Worth going to court over?

[solepatch]

Last weekend I was waiting at a stop sign near one of the local high schools right after school had been let out. I had probably been waiting 2 minutes or so and was getting frustrated and apparently someone behind me who kept honking every 20 seconds or so was too. So I took the first little break in traffic I saw to turn left.

I only got down to the stoplight at the end of the street and there was a cop behind me with his lights on. I pulled over into a little restaurant parking lot, and the cop came up to talk to me. He says "now son that's the kind of thing that inspires road rage." He also tells me "Just because someone is honking at you doesn't mean that you have to go flying off like that, I was the one honking and I was just trying to tell you that there were more people behind you waiting."

He gave me a ticket for reckless driving and then followed me until I got back to the back road that my house is on. I don't feel that I made a dangerous turn unless it was for reasons I didn't see. Also I feel like it's probably not an accepted practice for a cop to honk at stop signs to get people to hurry up.

So what do you guys think? Was he trying to bait me? I didn't squeal tires or hit lift, but I did have to go pretty quick to make it. The car behind me probably didn't even have to brake.

Opinions?

[roaf85]

Reckless driving? That is pretty funny. Your best bet is to hire a lawyer and get a plea deal to possibly speeding etc.

Otherwise you are ****. I don't believe that you just turned quickly.

[solepatch]

^ It is possible that I cut someone off but I didn't see it if that's what happened and the cop didn't specifically say that is what the ticket was for. Other than that I have no idea what I could have done and the cop didn't tell me anything specific.

[roaf85]

^ It is possible that I cut someone off but I didn't see it if that's what happened and the cop didn't specifically say that is what the ticket was for. Other than that I have no idea what I could have done and the cop didn't tell me anything specific.

Reckless driving is on par with probably a DUI charge in Nebraska. You are ****ed dude, get a lawyer and try to enter into Plea Deal.

[Akita]

I was the one honking and I was just trying to tell you that there were more people behind you waiting."
hell yea get a lawyer, that's not what honking is for, lol
there's only two reasons for honking, to hurry up or to get out of the way
he set you up basically.

[2NDchnceCELI]

dizamn i would fight that cause he could have caused you to get into an accident. if i remember right, the horns should only be used in case of emergency, IE your gonna hit someone or they are going to cut you off or cause an accident.

[Ddragon]

^:werd: Horns aren't meant for that purpose. Could you explain the beginning with some more detail like the part when you were at the stop sign. Was anyone in front of you? Why were you waiting at a stop sign for 2 minutes?

All I'm just looking for is some more detail to the scenario I guess because the beginning seems a little fuzzy to me.

[roaf85]

^:werd: Horns aren't meant for that purpose. Could you explain the beginning with some more detail like the part when you were at the stop sign. Was anyone in front of you? Why were you waiting at a stop sign for 2 minutes?

All I'm just looking for is some more detail to the scenario I guess because the beginning seems a little fuzzy to me.

It is frizzy and if the cop really said "I was using my horn to tell you people were behind you" it is your word against his.

I can't believe you are not at fault here. Reckless driving is a serious charge. It sounds like to me that you did something pretty stupid to get a ticket for this.

[solepatch]

^ yeah it is a stop sign at an area where there are 2 roads going into and out of a school zone. The main road goes in front of the high school and the other around to a middle school in the back before re-intersecting with the main road. There is really terrible congestion for maybe 30 minutes after the schools let out. I had just gone around the back way just as the schools got out. There is a one way stop sign at the intersection and that's where I got stuck.

Does that explain what you wanted to know?

[solepatch]

Reckless driving is on par with probably a DUI charge in Nebraska. You are ****ed dude, get a lawyer and try to enter into Plea Deal.

Damn that sucks its 4 points here opposed to 7 for a DUI. Still its a lot more than I want on my record for something like this.

[roaf85]

^ yeah it is a stop sign at an area where there are 2 roads going into and out of a school zone. The main road goes in front of the high school and the other around to a middle school in the back before re-intersecting with the main road. There is really terrible congestion for maybe 30 minutes after the schools let out. I had just gone around the back way just as the schools got out. There is a one way stop sign at the intersection and that's where I got stuck.

Does that explain what you wanted to know?

So you blew a stop sign in a school zone. Go to court get it lowered to that. A lot better than reckless driving.

[solepatch]

^ that's what I would like to do if its possible, and if I cant get it dropped completely.

If it gets dropped completely would I still have to pay the court cost? I'm assuming I would because I went to court. If so it will only drop the ticket by $20 but it would be worth it to get the points off.

[roaf85]

^ that's what I would like to do if its possible, and if I cant get it dropped completely.

If it gets dropped completely would I still have to pay the court cost? I'm assuming I would because I went to court. If so it will only drop the ticket by $20 but it would be worth it to get the points off.

Yes and you aren't going to do that by yourself by the way. If you get it completely dropped you will have about 200-500 in lawyer costs, but no points. If you get it reduced via a plea deal you will still probably have 200 in lawyer costs.

If you try to be representative of yourself, well good luck you are ****ed.

[Ddragon]

Ohhhh okay now I see thanks man. Yeah I would take it to court and get it lowered to just running the stop sign. The cop was a being a prick and I doubt his case will overrule yours. However the judge will get you for the running the stop sign.

[solepatch]

I wouldn't try to do it on my own. I know little to nothing about the court system, and assume I would just get laughed at for even trying.

I would think 200-500 would probably be worth it because once my insurance company gets wind of this Ill bet it will save me some cash in the long run.

Idk what the insurance hike would be for having 4 points on your license but ill bet over the 2 years that it stays on there it would add up to well over 500

[solepatch]

Ohhhh okay now I see thanks man. Yeah I would take it to court and get it lowered to just running the stop sign. The cop was a being a prick and I doubt his case will overrule yours. However the judge will get you for the running the stop sign.

Even though I was stopped at the sign for forever? lol

That would be ok running a stop sign is only 1 point on my license so that is much preferable to the full 4 points.

[Ddragon]

Hahaa My fault my fault...I'm at work and have other stuff on the brain lol...Yeah definitely get a lawyer on this to help you out on this because you would have a better chance in court than just pleading by yourself. Wish you the best of luck man. The cop was def. entrapping you.

[solepatch]

^ thanks for the help guys.
I will look into helping someone to help me fight this and see what can be done about it.

[Dasher17]

You all seem to have a lot of confidence that the cop was in the right here. Anyone who honks there horn that much at an intersection should get a ticket. Unless I am missing something big here. Any if you were stopped at the stop sign then how did you run it? Sounds to me like you were just waiting for an opening in traffic, something that cops and people do all the time.


I would let the cop have it, I really can't believe that is something that is considered "ok", HE was the one insiting road rage (you couldn't tell it was him honking).