I got pulled over for running a temporary red light. Police informed me that 3 cars in front of me also did this but they did not pull any over. Why are the police allowed to prosecute selective offenders? Shouldn't the police have to be consistent and fair? No pictures, have I got grounds to contest?
2006-11-02 17:17:40 · 14 answers · asked by Fiona V 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
One officer, or two officers in one car, cannot pull over four cars at the same time. It's just like pulling over a car for speeding when several other cars are speeding, too. You were probably the last one of the group that ran the light. So you were the first they got to.
If you had been #2 or #3 in line, instead of last, you would have gotten away and the guy in the back would have gotten the ticket. It is only "selective" because they picked the last car in line. They didn't pick based on the driver, vehicle type, or anything other than just position.
Fair? Maybe not. But until we have one patrol car for every civilian car, the odds are stacked in the civilians' favor. You just got unlucky today.
2006-11-02 17:38:27 · answer #1 · answered by RJ 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I hope you don't have children and pass this kinda crap on to them. Let's take this example to the extreme. If you were in L.A. and an active participant in a riot and you began looting with 10 other people. The cops catch you and arrest and charge you but didn't catch anyone else. Would you then complain and say it's not fair why didn't they arrest everyone else. What a silly question. You ran the red light now pay your silly ticket. The police are not prosecuting selective offenders, whatever that means, the police are selectively prosecuting you for running a red light. They can usually only pull over one car maybe two sometimes. Admit your fault and move on with your life to bigger problems. And do not teach these values to your kids.
2006-11-03 09:29:38 · answer #2 · answered by steveninc2001 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You may have grounds. I would get legal advice urgently. The fact that they told you point blank that they would only be prosecuting you sounds wrong. On what grounds did they state that the other drivers were getting off scot free? Maybe they told you that to mess with your head because if all four of you ran a red light then all four should be prosecuted! Also check the law regarding temporary lights because most temporary lights are to help ease the flow of traffic in or around works on side roads. Therefore you may not be liable for anything unless of course you ran someone over, mounted the foot path or did some other 'illegal' move which was witnessed by the police. A friend of a friend reversed out of a side road onto a main road and knocked someone off their motorbike. The police were on the side road dealing with another matter. She then made it worse by giving false details when first questioned. She never did any time, was simply fined and walks the streets of london to this day! GET SOME LEGAL ADVICE NOW!!!
2006-11-03 01:27:50 · answer #3 · answered by DeeDee 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No not really.
It isn't fair & it's selective.
Some people get charged for parking on a yellow line while others literally get away with murder.
For example, when do politicians get charged with corruption - & how many ever go to prison?
Often it is who you know & who you are.
However if you jumped a light, you did wrong regardless of how many others did it & got away with it.
We don't live in a fair society - it's dictated by the "do as I say not as I do" type of people & hypocritical leaders.
Our only voice is through the election box & local MP - be careful & selective who you vote for even if you seem to have no choice at all.
2006-11-03 02:44:03 · answer #4 · answered by frankobserver 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The police are allowed to exercise discretion in all matters.
But it sounds like you got done because the first lot of cars had gone through just as it was changing or had changed and you were being a little bit cheeky by trying to go through as well when it was clearly on red.
2006-11-03 01:37:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the discretion thing, as to who they pull over ... well its tough, you just got picked, and its right that they have the discretion... HOWEVER i would get legal advice and check, because I'm 75% sure that you cant be prosecuted for running TEMPORARY traffic lights... its a bit of a loophole... you need to look into that side, not the fact you feel hard done by because the others got away with it.
2006-11-03 05:02:14 · answer #6 · answered by Bmp1ksh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some states, this is grounds for challenging the ticket. Basically, the argument is that the police should enforce the law equally, and cannot obviously single anyone out for special or harsher treatment.
2006-11-03 01:19:51 · answer #7 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some day they will be able to aim a device at anything that has a motor in it and stop it cold, and you'll see the beginning of cops taking down four to fiver cars at once. the same odds that got you will in turn let you off some day but not today. Murphy's particle percentage theory,
2006-11-03 01:26:57 · answer #8 · answered by bev 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The police usually try to catch the one who is the easiest to catch. If the guy in front of you is doing 80mph, and you are only doing 65mph, naturally you would be the easiest for the police to nail. It is selective, but there is nothing you can do.
2006-11-03 08:24:04 · answer #9 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There were 3 cars in front of you, so it was easier and safer to pull over the last car in line (you). He/She couldn't have pulled over all four of you.
2006-11-03 02:08:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