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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    1

    Default Traffic Citation for Fail to Signal when Switching Lanes

    My question involves an injury that occurred in the state of: Texas
    Today around 3:40PM I was driving from my work place to several stores looking for a water pump for one experiment. Right after I leave the University campus, one police officer stopped me. He told me that he could arrested me for reckless driving and he was really intimidating. I thought that it was really unusual, since I drive in that street everyday in my way home. I have been driving for 13 years (5 years in USA) and this was the first time a police officer stopped me. I always signal when I am switching lanes, and I even signal in parking lots. I am sure I signaled every time I switched lanes today. The problem is that was rush hour with a lot of cars, and I usually give signal and look over my shoulder, if everything is clear I switch lanes fast (maybe my signal blinks 3 or 4 times and I turn it off). He gave me one citation for fail to signal when switching lanes and a warning for driving to close to other vehicles. I don't mind about the citation or the warning. What I am concerned is the fact he was really intimidating. I am a international student, and clearly he took advantage of it. I don't see any reason to stop me first, second he could just explain the reasons and give me the ticket. Instead, he tried to fear me, saying that I could go to jail. I will not appeal and will pay the fee, but what can I do about how the officer approached me? I am sure they do it all the time, since there is a language barrier and we don't understand well the law system here (so we never appeal). I feel that it was unfair, I know that there is nothing I can do, since it will be his words against a foreigner, who does not speak English fluently. After living here 5 years I just can't be keep quiet about discrimination. I told him I was a graduate student, he put that my occupation was not available and that my race/ethnicity was not available either. I don't want get into other problems, but I thought his decision was really biased. Should I appeal to this ticked and try to explain it to the judge? The police officer will say that I was driving recklessly, I am sure I wasn't. I even took a defensive driving course when I was living in Kansas.
    Thank you for you help.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    CT & IL
    Posts
    5,273

    Default Re: Traffic Citation for Fail to Signal when Switching Lanes

    First, you should not talk to the police, it can do you no good. Only answer questions about your name & address. What can you do to the cop?? I see nothing wrong (impolite maybe) from what you wrote. When you are in a foreign land, you should learn the basics about the legal processes .. I have lived in foreign lands so I understand your confusion but you have been living here 5 years... You got a ticket for failing to signal & you admit this; I dont see why you are complaining. Maybe the cop is a racist (everybody is a racist to a certain extent) , you have no evidence of this & you have the burden of proof if you wish to claim this as a defense. 1 time in 13 years??? thats pretty good, better than me.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9,096

    Default Re: Traffic Citation for Fail to Signal when Switching Lanes

    If you don't like the officer's attitude, inform his department.

    It won't change your ticket, though.

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