Police ticketing out of control...quota in full force
I too have spent a grueling day in the pokey for my crimes against motorized society.
Sing Sing was full and Riker's Island understaffed... they shipped me off to the Federal Persecution Complex. First thing you need to do is find the biggest son of a gun there and check her privilege. In 6 hours I was running the joint.
It will change you. Find ways to cope. Buy a label maker and re-educate your Turn Signal into a Virtue Signal, the Speedometer into the Restorative Index Meter.
Your sacrifice will be remembered every time you bring it up. Forgotten if you don't - so remember to bring it up often.
If the negative comments continue I will step out of this debate. Some day you will be in this position and remember that you didn't support me, so just pay your own ticket because the SO police dept is seeing this, and realizing, I am getting pummeled on MOL, so more justification for them.
If you only wanted positive comments perhaps a local neighborhood bulletin board isn't the best place to post your situation
Sounds like an illegal left onto SOA from the right-hand lane on Ridgewood, crossing in front of cars prepared to turn, followed by a low-speed chase to Sloan Street.
Penalty schedule here.
| 39:4-124 | //Failure to turn as indicated by buttons or markers at intersection// | $85 and 3 points. |
Again, were there kids and pedestrians in the vicinity? If so, common sense would require a "slow down." "Too far to the right?" Is there a white line on the side of the road of which you drove over and to the right?
librarylady said:
If the negative comments continue I will step out of this debate. Some day you will be in this position and remember that you didn't support me, so just pay your own ticket because the SO police dept is seeing this, and realizing, I am getting pummeled on MOL, so more justification for them.
If you only wanted positive comments perhaps a local neighborhood bulletin board isn't the best place to post your situation
oh aren't you precious library lady.
sender said:
Boy you people are a tough crowd. Simple as this, a mom takes her son and friend to the high school. Gets pulled over going a normal speed (get this one, people, concentrate, speed WAS NOT THE ISSUE, neither slow speed or fast speed), and as a protest will not spend a red cent.
Wait, first you said (twice) that you were driving 5-10 mph, now you say you were going a normal speed. Which was it?
Formerlyjerseyjack said:
Again, were there kids and pedestrians in the vicinity? If so, common sense would require a "slow down." "Too far to the right?" Is there a white line on the side of the road of which you drove over and to the right?
no kids, except normal pedestrians, etc. I've never gotten a speeding ticket in my life, but you are exactly on point. "Too far to the right" was the only clue he gave me. I'll go back there probably today and see what it looks like in that exact spot.
spontaneous said:
sender said:
Boy you people are a tough crowd. Simple as this, a mom takes her son and friend to the high school. Gets pulled over going a normal speed (get this one, people, concentrate, speed WAS NOT THE ISSUE, neither slow speed or fast speed), and as a protest will not spend a red cent.
Wait, first you said (twice) that you were driving 5-10 mph, now you say you were going a normal speed. Which was it?
Ok spontaneous, not exactly sure, didn't look at speedometer as I was driving, but you being spontaneous must understand this right? Again, speeding was not the issue. I know I drive carefully and slowly, which is why I've never gotten a speeding ticket in my life. BTW spontaneous, that means not driving too slowly or fast. Got it? Let's move past this point.
sender said:
Two days ago, got pulled over going 5 miles an hour on South Orange Avenue in the heart of town, near Sloan Street, driving my son and friend to high school.
sender said:
OK everyone, just got home. I was driving NOT five miles over the speeding limit, but just 5 to 10 miles per hour.
I'd like to take back my earlier comment about the officer being douchy.
j_r said:
Sounds like an illegal left onto SOA from the right-hand lane on Ridgewood, crossing in front of cars prepared to turn, followed by a low-speed chase to Sloan Street.
Penalty schedule here.
39:4-124 //Failure to turn as indicated by buttons or markers at intersection// $85 and 3 points.
went to this penalty schedule but couldn't find 39:4-124. Can you give me more info on this?
If you are guilty of whatever the ticket is written for, then pay up. If you aren't guilty then decide whether it is worth your while to fight it.
Yes, ticket quotas are annoying, but if you violate the law, then it shouldn't matter whether the ticket was written to make a quota or not.
j_r said:
At the link I posted:
39:4–124 Improper turn from approved turning course 3
I wasn't turning, I was going straight down SO Avenue and eventually planning on turning right on Valley toward the high school, but was pulled over before I had the chance to turn anywhere.
sender said:
I have no points so it's not about that. I don't want to hire a lawyer. You see, I don't want to pay one penny on this. If I go before the judge and say I will not pay the fine, I believe I will then, that minute, go to jail.
