Should I fight this in court?

Question

Okay so I will make this as short as I can.

Last night I was driving home from a friends house and there was a cop car in the middle of the road with its lights flashing and flares around the car. The way the flares were set up made it look like you went around the car because there was nothing in the lanes past the car, and only a tow-truck and another cop car about 100 - 200 feet up the road but off to the side. I went around and the cops put their flashlights on me so I stopped, and the cop told me to go park my car next to his. He told me I was the 2nd person to do that and the first person he let off with a warning, so he started to give me a ticket. While working on my ticket two more cars pulled up and were doing the same thing I did but he literally ran to catch them before they did and had them turn around. No one ran to stop me, and if he let one go with a warning why give me the ticket and tell me about it? Also he put I was going 45 on the ticket which is the speed limit, but I was going maybe 10 - 15.. What would you do? btw my ticket was for civil traffic but he said he could have made it failure to obey a police officer. I am also in arizona.

Answer 1

You should definitely go to court. Sometimes they will dismiss it just b/c you showed up (depending on the state and the presiding judge that day). If you explain the situation and tell them it was totally an accident I am sure they may dismiss it. Last year I was pulled over and received several tickets adding up to over 300 hundered dollars. I went to court and they all were dismissed and I only had to pay a $10 dollar court fee.

Good luck

Answer 2

I would fight it, but it will probably cost you more than it would just to pay the ticket. Obviously he didn't have the flares set up correctly if so many people tried to go around. I mean if you knew you weren't supposed to, and you saw that there was a cop right there, would you really be stupid enough to do it? I think he just felt like being a jerk.

Answer 3

shouldn't cost you hardly anything...just go to court and tell the judge what happened.  if he agrees with you see if he will expunge it so it doesn't go on your record and be reported to your insurance co.

Answer 4

sounds like a bunch of bullsh*t to me.  well, is it going to be more expensive to fix it or to fight it.  take the cheapest route.

Answer 5

Go to court and present your case. Advice on how to behave in court on the blog spot below.

Answer 6

Go to court!!!  And, if possible, find out some of the others who were stopped.  Chances are they will also be in court, but maybe on a different date, for any number of reasons.  Good Luck!!!           ( Boy, there are some crazy, idiotic things happening in this country!!! )