i was at a red light and trying to find my moms number in my phone so that i could call her and tell her id be late coming home. i had to run over to work really quickly to pick up my tips for the night and by the time i left it was 12:40 a.m. i had to go to a store and buy a phone card for my phone because i was almost out of minutes and im leaving for vacation tomorrow. im 17 and there is a curfew law but the officer didnt give me a ticket, he gave me what i think he said was a citation. i have to appear in court so that a judge can "determine the cost of the fine". let me add that right after i noticed that i had squelled my tires i stop them and i saw the cop in the parking lot watching me, and i saw him pull out and get behind me, so i pulled into a parking lot before he even turned his lights on. he was nice about it & everything. i just dont no what the average punishment is for this. i have never been pulled over before or gotten into an accident either. thanks for your help.
2007-07-23 19:06:50 · 12 answers · asked by bradley84 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
It was because of the fact that i was looking for the number that i pressed to hard on the accelerator. i have a 2003 toyota highlander limited v6 with front wheel drive. sometimes i do get torque steer because all the power goes straight to the front wheels. i dont think that this whole thing is a big deal and all especially because it doesnt go on my record either. i just wanted to no what might happen. i mean the most logical best and worse outcome of the whole situation. thanks again for your in put and help.
2007-07-23 19:10:10 · update #1
the "squeling" of the tires lasted for maybe one second tops. i was in control of my vehicle, not out of control
2007-07-23 19:16:32 · update #2
Squealing tires. There is no need to wreck your vehicle like that, especially when it works very hard to get you from point A to B and back safely to your home.
Depending on the officer, you might only get a fine. It might have indicated to him that you are acting out in anger and would be a hazard on the road to others and to yourself, thus he had to check you out. Showing attitude is often an emotional response to a ticket.
Are your brakes not working? Crappy vehicle? Driver does not know how to operate the vehicle? He was only doing his job.
Try not to show any attitude when you go there to show up for an appearance. Good luck.
2007-07-23 19:25:12 · answer #1 · answered by QuiteNewHere 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First off you sound like a good kid and hard working. What the officer cited you for is called "Improper start from a stopped position". This means you peeled out, or squealed the tires from a stopped position.
The officer probably would have let you go but there was a curfew issue so he hit you with the lesser charge.
I would simply take this to court..plead "NO CONTEST" and explain what you did in your lengthy description above minus the phone card. Tell the Judge the officer was nice....your hard working...picking your tips up...the front wheel drive sometimes does that etc and I bet he throws it out or gives you a huge break. NO CONTEST is like throwing yourself on the mercy of the court because of extenuating circumstances. Its not admitting guilt but also not admitting you didn't do it...
Good luck...keep up the hard work and all my best
2007-07-23 19:28:02 · answer #2 · answered by flafuncop 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Imagine me as the Judge. You just told me that the reason you over accelerated your vehicle, causing your tires to squeal, was because you were distracted. You were trying to find a number on your cell phone. WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING A CAR!!
I would be asking the citing officer why you were not charged with a more serious offense, like Careless Driving.
Would you have noticed a child walking in front of your vehicle while you were looking at your cell phone? After all, you were so busy with the phone, you did not see a marked patrol car across the street.
The time to use the cell phone, adjust your radio, eat your snack, fix your make up, etc., is BEFORE or AFTER you drive your car.
If you tell this story to the judge expect no pity, mercy, or consideration; just a maximum fine.
2007-07-23 19:20:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
just for info a citation is a ticket! you have to go to court. it shows responsibility.. its usually taken into account by the judge. be prepared to answer about the curfew issues. im sure the judge will take into affect that you have no prior accidents of incidents. though because you are 17 you could be asked to take a driving class and more than likely you will get a fine. as for losing points matters where your at every state is different.
2007-07-23 19:21:42 · answer #4 · answered by jeselynn_81 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't ask how I wound up here tonight, I just did.. I believe you
have received a citatation for "unsafe start". It's not like you were racing anyone or looking for attention, although you did
capture someone's attention. First of all relax, go to court, spare all of your little details and just explain that it was unintentional and you regret it. The fine shouldn't be too bad unless he thinks you are a wiseguy or clown. Good luck, I was very lucky in my college days to get away with this situation with my Trans Am and I have never done it again.
2007-07-23 19:18:59 · answer #5 · answered by kevusaborn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just tell the judge that after you drove home you found that the air pressure in one of your front tires was very low, and that's what caused it to squeal (and that you promptly corrected that tire's condition, of course). It's understandable for cops to ticket kids who are showing off and deliberately "laying drag" on the street, but punishing somebody for accidentally squeaking a tire is a bit silly.
2007-07-23 19:57:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a minor misdemeanor offense. You are not going to jail. This is a common place offense that happens a lot. First thing you do is register the car. Bring the new registration to the court. Explain to the court that you thought you could wait until your old registration expired, show them that you have registered the car. Often, with this type ticket, the judge will dismiss it since you are now in compliance with the law. At worst, the court will impose a fine.
2016-04-01 10:20:12 · answer #7 · answered by Maria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fight your ticket!! Go to court and plead NOT GUILTY. The courts will try to push you into paying a certain amount, but if you fight it and let the judge know everything you might be lucky enoght to get the citation dismissed or have a reduced fine. In the case that you lose your case in court you will not have to pay more because you fought it. If you have the time to go to court fight it.
2007-07-23 19:24:09 · answer #8 · answered by E-Sox 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everytrhing old fuzz said is true... your best bet is not to fight it... just be more careful and aware next time. when you go to the court be completely honest with the judge it sometimes goes a long way. you're not gonna get pity either way, but you might get lucky and the judge will inderstand that you're a responsible kid who was worried about what your parents would do if you were late. what you did was careless and you WERE distracted. just be nice and respectful to the judge and tell him the truth... you will get lectured by him/her, just except it.
2007-07-23 20:19:30 · answer #9 · answered by xdragonx425 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow...you really go into a lot of detail with your questions. And as much as I hate to say this (you sound like a nice kid), I think that standard punishment for tire-squeeling is to be caned by some tough, German woman named Gladys or something. LOL.
2007-07-23 19:16:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