Depending on your attitude you may just end up going. Not for the ticket but for an attitude of contempt. So just tell the judge "I'm not paying" and walk out. Or tell the judge "I'm not paying because the town is ripping me off".
Don't think jail is like the one in the Andy Griffith show where Deputy Barney will bring sandwiches and keep you company. The jail you'll be in will be filled with those don't care who you are, why you are there and wouldn't care when you get bullied.
"Aren't you precious, library lady"?? Hey sender, you're demonstrating a bit of preciousness yourself. What's up? Never been stopped by a cop before? So lucky you are!
BG9 said:
sender said:
I have no points so it's not about that. I don't want to hire a lawyer. You see, I don't want to pay one penny on this. If I go before the judge and say I will not pay the fine, I believe I will then, that minute, go to jail.
Depending on your attitude you may just end up going. Not for the ticket but for an attitude of contempt. So just tell the judge "I'm not paying" and walk out. Or tell the judge "I'm not paying because the town is ripping me off".
Don't think jail is like the one in the Andy Griffith show where Deputy Barney will bring sandwiches and keep you company. The jail you'll be in will be filled with those don't care who you are, why you are there and wouldn't care less if you got bullied.
I will be polite, but firm, clear and straightforward. I will listen to him, plead my case. have you been to jail in town? maybe it is just like Andy Griffith show, maybe not. You sound like you know, appreciate your insight as you seem to have been there.
annielou said:
"Aren't you precious, library lady"?? Hey sender, you're demonstrating a bit of preciousness yourself. What's up? Never been stopped by a cop before? So lucky you are!
I guess you've been stopped a bit huh annielou? Never said I've never been stopped btw. Read, annielou, read. Said I've never gotten a speeding ticket. Concentrate annielou.
sac said:
If you are guilty of whatever the ticket is written for, then pay up. If you aren't guilty then decide whether it is worth your while to fight it.
Yes, ticket quotas are annoying, but if you violate the law, then it shouldn't matter whether the ticket was written to make a quota or not.
Agreed. I got a ticket once and went to court to beg forgiveness, ready to pay at the minimum, court costs and at the most the ticket. Judge was in a gratuitous mood. He dismissed both ticket and court costs. Sometimes you get lucky. Humility goes a long way.
I find it hard to believe that after 20 years of my cleaning lady coming to my house and parking on my small quiet non-through street, that suddenly after making a formal complaint about officer yelling at black teenager in back seat, my cleaning lady gets a ticket. Find it hard to believe it's not a bit of payback after making a complaint about the officer.
Regardless of where you were stopped what you were cited for appears to relate to your left turn onto South Orange from Ridgewood. Did you do that from the right lane? The fact that you intended to go straight indicates that is the case. But that lane is right or straight only. And if you did as you described it you did it right in front of a policeman. If you could not go straight you should have gone right.
ElizMcCord said:
sac said:Agreed. I got a ticket once and went to court to beg forgiveness, ready to pay at the minimum, court costs and at the most the ticket. Judge was in a gratuitous mood. He dismissed both ticket and court costs. Sometimes you get lucky. Humility goes a long way.
Screw humility and a judge's gracious mood, we should not turn into moo cows (all of us), and just allow officers' bullying us with these arbitrary tickets (years ago it was often a warning and a smile, both for me and my parents). And certainly the judges are the worst bullies of all. If we banded together, circulated the names of these judges who are so tough that we have to act all meek and humble, we'd get our own (and collective) power back.
Gilgul said:
Regardless of where you were stopped what you were cited for appears to relate to your left turn onto South Orange from Ridgewood. Did you do that from the right lane? The fact that you intended to go straight indicates that is the case. But that lane is right or straight only. And if you did as you described it you did it right in front of a policeman. If you could not go straight you should have gone right.
No I too was curious about that, but it seems the officer claimed I was too far over on the right as I went under the bridge near Sloane street. As I mentioned officer was so tough and bullying that I didn't push it at that moment and wanted to get kids to school.
In your first post, the first thing you mention is the speed during the incident. Later you say speed is irrelevant and ask people to stop talking about it.
