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  1. #1

    Default Ticketed for Multiple Offenses After Cutting Off a Police Vehicle

    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Maryland.

    I'm 18 and never had a ticket. I'm not sure what to do, I got 5 tickets all at once which equals to $1200 in fines. The officer said he didn't expect me to pay all the fines but rather see me go stand in front of a judge.

    The tickets I received are
    1)reckless driving in wanton
    2) negligent driving
    3) following vehicle closer than reasonable
    4) switching lanes when unsafe
    5) exceeding speed limit 100mph in a 70mph zone.

    Long story short, i was driving on the highway and I sped up and cut infront of another car which happened to be an undercover cop. I know I was not going 100mph, and no radar was used. Another thing that doesn't make sense to me is that how was I going 100 while tailgating another car?

    I don't know what to do, I don't really want to pay $1200 fines but don't know if it's worth going to court. I'm not sure if it's worth hiring an attorney for these or not. I know I should have been safer while driving but I never had any other tickets or charges.

    If anyone has feedback for me I'd appreciate it

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: What Should I Do Help

    It's not just the $1200 in fines that you have to worry about.

    Your license is likely to be suspended which will result in cancellation or non-renewal of your insurance and double or triple the rates when next you buy insurance. And if you happen to be on your parents' insurance you put them in a world of hurt, too.

    So, yes, it's worth hiring an attorney.

    If you go to court without one, the judge will believe the officer and throw the book at you.

  3. #3

    Default Re: What Should I Do Help

    Thank you for your response! Muchly appreciated!

    Update: was told most things will be dropped. Maybe have negligent driving, and exceeding speed limit will stick. But will be reduced to maybe a 85-90mph in a 70. Was told the officer will most likely lack evidence since he was off duty. (No radar, and dash came was probably turned off)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Tacoma, WA
    Posts
    1,534

    Default Re: What Should I Do Help

    Quote Quoting Nick02McGinnis
    View Post
    Update: was told most things will be dropped. Maybe have negligent driving, and exceeding speed limit will stick. But will be reduced to maybe a 85-90mph in a 70. Was told the officer will most likely lack evidence since he was off duty. (No radar, and dash came was probably turned off)
    Was told by who? Unless it was a traffic attorney that has already received discovery from the state, take that with a grain of salt. What makes you think the cop was “off duty?” Was the car truly an “undercover” car or a regular patrol car that just didn’t have emergency lights mounted on the top – commonly called a “slick top?” How do you know no radar was used – did the cop tell you this? If the cop was in uniform and was driving a “slick top,” he/she could well have both radar and dashcam operational at the time of your infractions. Lots of agencies use “slick tops” (sometimes with no markings on the sides, either) as regular traffic enforcement units.

    Off the top of my head, I would argue that negligent driving is a lesser included offense of reckless driving. Therefore you shouldn’t be charged with both. The rest is going to depend on the officer’s testimony and whatever other evidence might be presented. As far as the following too close while doing 100 MPH, that is easy. If you were doing 100 and approached to within about 10 car lengths (being generous) before changing lanes, you were following too close.

    Was this a one lane roadway in each direction? In other words, did you have to move into the oncoming traffic lane(s) to pass the cop?

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