Traffic Violations and Being Pulled Over.
Getaway Van
I've been pulled over five times during my driving career in
the last two years. The first experience caused me such fright that by the third time I was pulled over, I wrote down conversations and observations with the officer soon after returning home. I've had those experiences where you had
done nothing wrong, but got to get a laugh out if it. The
first time I was once pulled over was on I believe
December
20, 2003, exactly
six months and three days from the time I
got my license, of which 6/3 is my birthday... I was just
leaving a debate fundraiser, driving one of those old blue
1992 Dodge vans, down
highway-89, and I'm going
maybe three mph over the speed limit with another debater who is
older than me in the passenger seat.
He says, "Oh great, what have you done now?" He had meant it
too, always looking down upon me as if I was even unfit for
his pathetic training. If he ever judged my performance, no
matter how good it was, no matter if I had even been against
another debate and creamed them, he still put me at the lowest
possible rank - gave the other debater the win (Even if all
other judges saw me as the winner) - and further found fault
in everything I did.
When the officer pulled me over he spent a solid five minutes
checking background on my license plate and car bio. He walked
up to my window with his flashlight already on, and his
shooter finger on the holster of his unbuttoned gun. He
asks, "So what are you up to?" I tell him I had just left a
fundraiser for my debate program, further saying I had been
there the last six hours. He nodded, it was 11 pm and he used
his flashlight to look all around my vehicle. He saw tons of
boxes spewed about the back of my car in quite a disaster of a
car mess. He didn't ask what they were, but they were boxes
full of chess related gear that I used for Schoolhouse
Chess. Now if that wasn't suspicious, my right headlight was
broken, and I was nervous. So he told me why he pulled me
over, "Well your van matches the getaway vehicle used in a
burglary down the street, but you aren't the guys we're
looking for, don't match the description I'd say, so have a
goodnight," and he left. So with this background I tell the
other getting pulled over stories.
Lack of the License Plate
The second time I was pulled over another of those
coincidental run-ins with the law. I hadn't pulled over for
exactly six months and three days from the last time. There's
that lucky number again... Any way, I was now driving a blue
eclipse 1993 stick shift (Only way to drive a sportscar in
my opinion). I hadn't had a front license plate on my vehicle
(ever), and as I've noticed about 20-30% of any car I've seen
doens't either. There is this law that you are supposed to
have both license plates on at all times, no matter the car
(even if mine didn't have a place for it). I'm driving down
one of my local roads down hill on a
bend. There are two
cars in front of me going 37-38ish mph (Speed Limit 30). They
see the
cop and slam on their breaks to avoid becoming the
officer's next
victim. Of course I was paying attention to
my driving direction's making sure I got to the dentist from a
certain
route, so I had to short stop too, but not exactly
the same way they did. I
veered to the right so that just in
case I wouldn't even be close to hitting the car in front of
me (which by no means broke any law mind you).
The officer
saw a teenager driving a
sportscar, and wanted to give me
his
sarcastic remarks of, "So boy, were you trying to pass
on the right?"
Proposterous as that was, he said it, but
instead gave me the excuse of, "I'm writing you a
fix-it
ticket for not having a front license plate on." Later when
my father had to go "check it off with the guy" the officer
tells him, "He was on the cell phone, among other things, but
I gave him a break," which wasn't even close to being true. So
I was late to the
dentist, but I didn't mind that much, as I
had some cavities they were taking care of.
