Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests I got a traffic ticket today over some B.S.! WTF!?

I posted this in my local forum, but I just wanna know what ya'll think. I'm going to fight this, but do you think it worth fighting?

I'll try to keep this short. I merged from the highway onto a VERY busy road. I had on my left signal to get into the left lanes however, as you guys know, people in this area can be A$$HOLES when they want to be. Anyway, NO ONE is trying to let me over! So I'm inching along with people honking behind me and I'm still trying to get over into the left lanes. Well, I'm almost at the traffic light and running out of lane shortly, then I see a cop, so I think "Great! If anyone will let me over it would be a cop!" So I keep my signal on and I just about stop in my lane and make eye contact with him pleading for him to let me over. He looks at me kinda angry like and begins to motion his finger pointing at me and the roadway in front of him. Mind you he is STOPPED on my immediate left. So I figured he's being kinda angry because he thinks I'm holding up traffic and he was allowing me in front of him. I kept my signal on and followed his direction, entered his lane with a smile and I waved my hand thanking him (so I thought). As soon as I pull in front of him he waits till I get through the intersection and PULLS ME OVER! I'm thinking why? I'm driving my MazdaSpeed and I didn't remember if I renewed the plates or not so I figured that was it or a tailight was out. No, he gets to my window and he's all mad asking for my license and registration. He then says to me "Why did you pull out in front of me?" I said to him very politely although surprised "You motioned me on to go in front of you." He says "No I didn't, I was telling you to go right because you were in the right hand turn only lane." So I say to him politely "Officer, in all sincerity, I thought you were motioning for me to take the lane. I had my signal on, made eye contact with you and I entered your lane at the correct speed and spacing." I added that I even smiled and waved thanks to him. Anyway, he has some words and then gives me a ticket for Failure to obey a highway sign. F'n 3pts. and $85 all over a miscommunication! WTF!? I am DEFINITELY fighting this ticket that's for damn sure! I just hate it when cops are having a bad day and then take it out on people!

If he wants to be a dick about it, its "his word against yours" and you will likely lose.

But there's a good chance that he, or a judge, will agree, see that it is a simple misunderstanding, and throw the ticket out, or at the least take the points away.

If it truly happened as you say, you should have no problem getting it thrown out in court. Good luck

Yeah you may.....may be able to get away with that, but on the same note, if it were me, and 85$ fine. I would pay it and forget about it. We will never own up to the "man". my 02

" So I say to him politely "Officer, in all sincerity, I thought you were motioning for me to take the lane. I had my signal on, made eye contact with you and I entered your lane at the correct speed and spacing."

You said it just like that huh?

What would have been wrong with taking the right turn and then turning aroung at the first opportunity? I find too many people have the attitude of inconvience others and never them selves. It probably would have taken you as much time to take the right and turn around as it did to hold everyone up.

Take it to court for sure. Explain to the judge that you were merging onto the highway and you didn't need to turn right. If everyone including the officer weren't letting you merge, then there's no way they can justify the ticket. Emphasis how the officer was going to screw you outta your merge, and he'll get pissed at the idiot officer and throw it out.

That sucks John. Was it a Fairfax cop? Those guys can be real pricks.

For those of you who have never driven in Northern Virginia, you wouldn't understand just how bad it is. Making a right turn and then turning around can be a half hour event.

The fact is that a merge zone is the responisibility of BOTH lanes. It is not a yield zone. If no one let you in, including the cop, then you are not solely at fault. A judge should see it this way and drop the ticket. There is no way I would just lay down and take 3 points. Best of luck to you.

It's a dog eat dog world. If people would maintain proper driving distance, changing lanes would be no problem. I read that a person should maintain 1 car length distance for every 10 mph.