Illegally pulled over?

Question

I made an illegal left turn. Cop was writing another lady a ticket when he ran across the street and flagged me down. Is this legal in California. He wrote me a ticket. How can i fight it? He didn't activate lights and sirens.

Answer 1

It's perfectly legal for a cop to pull you over and write you a ticket without lights and siren.

He can pull you over for pretty much any reason, even if he didn't see you doing anything illegal.

But this one did--pay your fine and stop ignoring traffic laws, which exist for a reason.

Answer 2

Why would that be illegal?  Since when do officer's need to use lights and sirens to be authorized to use their police powers?  Does he have a light bar attached to his head?  I think I saw a cartoon with that once...

Answer 3

He doesn't have to "active" anything. Actually when he

activates the sirens for longer than a few startups he's

going to tear you a new one. He needs to make sure you

realize that he wants something, which he obviously did

with whatever he did. You stopped.

Answer 4

You can't fight it. You yourself admit that you made the illegal turn. You obviously saw the officer so him flagging you down wasn't an issue and he probably went easy on you since you did stop without him having to chase you down.

Answer 5

So, there's an intruder in your home and you call the cops.  They respond, but there's nothing they can do about it until they activate their lights and sirens, so they wait until he leaves to chase him and arrest him.  Even though he killed you in your home, your ghost can take consolation in knowing that the cops followed the proper procedure before arresting him.

Guess what, genius, the cop doesn't even need a car to cite you.  What do you think cops who walk a beat downtown do?  Or cops that patrol the city parks on their bicycles?  Those things don't have lights and sirens.  Of course, if it made you happier, he could have avoided the ticket and arrested you on the spot.

Answer 6

They don't have to do anything to pull you over.

There's no such thing as an illegal pullover.

All they need is 'probable cause', and you ACTUALLY BREAKING THE LAW more than fulfills that!

Stop whining and do your penance.

You were wrong, you KNOW you were wrong, so grow up and take it like a man, or your life is going to be extremely difficult, if you think you can always skate by on technicalities.

In fact, I once got out of a ticket, because I made a turn just like you did, then saw a cop right there who saw the whole thing.



He pulled me over, and I said "you got me, I was wrong, I knew it was wrong, it was stupid, so I deserve the ticket you're gonna give me".

He ran my license to make sure I didn't have warrants, then he was so glad that I didn't whine like most people, and let me off with a warning.

Something to think about, yes?

Answer 7

I'm so amazed at how so many people ask ridiculous question about the law when they know that they broke a law and were wrong to begin with and then question how to discredit the law. But ya as everyone has answered lights and siren even a patrol car are not needed or procedures to write traffic tickets. Suck it up pay the ticket be more observant next time.

Answer 8

of course it is legal

geeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzz

Why would you think he needed to activate his lights and sirens ??????

Ever heard of FOOT patrols..geez

Answer 9

Lights and sirens don't have anything to do with the fact that you blew it!  Duh!

Answer 10

Perfectly legal! Pay your fine and learn to drive properly.

Answer 11

You already admitted that you made an illegal turn. There's no law that says a cop has to be in his car with his lights flashing in order to write you a ticket for doing something illegal.  

Answer 12

The purpose of lights and siren are to get your attention, and get you to pull over. They are not necessary, and do not make a stop illegal.  You are obligated to follow a signal from a police officer, so you were still obligated to stop.

Where he was, and what he was doing is not going to make a difference. All the court is going to care about is if he was in a position to observe your illegal turn.

Attempting to bring these matters up to the judge will show a lack of responsibility for your actions, and greatly reduce your chances of getting a break, such as a reduced fine or a diversion program such as traffic school.

Answer 13

Just an interesting side note, he didn't even have to have contact with you to cite you.

He could have glanced over, written down your license plate number, and sent you a citation in the mail.

Answer 14

You were pulled fair and square. My husband actually pulled a guy over while in his personal vehicle on his way home. Didn't give the guy a ticket, but he told him to be more careful.