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So the cops singled me out last night at hollywood and highland right after the circle of death and gave me a run the red light ticket. it's total bullshit. we, or i didn't run the red light, we road in a circle in the middle of the intersection.
does anyone have any advice on how to fight my ticket?
you should ur assert your cycling rights by following automobile road rules. last time i checked, people don't drink a couple beers and drive in circles in an intersection.
you just learned ur ass an expensive lesson.
"if all your friends jump off a building, will you do it too?"
didnt your mom or dad ever ask you that?
and yeah, don't tell the judge, "i didn't run the red light, i road in a circle in the middle of the intersection."
just pay the 4 bills. be happy you didn't get popped for wreckless driving.
Step 1. Call the court and find out when the court date is if it's not on your ticket.
Step 2. When the court date approaches, say a week or two out, call up and ask for a postponement and postpone the court date as long as you can.
Step 3. When the next court date approaches, say a week or two out, ask for a "Trial By Declaration" where you explain your side of the story, and the cop explains his side of the story, in writing and mail it into the judge.
Step 4. If the cop doesn't fill in his declaration, or the judge decides in your favor, you win. If the cop does mail it in, and the judge finds against you, you can request and get a "Trial De Novo" where you get to argue the case in front of a judge and get another chance to win or have the cop not show.
This will drag it out for 6-8 months or so, but it's probably your best bet.
nah fuck that shit. let this fool pay for his stupidity. fools like this postponing dates and trying to cheat shit is one of the many reasons why our court system is fucked. people keep trying to weasel their way out of things.
and yeah, he should have come out to TNS. we're a good amount of dumb but evened out by legitimate riding.
KiMS1 responding to a comment by July
07.28.10 - 11:02 am
Fuck calling... Steps 1, 2 and 3 can be done online @ lasuperiorcourt.org
Remember: At some point, you will have to come up with the $450 to satisfy the fine (the money will be returned to you if you win the case). So, if you broke...You better do something about it.
we all complain about how cyclists never get a break, but i mean, wtf, what do you expect when you got guys like this? acts like this make cycling a novelty.
I agree that circle of death in an intersection is asking for trouble. I also agree that coming out of it with only a red light violation is very lucky.
So if the light is red and you're still in the intersection riding, of all things, in circles, then ummm, yeah you basically ran the red light. True you did not completely cross the intersection, but suppose you were driving and just sat in the intersection, so as to not run the red. Is that legal? No.
How should you fight your ticket?
Given your thought process, I suggest two left jabs and then a quick upper cut to citation number.
It's scary to watch since there was an alarmingly high number of mini vans involved in this video, mainly playing the part of the perp, which tells me these people either a.) have more than 1 child (probably closer to 3 or more, I mean, why else would you trade in your 1989 firebird, right?) b.) no love for their aforementioned kids, c.) could possibly be driving with same mini clones IN the vehicle or d.) all of the above.
Jeebus help us.
July responding to a comment by OsnapsonJC
07.28.10 - 12:12 pm
how long did you ride in a circle? if you stayed over the duration of a red light cycle, i'd say that you did indeed run a red light... once the light turns yellow, it's to tell you that you need to get out of the intersection, so they might be right technically...
I would say that the other participants in this circle (if they're generous) could help you out with your ticket, as they were also involved...but ultimately, it was your responsibility
it's all good and fun until someone gets a ticket....
I've ridden around a traffic circle, but I don't think I'd ride a circle inside an intersection, especially if there are policeman watching...
just tell the judge that you are a vehicle like any other and you were exercising your right to ride around in circles in the intersection for no reason at the expense everybody else using the road, just like every other road user does when they are out with their friends.
I'm sure he will correct the cop's mistake and properly classify your violation.
i wonder if people get ticketed for corking red lights to allow other riders to catch up. you might be able to use that argument, that you were holding the red light for other riders in the back to catch up. wouldn't be beneficial if that citation is more severe than running a red, though.
Yes.
People do get a ticket for corking.
Corking and C.o.D. are both illegal.
Which is fine.
We all choose to break the law at one time or and accept the risks of doing so.
If the a ridaa wants weasel out of a ticket, who can blame them.
But lets be clear, the ticket is legit and any attempt to argue against it on some silly technicality will get this ridaa laughed out of court.
The more appropriate citation would have been for CVC: 22526 (also applies to corking). but I doubt would be willing to dismiss the ticket because the cop misclassified the violation, when it is so clear that the law was being broken.
Your best strategy in my opinion is to show up for court. You have no excuse or real argument against the citation but you may have the luck of the cop not showing up.
You will have to pay the fine up front, about $450 at your arraignment. plead not guilty. you will be given a date of when you can show up.
on your court day, pay attention to whether the judge is a real judge or a "judge pro-tem" you have the right to refuse trial and get a real judge. some people have argued that a real judge (who is elected) has a fairer mindset than judge pro-tem (who are lawyers hired essentially as scabs).
when you get your day in court, it's possible that the cop won't show. if he does show you can pretty much only say you were one of 500 people protesting BP oil and that you did not run the light you were occupying the intersection as part of a demonstration that to your understanding had a permit.
the judge MIGHT give you a break. but now you know that you can get busted for doing a circle of death and you might want to think twice about it next time.
Actually, that's not entirely true. Here's what you want to do
1. File an extension.
2. Request another extension.
3. Request as many extensions as you can get.
4. Pay the fine request a "trial by declaration." This means that you write your side of the story and send it in.
5. If you lose the trial by declaration, you can STILL GO TO COURT!
6. When you get there, you have a right to see a real judge. They won't be tired from hearing traffic cases all day. They're more likely to hear your side of the story.
yeah but what a pain in the ass delaying the inevitable and stretching this headache for a year or more, if you forget to file an extension it turns into a warrant.... I'd rather just take the bet that the cop doesn't show up. plus, this kind of stuff ties up our court system. just get it over with. you fucked up. pay your debt to society and get on with it.
Roadblock responding to a comment by tortuga_veloce
07.29.10 - 2:22 pm
also one word of advice. I was told this by a police officer. YOU SHOULD NOT SHOW YOUR CA DRIVER'S LICENSE when you get pulled over! Show an alternate form of picture ID! that way the red light ticket does not go on your driving record.
Cool, next time I'll just whip out my old, Aspen Distribution ID to avoid the $700 fine I'd get if ever caught(Commercial License holders w/HAZMAT get fucked 2x harder.)
dahm that taco tuesdays gets pretty crazy... i want in. that cumbia in the background was pretty legit. as far as that citation goes dude you are better of caughing up the funds there is no way around paying these court thieves you dont wanna end up like me i owe over 3gees to la superior courts.
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Ridazz Roulette!
Fuck calling... Steps 1, 2 and 3 can be done online @ lasuperiorcourt.org
