Chris W. - '96 Targa

Out running some errands, headed to the local Best Buy... I've lived in Melbourne since 1992, and have made that same turn at that same intersection probably 100 times. But now, the cop says, there's a sign there (sure enough, after the fact I see the sign a little ways back from the intersection, but darned if I've ever seen it there before!) and "there have been complaints and so we're starting to cite people for turning there".

"What sign?? How long has it been there?? I've lived here for 11 years!"

"Sir, it's been there forever. That's the problem -- the ones who've lived here for a long time don't watch for the signs."

BS. I sure wish I could find out when it was installed there. Even my wife (who chides me for driving even 2 MPH over the speed limit) says it wasn't there 3 weeks ago, to the best of her recollection, because she makes the same u-turn.

No warning, no credit for the "safe driver" designation on the license or the lack of *any* traffic violations in this county *ever*. Just $96 closer to the monthly ticket quota.



Thankfully I can take the traffic school to get rid of the points (3 points?!? 2 u-turns and you lose your license???)

Ok. I'm done now. I think I'll sit at home tonight and watch a movie. Blues Brothers. With the big cop chase scene.

-Chris

STLPCA

Check with the municipal, county or state public works or highway dept (depending on which governmental entity maintains the road) regarding the date the sign was installed. It's a public record.

BrokeAss

3 points on your license - that's gonna cost you in insurance premiums. Get one of those sleazy traffic lawyers, they'll get you out of it with no points. Hell, if I can walk away from a triple-digit speeding ticket (clocked by an FHP aircraft!) without points you can get out of an illegal u-turn!

Randy M

I'm glad to have traffic lawyers around. They are much needed to combat the typical **** bike cop that lurks in the bushes with his radar gun. Pond scum I say !! By the way, who in the hell would put their life on the line everyday just so they could give out traffic tickets? That is retardation at its finest in my book.

OldGuy

Go to court talk to the judge and explain what happened
if he does not dismiss it he may knock the fine down and
lessen the fine.
Or go to traffic school.

STLPCA

Randy
I think your generalization is out of line. Of course there are bad cops, just as there are bad Porsche drivers. However, we should all be very thankful there are people willing to "put their life on the line everyday just so they could give out traffic tickets." Those very same "pond scum" may drag your broken body from a burning wreck and give you CPR, risk getting hit by a drunk while directing traffic in the rain, or engage in any number of similar selfless acts from which we benefit every day. All at disgracefully meager wages.

I don't like to get a ticket either, but I've never blamed the cop for catching me violating the law.

Damian in NJ

I just paid a $48 dollar summons-for not having signed the back of my drivers license . . .

KRA993tt

That is a huge hit for such a minor violation. Definitely worth going to court with or without a lawyer.
I'm a pilot. I got clocked by an aircraft speeding which really gave the guy that stopping me a chuckle. I showed up in court to contest the ticket. The speedo on my Impala was broken at the time and I had a repair receipt, but the police pilot did not show up for court. The judge asked me if I minded if the case was dismissed. After a long pause, and after realizing what the judge had just said I walked away. Good luck.

Ron

There might be a small decal on the back of the sign giving information as to when it was put up.

JPhillips-998

Explain the situation to the Judge and ask that he take the ticket "under advisement". If you stay clean for 6 months the ticket won't hit your record but you will still pay the fee.

Randy M

Dan, I appreciate your comment and I do agree with most of it. I am glad that we have them and appreciate SOME of their efforts to protect society. For example,shooting rubber bullets into hippy protesting crowds, I like that. Catching murderers and rapists is admirable as well. I should have been clear to state 'traffic cop' and specifically the mustache clad overweight bike cop. They are truly the bottom of the barrel in respect to law enforcement.

STLPCA

Randy
Hey, I meant your comment that "I'm glad to have traffic lawyers around" was out of line.
When I was a prosecutor, I always figured if someone hired a lawyer for a minor traffic ticket, they'd already been punished.
Peace.