Luminous Light and Scraped Paint
The third time I got pulled over is the story I initially
wanted to share - So I'll save it for last. I'll quickly tell
you the fourth and fifth incidents. The fourth time I
accidently didn't turn on my lights during the night, pulled
out of an
ice-cream parlor, and within two miles of driving
was pulled over. He quickly got out of his vehicle, asked me
why my lights were out, (which were on by the time his lights
were actually flashing, odd how I turned them on right before
the officer put his lights on). I tell him, and of course it
looks kind of bad because I had just turned them on as if in
response to the officer. He let me go any way, didn't even say
goodbye, just kind of went back to his car and I left. The
fifth time on the way home from Logan driving south bound on
I-15 there were
rubber neckers on my side of the freeway
looking at the enormous accident across the
barrier. Some
guy
short stops four cars up, and I didn't short stop fast
enough and slightly bumped the guy in front of me. He gave me
the finger, but pulled over and I did too with apologies
given to him quickly. Looked like only paint scraped off, he
just wanted my phone number and to get back on the road. I
complied and he was just about to leave when an officer was
reporting for the accident across the
freeway though he
stopped by us. The other guy left within 1 minute of speaking
with the officer (who then took my driver's license) and I had
to wait for fifteen minutes while he writes a simple note that
read: If you have a problem call this number
555-5555. You
get the idea, no reportable damage, just paint scraped off.
The guy never called me (except to check to see if it was the
real phone number 30 minutes after leaving). No reportable
damage.
Now for the exciting one.
Utah Traffic Law:
Section: 41-6-66. Turning -- Manner -- Traffic-control
devices.
(4) (a) The Department of Transportation and local authorities
in their respective jurisdictions may cause official
traffic-control devices to be erected that direct a different
course from that specified in this section be traveled by
turning vehicles.
(b) The operator of a vehicle may not turn a vehicle
other than as directed by official traffic-control devices
erected under Subsection (4)(a).
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE41/htm/41_04082.htm
12:30 AM 7/14/04
30 minutes have passed since the police officer sent
me on my way.
I was pulled over at 11:50 PM on 7/13/04
Violation given by S. H. issued at 11:55 PM on 7/13/04
At 11:47 PM I was at the intersection just off the
freeway on I-15 heading east. Shortly after I made a right
turn onto a street.
Our conversation:
“Good evening officer.”
“May I please see your license and registration (insurance
card).”
I gave the officer the requested items, he spoke to me
briefly.
“You made an illegal turn onto this street. I didn’t see any
vehicles exiting the freeway where you crossed over (that
white line *That I swear wasn't there*) but they have the
right of way. I know it’s dark, but there is a sign (*That I
missed badly*) there that says it is illegal to turn onto this
road.”
It was dark and I did not see the sign as I made the turn, I
plan to go back and look at the sign during the day and night
to photograph the intersection leading up to the turn and the
sign, as it was confusing.
I asked him how I would travel onto the current road correctly
and he told me to go east one more intersection, turn right,
and turn right again onto the road. I acknowledged him and he
told me he was going to proceed back to his vehicle to write a
citation.
He returned with the written material, asked me to sign after
telling me I violated law “Improper/unsafe/prohibited Turn”
and I later read that law under 41-6-66 and plan to bring a
copy of it to court on the following Tuesday between Noon and
Five PM.
Before I signed I told him I understood the mistake to the
best of my recollection and would not make the same mistake
again.
He then went back to his vehicle, I turned off my hazzard
lights, signaled left, and proceeded home.
Going to the judge within that two week period wasn't very
fun. First off the judge was a judge, supposing to make laws
firm and the example. I learned a lesson that day,
going to court isn't going to help you if you're
guilty, instead speak to the prosecuting lawyer
first. Traffic laws have punishments. Of which none
are given on basis of "Intention." Instead, for
instance, if you ran a stop sign because ice prevented you
from stopping, you still violated the law and are guilty. I
missed an odd sign at midnight, and was charged a 150$ fine
which ilueded abeyance but still, that's pretty hefty. So
I somehow ran into the prosecuting attorney for the city and
told him what was up. I had met him before in debate (Best
consequence from taking debate). He set an appointment up for
a month later. I went then, and he heard my story out. He then
lowered the fee by 75$, and said that's the best he could do,
unless I wanted to chance the fight in courts which I was
bound to lose. I agreed. He went to the judge with me by him
side and said, "Your honor, I was convinced by this young
man's vigor, his nearly perfect grades, and sad pathetic
story; I ask that we adjust the violation cost to seventy five
dollars." Smiling, "I hate giving money back, though, agreed,"
and he looks at me as if I was the one getting the good deal.
Still, out of pocket half of what I was, I could be said to be
a happy man.