Got a ticket for not using my turn signal

customcruiser

customcruiser

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 27, 2005
Location
Race City USA -- Mooresville
Anybody ever gotten one and how hard is it to get out of without a lawyer.

I got pulled in downtown charlotte on N Tryon between the big ass buildings and was told that I should probally not have turned right at the yellow light.
First thing I told the cop I have a concealed carry permit and a gun in my truck.
He told me to get out of the truck and sit on the rear bumper.
He asked for my license and I gave him that plus my CC permit.
Then I was told that the female bike cop was going to run my gun.
I didnt say anything cause I felt that if I complained then I would get a ticket, then I felt my truck moving around and turned around to find the female cop inside searching my truck. Again I didnt say anything.
She was in there for about 5 mins and I kept turning around to see how long/what she was doing.
They held me for about 40 mins total.
Then the cop gave me a ticket for not using my turn signal...... what a crock of sh!t.

I am not taking the driving school and I am not getting a lawyer.

What are my odds of getting off????

I will raise hell in the court room if this is not dropped, I will probably get a kicked out and at worse get contempt of court.

I will take the chance of 3 points for this BS. Also what if I request a trial by jury?? I have heard of people wanting trial by jury for a traffic ticket but have not ever actually getting a trial by jury.

Also, I got a video of a char/meck cop changing lanes on the interstate without using his turn signal how pissed will the court get when I mention this??
 
If you didn't use your signal, then it's a legitimate stop. The courts base everything on "what a reasonable officer CAN do." The cop can tell you and any passenger to get out for any reason at all. He was just being safe by telling you to get out (away from the gun). The other cop can go in your vehicle and get the gun to run the serial numbers, but can not search it unless you consented or they had probable cause from another venue.

As far as the ticket....most cars have video cameras and if you didn't use your signal, you'll lose in court. The ticket is for no turn signal...the court won't take into account the length of the stop, or the search (legal or illegal). Contempt of court is not a good idea...you'll pay money and probably do a day or two in the county jail. Only way to get a trial by jury for a turn signal will be to plead not guilty in traffic court so it makes it to district court. Your lawyer will have to do some work to get it for a jury trial, and your chances are slim to none.

My advice, get out of it any way possible. You don't need to pay the extra insurance. When the police are near, do things right, even turn signals...it's still the law.
 
First off, cool down!

I wouldn't suggest going up against CMPD as they have larger fish to fry and would just lock you up for acting out. Pay it and move on.

I work in Mooresville and I don't know of a city with worse drivers and can't stand anyone that's too good to use there turn signal, which I know you said you didn't do, but I see it all the time!
 
Well, I am cool as I got this 2 fridays ago.

But there is no way I am pay this without a fight.

Its not my fault that Charlotte doesnt have any money, hell I pay enough in taxes.

I havent gotten a ticket in 15 years

They will see my middle finger before they see my cash....... they may see my cash but only after they hear my mouth. Yea, I know I may go to jail but I will try and not take it that far with everyone in court saying damn I wish I had the balls to do that.
 
He was beside me, two lanes over and I was in a right hand turn lane.

There is now way that his camera will show if I did or didnt use my signal which I am 85% sure that I did.
 
Might be a dumb idea...but it worked for my father in Salisbury. Only he was turning left in a left turn only lane. He didn't say anything at the time he was ticketed...just took the ticket and moved on. When he went to court, he said it was improper equipment and that his tail light must have burned out and he didn't realize it. So between the time he was ticketed and by his court date, he bought some bulbs...went to his buddy's shop, had them replace the bulbs and write up a receipt so there was proof they were replaced. He ended up getting it dropped and only paid court costs and the price of a couple 1157 bulbs. Not necessarily saying it'll work for you, or that it's even morally/ethically correct, but it did get the ticket dropped and no hike in insurance costs.
 
You are the worst kind of asshole.

a whiny crybaby asshole.

pay it and get over it, or go to jail for being a dumbass in court. your decision.
 
customcruiser said:
They will see my middle finger before they see my cash....... they may see my cash but only after they hear my mouth. Yea, I know I may go to jail but I will try and not take it that far with everyone in court saying damn I wish I had the balls to do that.
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This comment makes me think that maybe you deserve whatever you get.
 
