Possibly Pulled Over for Speeding, but the Officer Did Nothing and I Drove Away
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Georgia
Hey everyone,
So, I was on my way to a car park to go catch my bus this morning. My route takes me through a road that runs by a high school, so the the speed limit was around 25 mph at that point. I usually go 30, 35, or even 40 at around 9:00 am, when there's basically no traffic since all the students are inside campus by that point. As I'm going down the street, I see a car parked at the end of the road on the opposite lane. It's raining, so I can't make it out and I figure it might just be someone who had an engine problem or something. Thinking nothing of it, I keep going. Then, as I approach, I see it's a police car. The officer then proceeds to turn on his lights (no siren) just as I approach him (this is no less than a meter or so away from the physical car). I reckon I'm being asked to pull over, so I stop and wait for a moment. At this point, both our vehicles are blocking this two-lane road. He doesn't do anything after a while -- there's no siren, no signal for me to follow him, nor does he attempt to get behind me. We just sit there. I move up a bit to perhaps give him some room, but nothing. After a while, I approach a stop sign and then wait a little while longer. The police car doesn't move, but his lights (mind you, the police lights -- not the car headlights, though the headlights were off) are still shining. Taking a chance, I continue down the road and the officer makes no effort to pursue.
I honestly don't know what to make of this. I think perhaps this was just a cautionary warning, with the officer flashing his lights to let me know I was going a bit fast on a school road. If he really wanted to pull me over, he could've followed. Still, what troubles me the most is his placement. He was just sitting in the middle of the road. He wasn't tucked away somewhere else, like in a usual speed trap. This is a small road, mind you, so he'd be blocking traffic if he stayed there for any period of time. So, what do you all think it was? A warning or should I be expecting a ticket in the mail? I think it'd be feasible that the officer could turn his head and grab my plates as I passed him on my way to the stop sign. I know there's the saying that one shouldn't worry about something that's already said and done, but I do find the incident rather odd. Thoughts?
Re: A Possible Warning or Ticket in the Mail
Is it possible? Yes. Likely? Probably not. Cops often operate their lights as a way of encouraging traffic to slow down or otherwise take notice.
Re: A Possible Warning or Ticket in the Mail
That's what I figured. Does it mean anything that the officer actually kept his lights on even after I left the area? I checked my rear-view mirror to see if he was following, and he still stayed there with his lights on.
Re: A Possible Warning or Ticket in the Mail
He could have kept the light on to warn other motorists. You could call the agency involved and give your name and number in case he wants to issue a citation. If he really was intending to issue a citation, it's possible that he didn't get the license plate and if you do this, you could get one after all. I agree with flyingron that he probably didn't intend to issue a citation. If you get one in the mail, you will learn otherwise but I doubt that you'll get anything more serious than you would have if you'd stayed at the scene.
Re: A Possible Warning or Ticket in the Mail
Alright. I suppose the "wait and see" approach will reveal more. I wouldn't disagree with the citation, since I know I usually go over the speed limit there. Still, I'm still hoping it was just a minor warning to slow down. Thanks for all the help, you two! I'll post what ends up happening. How long do mailed citations usually take?
Re: A Possible Warning or Ticket in the Mail
Quote:
Quoting
Reinhardt
I usually go over the speed limit there. Still, I'm still hoping it was just a minor warning to slow down.
This was your wake up call to stop exceeding the speed limit.
Will you heed it?
Or will you be back here one day whining about how unfair it is that you got a speeding ticket?
Re: A Possible Warning or Ticket in the Mail
Considering the panic attack I've had since I arrived at work, you can be sure I'll be heeding it. Like I said, if I do end up getting a citation in the mail, I'll be paying the fine without question. My only inquiry was wondering if I should expect a citation or was this the modus operandi of cops trying to warn motorists to slow down in the future.
Re: A Possible Warning or Ticket in the Mail
I'm thinking the length of time to get one in the mail varies by jurisdiction. I'm guessing around a week, but that's strictly a guess. Local cops might have a better idea. The Statute of Limitations is probably a year and if that's right, you can definitely expect anything that's valid by that time, assuming your address is up to date at the motor vehicle department.