Problem with a small town cop

Question

Last night on my way to work, I was ran off the road by 2 trucks full of what it looked to me as being high school kids, I went into the ditch, but no damage happened to me or my truck, but naturally I was pissed off, they blew thru 3 red light ahead of me, which I had to stop at, but then I accelerated to catch up to them to at least get a liceanse pate number to report to the police. Well, with the time it took to get back on the road, and to wait at the red light, they got a sizable lead on me and went over a hill in the distance, so I gave chase, and all of a sudden out of the blue a cop lights I can see in my mirrors and she pulls me over! Those jakasses had just passed her! I told her about what had just happened, and she didnt seem to care, look like she just woke up honestly. She didnt even ask if I was ok or anything, just gave me a speeding ticket, said I was going 70 in a 45! I never got above 60! I was going above 45, but not 70! She was totally rude to me, and acted very stange, almost like she saw the kids and knew who they were, and did nothing. How do I go about filing a complaint on her, and getting this ticket dismissed?

Answer 1

Nothing that you can do. She has no fear of loosing her job because the department has quotas that they must maintain. It costs a lot to train or should I say send an officer through training. They are more worried about the ACLU than you being run off the road.

How do you like the quota and minority way?

Answer 2

Here's my take:  Small town cops tend to know people.  She may be protecting them.  Do you want a cop pissed at you?  Get yourself a lawyer that handles tickets.  Had to do that once when a big town cop gave me a bogus ticket.  Cost me $160, but it was worth it when I saw the cop sit on his hands and the DA saying "officer not ready."  Get the ticket taken care of it, but skip the complaint.  Remember, she can let her fellow cops to get back at you.  Good luck.

Answer 3

What you need to do is go to your county's attorney and let him or her know what had happened. Explain to him or her what had happened before the officer had stoped you explain what the officer done and how she acted. It may work but it may not.

Answer 4

You can't get the ticket dismissed.  You violated the law and got caught.  Now you can go to the judge and explain, or better yet hire a lawyer.  If you explain you were chasing after a car full of kids you might find yourself guilty of road rage.  Use the lawyer.

As to the officer's attitude.  You can contact her superior officer to file the complaint, or contact internal affairs.  If it is a small department, 50 or less officers, they probably don't have internal affairs, so go straight to the chief.

Answer 5

I agree with all of the other posters here, you probably won't get out of the ticket because you did break the law...whether you were trying to keep people safe or not.  However, if the officer got you with a radar gun, and probably did, you can ask to have the tape reviewed.  There is a print off that will list the time and speed you were traveling.  I say have this pulled and reviewed, then state your case.  When you go to court....don't go with attitude, judges don't like that.  Be as straightforward as you can without being pissy.  Wear a nice suit and look like a productive member of society.

You can still file a complaint with Internal Affairs.  Same thing here, be professional.  Don't argue about the ticket because there is nothing they can do about that.  With IA, you want to get to the cop's demeanor and attitude, not the ticket.  So don't be a baby about the ticket.  

Answer 6

You can complain to anyone that will listen, however you have no case against her. Your actions were not justified and you broke the law while you were trying to take the law into your own hands.

Answer 7

Well, you won't get the ticket dismissed because you were breaking the law.

You can stop by the police station and ask to speak to her supervisor.

Answer 8

Your basic story is valid (assuming that it is true), regardless of the people who think you were "taking the law into your own hands". There is nothing here to even suggest that you were doing so.

You were wrong to exceed the posted speed limit but any fair and competent judge will excuse it in this case because you were trying to identify and report a reckless and dangerous driver. It sounds to me like they were intoxicated. 15 over the limit is dangerous, but not nearly as much as running red lights and forcing other vehicles off the road.  

On the other hand, if you have a history of speeding violations then maybe you just made up the story about the other car. Tell your story to the judge and see what he says.

I don't know where the cop was or how she determined your speed. If she was using radar its possible that the unit was reading the speed of the other vehicle and not your vehicle, even though she couldn't see the other vehicle.