Ok, if you want to get out of this, you've got to lose the 85% sure attitude. Either you did or you didn't. If you are 85% sure, then you need to be 100% sure. You can't be 85% guilty. If you have the attitude that you did nothing wrong, and are 100% sure you didn't nothing wrong, it will go alot farther. Also, the F da police attitude won't get you anywhere, even if you think you are right. So you've got a decision to make, are you COMPLETELY innocent?
 
Did you consent to the search of your vehicle? If you did not the search by the female bike cop was highly illegal.
Without clear probable cause or consent by you neither officer had any right to enter or search your vehicle.

I would take the ticket along with both officers names and go have a talk with someone the the DA's office. I would try to have someone review the video/audio if the patrol car had a dash cam. Make sure to inform the DA's office that you were held there for 40+/- minutes and wether or not the officers invovled asked your consent to search your personal vehicle and property.

Two officers waste 40 minutes for a turn signal violation in Charlotte. I am glad to see the Charlotte PD is proactive on fighting these horrendous crimes and not out serving the public or making an extra patrol through known gang/drug areas. :rolleyes:

<><Fish
 
customcruiser said:
Yea, you get a ticket for some BS and then I guess you will be an ASSHOLE too.

FUKOFF
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I average probably 2 tickets a year, some are bullshit, some aren't. It happens, you've just got to deal with it. I've got my lawyers lined up in Mecklenberg and Gaston counties, I accepted it long ago.

I was going to offer you some advice, but your attitude made me think otherwise.

Don't ask peoples opinions them tell them to fuck off, especially when you're the one needing something.

:fuck-you:
 
And I'm throwing the bullshit flag on these statments:

"I am not taking the driving school and I am not getting a lawyer.

I will raise hell in the court room if this is not dropped, I will probably get a kicked out and at worse get contempt of court."


You're not going to do that, you're going to act civilized, (I understand that may be tough) pay your ticket, or hire a lawyer. Anything else and you're the dumbass you are portraying yourself to be.

:fuck-you:
 
Thanks for the GOOD Advise from the couple of peeps here.

I would have known if I used my signal or not if he would have stated that I didnt, but he said that I probably should have not turned on a yellow.
After 40 mins all I was thinking was he was at most going to give me a ticket for running a light, which I knew I would get out of even due to his statement "you probably shouldnt have turned." I use my signal 95% of the time and 100% if it will effect another driver. He confused me, thats why I am not 100% sure on the signal.

I feel that I got pulled because of my truck and nothing else and being held for 40 mins just confirms that they were fishing.

I dont care that they looked through my truck, I would have consented if asked.

Hell if I had some drugs or something illegal than the cops would be in trouble but since I am an honest, law abiding citizen then I get screwed.

BTW, they never even touched/searched my person just my truck.

and not only have I not gotten a ticket in 15 years, this is the first time I have been pulled over in 15 years.

I dont mean anything personal by my comments but It pisses me off that people think that just because some cop gave me a ticket than I must have done it. I guess thats my way of apologizing for my comments.

also my boss just got out of a 120mph drag racing ticket because he said he feared for his life and was just getting away from the teens who wanted him to race.

I will go to court and I will not hire a lawyer, if it sticks than so be it but I am not paying a lawyer no matter what. I will take driving school before I pay someone $500 because they know the system.
 
It is what it is.

Let them do their job, and be cooperative. They want to separate you from the firearm for their safety as stated. They're going to run it in to be sure it's not stolen, be sure you are the rightful owner or used in a crime.

Maybe you aren't happy with it, but this is how they find drugs, weapons, fugitives, etc. I've had my car searched and I was detained in the back of a car while it was being searched because of my age and the time of night I was out, it happens. I wasn't doing anything wrong, they didn't damage my car or charge me with anything. You were only cited for a moving violation, as you may be guilty of. Get an attorney and be done with it. With your clean driving record it shouldn't be an issue having it dropped. You said you probably shouldn't have went through the yellow light... maybe you did cut it a little too close.. A court appointed attorney may work for you, but with the governments looking for extra income it may not..

