A policeman pulled me over for making an illegal u-turn. I honestly didn't see the no u-turn sign. I gave the officer my license, insurance, and registration.
He obviously saw that I have a spotless driving record for over 20 years. Instead of giving me a $125 ticket for an illegal u-turn, he gave me a ticket for $7.50 and cited me for not having a registration card.
I am not complaining that he gave me such a big break. I am very grateful that he did, and this won't add any points to my license. I am wondering if what he did was legal? He knowingly gave me a ticket for no registration when I actually gave him one?
2007-09-24 01:39:20 · 13 answers · asked by J Mack 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
To Woodyhou:
I said I was grateful to receive the break, so to call me an ingrate was unnecessary and incorrect. As a person with a spotless driving record, this is all new to me. I was simply surprised that a police officer would falsify a ticket and say that I didn't have a registration when in fact I did. I am not going to court to contest it. That would be stupid.
2007-09-24 04:55:00 · update #1
As an officer for over 30 years I can recall countless times where I've stopped violator for a myriad of reasons. Often times there are valid reasons for why the offense occurred.
An officer is allowed to use his own discretion like that of a jury who are allowed to use their "gut feeling" when they truely believe in certain circumstances.
The only issue I've seen in the responses here are about "quota's" which one respondant stated officers have. There are no "quota's" in my jurisdiction. Many jurisdiction go as far as stating quota's are illegal. I've seen where some still push quota's as a documentation of the officers activities. There are "statistics" maintained where activities of an officer are recorded but this is not a "quota." If you look at most police humor sites you'll see the responses given by officers when the term "quota" is mentioned. The majority of officers will let you know they can "write as many tickets as the violations warrant."
I'm happy to see you were given a second chance!
2007-09-24 02:26:12 · answer #1 · answered by KC V ™ 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Not to be rude, but wow what an ingrate! He let you off from the moving ticket and ticketed you for something you had. Go to court and fight it and see what the judge says when the officer testifies that he gave you that ticket instead of the moving one. People that get pissed off at getting cut a break makes me re-consider all the breaks I have given people.
2007-09-24 03:31:31 · answer #2 · answered by woodyhou 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the law allows for officers to use their judgement. This is why someone polite and considerate who is speeding, lets say 75 in a 55 zone will be written for only 10 miles over the limit and someone who is a jerk will get the full charge plus anything else they can think of. In the right officers hands, using good judgement is more successful than just outright ticketing someone
2007-09-24 01:49:04 · answer #3 · answered by BigEasy 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like he made a plea deal for you, and lower the charge. Weird - but I guess you really can't complain. If you do - you are sure to have to pay the full ticket. However, his superior probably should know that he isn't doing his job. Sticky situation - maybe go ahead and pay the 7.50 fine, and THEN tell the supervisor.
2007-09-24 02:17:15 · answer #4 · answered by .. .this can't be good 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
#1...To the "Officer in training"....you need more training. Plenty more. Stop answering. You are clueless.
The officer cut you a break on the u-turn. He wrote you for something that you did not do, to save you a hefty fine as well as points on your license. Why question it? Would you rather pay the higher fine, add a couple points and have your insurance rates rise? Anything to cause a stir, right? That's why, as LEO's who are not in training know, cutting someone a break will come back to bite you in the ****. You are a great case in point.
2007-09-24 02:52:09 · answer #5 · answered by LEO53 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The cop can pretty much decide whether to cite you for a serious offense or let you off easy. They're law ENFORCEMENT but they get to decide how much ENFORCING they actually do.
I was pulled over for "rolling" through a stop sign. I got a 30 minute lecture and got let go without a ticket. I think I would have preferred the ticket.
2007-09-24 01:48:16 · answer #6 · answered by Resident Heretic 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. If you gave him registration and he gave you a ticket saying that you didn't, it's not legal.
But don't fight it. If it comes up in court that you made an illegal u-turn BOTH you and the cop will get in trouble.
2007-09-24 01:48:42 · answer #7 · answered by Katney 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Officers have the power of discretion...
Also, in many cases, officers have a quota of a certain number of tickets they need to write out each month.
Being involved in law enforcement, this is a common thing, for an officer to use their discretion and write something that is sometimes a stretch of reality.
Its legal yes, and depending on one's stance, its also ethical (as an officer, if I see someone speeding, pull them over, find out that they're a decent person, I'm more inclined to write them for failure to obey posted signs, as opposed to writing them up for a moving violation).
The officer is cutting you a break. Chances are, the u turn you performed was illegal (check out the driving laws in your state). One of the worst things you can do, is contest the ticket... Going up infront of a judge, the officer may spill what actually happened and you can wind up with a larger fine than you wound up with. and secondly, squealing can get the officer or department into trouble, and the chances of that officer ever cutting someone else a break (even if they deserve it) will drop down to nearly zero.
Its a quid pro quo situation... you get a huge break on a traffic ticket, the officer gets to meet his ticket quota, and the officer also got to perform the task that he really needed to do (ensure the community is safe... many people who make u-turns legal or otherwise in plain view of a marked patrol car have something to hide)..
Congratulations... welcome to the political side of police business.
If you feel guilty about being undercharged for violating the law, donate the equivalent of your traffic ticket you would have received to a local charity in the name of the police department, or the officer him/herself.
2007-09-24 01:59:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anna 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I believe only moving violations count for points against your driving record.
2007-09-24 01:45:36 · answer #9 · answered by civil_av8r 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well this happened to me i was given a licket for no proof of insurance when in did I gave him one. they call in every stop, so he had to give you something pay the 7.50 and be happy.
2007-09-24 01:48:53 · answer #10 · answered by lisamarie7901 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