I don't normally complain about cops but ...
 

So I was at work, and had been harrassed by customers all day who think that showing two forms of ID to withdraw large sums of money is somehow proof that this country is a police state and that I'm a messenger of the devil, and then almost lost $2000 on top of that (spent about two hours before I found that it had tumbled into the deep recesses of the cabinet of the station I was working at). I was understandably grumpy and stressed out. I was also very hungry.

So I go down Wolfe from El Camino, heading for the 280 on-ramp. There's a stop light at Fremont, about 50 yards from El Camino. Light finally turns green, and I go. I'm no more than about 100 yards, tops, past the stop light before I'm pulled over by a police cruiser, who orders me to turn right onto Inverness, and then calls for a Sunnyvale PD SUV for backup while checking out my license. Officer tells me I was going 52, and changed lanes without signalling. There were almost no other cars around, but okay, whatever. I had been upset and eager to get home, but I don't know about going 52. I was in maybe 3rd or 4th gear, never going above 2600rpms, when I got flashed.

I explain my day to the officer, and told him I know it's not an excuse, but if he would please please help me out. Here's what he said:

"You can go to traffic school; you can pay the fine; or you can plead not guilty, and show up at court, and I'll show up and prove that you're lying."

Now, I usually have the utmost respect for law enforcement. Theirs is not a pleasant job. But when I asked for a moment to collect my breath and calm down before I sign the citation, he told me that he doesn't care if I sign it or not because he'll serve the papers on me anyway, because he's in a hurry to respond to a call.

:mad: :mad: If he were in such a rush to respond to a call, why did he think it was so important to pull me over? Wolfe and Fremont is not exactly known for its high numbers of accidents. :mad: :mad:

Go to court... (esp. if u know for a fact that you weren't goin 52mph)... did u ask if they can show the radar? you should always look at it... but go to court... in mosre times than other, they officers never show up to court...

Good Luck Bruce...

longbowe what happen to the days where the police officers played with children, talked with kids, help the elderly, and fought crime.

-i'll have to agree with you on that...

-i've been pulled over by speeding and I appreciate the officer who treats me in a professional/courteous manner just like customer service.

-i despise the officers who treat you with disrespect and unnessary attitude.

go get them internal affairs!~( i think that's them right?);)

I <3 cops!

Sorry to hear that Bruce. Actually you should just go to traffic school. Cops these days get paid to go to court and they rarely miss a court date. Not sure but I believe if you go to court and lose, you also lose the ability to go to traffic school- but I could be wrong.

Sorry to hear Bruce... feel for ya. Cops are one thing, but their sense of flagrant sarcasm is one of the most prevailing factors of why they are so despised... :( They didn't tag you for a front plate violation, did they?

And Jason, I <3 cops too... particularly the blondies that come to special parties and treat you bad in a good way :D :icon17:

And then there's my uncle, I love the guy too. :)

Bruce, sorry to hear what happened.

Heard from Chad(Karmamag) that if you write an arguement and send it in, it would be better. I'm not too sure how it goes, but talk to Chad for details.

Goodluck!!

sorry bruce....
tickets suck.... they suck more when the cop was a jerk. anyways, what tony is talking bout is contesting the ticket through mail. you basically write a letter (i would write an essay and include pics and diagrams of the location of where you got caught) be very thorough and explain why you think the officer was wrong in citing you for speeding. and support your argument. then you mail it in and the judge will read what you wrote and the cop that pulled you over will also have a chance to write something in addition to what he wrote in his report.

my bro-in-law is a cop. and he says that with the ticket mail in method to contest a ticket is probably best, cuz the cop will probably be too lazy to write up an additional report on his own time. so with your essay compared to the paragraph long report that the cop writes... you should win.
but if you go to court... the cop will like show up cuz he gets paid overtime to show up. and most likely you will lose with that cop there in front of the judge.

hope this helps.

you can do a trial by decleration first and if you lose there you can still appeal it in court but either way you have to pay the fine up front.

i guess i've been very lucky coz i have gone to court at least 3 times & the officers are all no show... and when my 17 yr old cousin got pulled over while drivin my Z (over 95mph) last dec., went to court & the officer didnt show up either... he only had to do school community service... sorry for the misleading info. I guess it's just me & my cousin's luck

Re: I don't normally complain about cops but ...
 

dont normally complain about cops but.....
 

What color is your Z ?? I had a 1990 300ZX -couldnt go to Colorado each summer without getting a ticket. Back in the days of 65 MPH on interstates - I was out in the boonies with my nice yellow car - had the cruise control set at 75 and sure enough got nailed by an airplane - cop was waiting for me ahead.
He was very polite - but not polite enough to spare the $65.00 ticket.
I'm taking the new 350 to Colorado for a month in August - but it's silver - not yellow. Change my luck ???
I've been to a few of those "schools" - but allowed only one every 2 years in Arizona. (it's difficult being good for 2 years!!)

cops suck. they should have shown you the radar gun. was this Palo Alto police? cuz all my tickets were given by the palo alto police & the violations have all been in cupertino! why are they roaming cupertino?! anyways, if you really want to get out of it, hire an attorney. jus ask Doc Wong, he has gotten out of some crazy tickets (ie crossing double yellow on the highway to pass 5 cars @ 100mph)...

I hope that we aren't passing this place during the RATB II... :icon14:

sorry to hear that Bruce. Best of luck on whatever you decide!!

Thanks guys. I think I'll do the mail-in thing; seems to be the best way to do it. No doubt about it, I am very supportive of cops, and always try to treat them with the respect that their position deserves. I'd just had a bad day, and the officer in question, instead of being firm but understanding, was a bit of a bunghole.

My support for law enforcement won't wane, but this particular guy is on my temporary $hitlist (I don't keep people on my list long).

I had good luck with PA police; once, they pulled me over, but let me go because it was the holiday season. But yeah, what're they doing in Cupertino?

And yes, Miyake is right on University. Not too many cops in that area, though, until around midnight.

I've only been pulled over once here in 2.5 years. I was in my Grand Am though. I got on 237 towards 880N from Zanker and was doing 75 (in a 55) cruise controlled the whole time. He was behind me on 237 following (at night). Pulled me over right as we got on 880. Asked if I was in a hurry (no sir). Asked if I knew my registration was expired (uh, no sir, thought I had till the end of the month). Showed him the license/regs/insurance. Asked if I have ever been convicted of a serious crime (I laughed and said no.) He said slow it down and gave me a quick warning.
I was floored. I'd never gotten a warning in my 5ish pull overs.

I like the bay area authorities :)
If I was in the z it might have been different! They can write me up on the tint and mods if they're in a bad mood.

I've done the write in method before (about 8 years ago)... successful as well. I suggested that the officer's radar gun wasn't caliberated to accurately gauge my speed (I asked the officer at the time of incident, he replied 'last week.' Then he proceeded to take me out of the car in order to see if my prescription contacts were in... :rolleyes: ). Also wrote that my car had tranny problems (it did and still does) and couldn't achieve the speeds claimed by the officer.

So tranny problems are nothing new to you?

My current beater (which was my primary driver then) has some tranny problems especially when climbing hills. So far it runs still, and I worry less when I park at work now. I don't exactly work in the 'nicest' neighborhood :eek:

Is this what you mean by not keeping people on your $hitlist long Bruce: :D

Bruce is going to be on the six o'clock news, described by the news as an bald asian mafia look alike male in a white Z shooting a police officer that gave him a hard time :icon11: , j/k :D :D .