside in my head and wrote it off as guilty while secretly hoping I was wrong and would win.
I stopped at our PO box tonight on the way home and saw the envelope from the court. I thought “Ugh…I’ll open it tomorrow. I don’t want to be in a bad mood tonight.” But then decided that was stupid and opened it right there. NOT GUILTY!!!!! I was pretty dang happy. Went home with a smile on my face and still have one. A pretty darn big one :)
Justice might not prevail all the time but nice to know it does some of the time…