I also got cited for running a red light a long time ago. It was total BS, but technically I ran a red light. I was in a small town and the light just turned red.. Nobody was coming - I could see for at least 300 yards in any direction (it was night ime, headlights are easy to spot). Of course I went on through and there was an officer hiding behind a gas station..... I got searched that night, then the red light ticket. I went to court and it was reduced to improper equip or dismissed (can't remember, been a while).
 
customcruiser said:
I will go to court and I will not hire a lawyer, if it sticks than so be it but I am not paying a lawyer no matter what. I will take driving school before I pay someone $500 because they know the system.
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I paid my lawyer in Mecklenburg Co 200 bucks the first time I went to him. Now I pay him 150, normally for speeding. He usually gets my tickets dropped upon completion of the 50 dollar driving class. So for 200 bucks I get no DL or insurance points.

Dismissed tickets = no court costs. If you go to court, and take the driving class for a reduction to a non moving violation, you'll still have to pay the 130 court costs, plus the 50 for the driving class. And miss work/school or whatever to go to court.
 
IMHO Don't talk to the police. don't do the crime if you're not willing to pay the time! Don't break the law in the first place and get busted. and A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client. these are truths I have learned on my own when I was younger and dumber.
 
all of you saying "just suck it up and pay it" are exactly one of the reasons we live in such a fucking nanny state of a country now. i'm as big of a fan of personal responsibility as anyone, but i draw the line when that is misrepresented for taking it up the ass. you're letting the government run you over, and reccomending that the rest of us do the same. no thanks.

i don't agree with all the middle finger/causing a scene on purpose stuff but this man, as well as any other u.s. citizen, has the right to fight any charges against him as he sees fit. the burden lies on the state to prove he did it, make them do their damn jobs and do your part in trying to keep the system in check. he has no legal or moral obligation to just give in, whether or not he actually commited the crime is completely irrelevant until he has his day in court.
 
Thanks Rufus.......

That is exactly how I feel, 100%.

You state it better than I can as I have some emotions involved.

Why should I have to pay a lawyer for this, I will probably lose but its the principle of the matter
 
No one is here telling you you are for sure guilty. What people are saying that that if you go into there unprepared and with an attitude, it likely doesn't matter if you are guilty or not they won't be too happy with you.
And if the principle of the matter is that important to you, do as you please, but if you want to get out of this thing scott free, it would likely pay for you to talk to a lawyer. Factor in losing a days worth of pay to go to court and the fee seems even more reasonable.
 
customcruiser said:
Why should I have to pay a lawyer for this
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Why do we pay a machine shop for boring a block, why do we pay a doctor to tell me to get some rest and drink fluids, why do we tip a waitress that brings us food , why do we pay anyone to do anything. SOme people are professionals, and experts in their fields, they know who, what, when, where and how to get things done right the first time. For most folks, losing a day off of work is worth the $150 a laywer would charge.

Does it suck that the mistake of an officer might cause you $200, hell yes. Can you afford the time off work to fight this on your own, and the expense if found guilty, if so show up in court and hope every dog does have his day!
 
Were you in a turning lane? in other words could you have gone straight as well as make a right turn? Not sure if that would have a bearing on the situation or not.

If, and it's not recommended, go into court as your own lawyer I offer these recommendations.

Go in with a curious, professional attitude.
Go in dressed decent.
When given the opportunity to speak...
Give a rehearsed rendition of what happened. Including the facts of where you were, that you did in fact turn on a yellow light, not red, where the officer was in relationship to where his vision was. I would also include the fact that you do have a permit to carry a gun, and that was the first thing you told the officer when he approached you. I would also add that he did a good job of protecting his safety by separating you from the weapon, and that you understand him doing that, because he just did not know. I would also include that it was your understanding that before they searched your truck they were supposed to ask permission for the search, but they didn't, and that you are SURE that if they reviewed the cop cam they would see that that was the case in this situation. I would also include the fact that you were afraid that your bulb may have malfunctioned, so you did go to auto zone and buy a replacement, just in case it was a bulb problem(produce the receipt.
When you speak to the judge, always address him as your honor.
End your statement with, This is the first ticket I have had in 15 years(produce copy of your driving record(it can be obtained foe a fee of 5 or 10 bucks) and in your most sincere voice explain that you are a hard working individual(add that you have a family to support if you have one) and that the added cost of insurance because of the ticket would be detrimental to you during this economy.
and... Thank you for giving me the opportunity to plead my case.
 
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