In your first post, you say you don't think you were being targeted (regarding the parking ticket), up above you state you believe you were targeted.
When you go to court, they will give you only a few minutes to talk to the prosecutor. It will be to your advantage to go in there knowing precisely what you are being charged with, and how you will respond. They usually are willing to negotiate with people, but if you contradict yourself, change your positions within a few minutes, or are not clear in your arguments, they'll be less likely to do that.
You might want to contact the municipal court in advance to clarify precisely what the charge is, what the usual penalty is and what the process will be when you show up. You should also understand that - during the court appearance - if you try to downgrade a penalty with points to one without points (which they usually are willing to do if this is a first offense), there will be a state surcharge - $250 or so - which you will need to pay above and including the fine, nothing they can do to dismiss it. So you pay the surcharge or take the points.
Just trying to help out here.
You wrote:
"two police cars were blocking going straight across Ridgewood due to a pot hole. So I then had to instead of going straight on Ridgewood, make a left onto SO Ave."
Just so we're clear.
openspacer, thank you for the This American Life link! I had no idea CBA had been on.
Years ago (1995?), I had to appear in his court (for riding a bike without a helmet, which I had no idea was against local law). I was really mad about the ticket, and about the fact that the ordinance had been written without a stated penalty, so that a whole raft of us had to come into court to respond to the tickets.
I was very impressed with the way he ran his court, exactly as you (or TAL?) said: in a "fair and impartial way-- and a compassionate way," taking a great deal of trouble to make sure each defendant knew what their options were, even though most preferred to simply pay.
Exemplary, imo!! The way it's sposed to be.
As to the OP's ticket, it sounds as though he/she turned left out of the right lane, and as the TAL transcript indicates (I think), ignorance of the traffic law is not a defense. Which doesn't excuse the officer for being rude, if the occupants of the car were not rude to him/her. Good for you for reporting that!
The parking ticket, imo, either luck of the draw or a neighbor who's had it with illegal parking. Use the driveway if there is one. And it would be a nice gesture for you to pay the ticket on your cleaning person's behalf.
sender,
You could post the ticket here so we can see it. Just cover your name and drivers license number.
Does it recite a statute number? Does it say 39:4-124 or a different number? If the charge on the ticket is not clear that would be grounds for dismissal. Does he ticket state that it occurred near or on Sloane or does it indicate Ridgewood and SO Ave?
If you plead NG you will have a trial. The State will have to produce the Officer to testify. You can cross-examine the Officer and you can testify. If you are found guilty you will have the right to appeal. If you change your mind and decide to pay the fine but need more time to raise the cash the Judge will give you more time.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would come back after the case is over and tell us about your experience.
Good luck.
apple44 said:
In your first post, the first thing you mention is the speed during the incident. Later you say speed is irrelevant and ask people to stop talking about it.
In your first post, you say you don't think you were being targeted (regarding the parking ticket), up above you state you believe you were targeted.
this is all a bit nuanced, but I have said about 5 times, that speed was not the issue, so why are people bringing it up. I ask people to stop bringing it up because it's irrelevant (when I mentioned it, it was just as a detail in my story, a bit of background). I agree I did sort of change my mind about the cleaning lady ticket. I spoke with a few people and they do think I may have been targeted. This is not all black and white, it's all evolving. Maybe, who knows, it's not just circumstance that two days after my complaint this happened.
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This is what the ticket says exactly..."improper turn as indicated by buttons or markr at." That's all it says, the sentence cuts off on the ticket so it's not clear. As you can read it, it's perfectly unclear. And yes, it does say "markr at" which really is an enigma. Detective told me that's electronic ticketing today, that it simply cuts off. So today, many people, like myself can't make sense of a reason on a ticket.
I have no points so it's not about that. I don't want to hire a lawyer. You see, I don't want to pay one penny on this. If I go before the judge and say I will not pay the fine, I believe I will then, that minute, go to jail.
Boy you people are a tough crowd. Simple as this, a mom takes her son and friend to the high school. Gets pulled over going a normal speed (get this one, people, concentrate, speed WAS NOT THE ISSUE, neither slow speed or fast speed), and as a protest will not spend a red cent.
If the negative comments continue I will step out of this debate. Some day you will be in this position and remember that you didn't support me, so just pay your own ticket because the SO police dept is seeing this, and realizing, I am getting pummeled on MOL, so more justification for them.