My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Arizona
I was cited for 28-645A3A Fail to stop at a red light.
I was also cited for something that I had no knowledge of nor control over which is 28-2354B.
So I went to the store to buy some things and was in the right hand turn lane of a 4 lane road. I stopped albeit for just a sec [Streets were clear]. The 2 lanes next to me had cars and in the left hand turn lane was a police car. I accelerated and turned. A ways down I saw the lights come on then off. So I figured he did what many cops do and used his light to get somewhere quicker. He came up on me so close I could not longer see his head lights. He turned his lights on again. I pulled over, He directed me into a parking lot.
He asked if I knew what this was about.
I said no.
He said you know you ran that red light.
I said no I didn’t I stopped.
He said yeah right at 15mph.
What are you talking about I stopped.
He said and what about this license plate cover.
I said what cover. I was thinking of those things you can buy to stop laser detectors.
He asked me to get out pointed at the trim plate from the dealer.
He said see here.
I was like uhh, what that has been there since we bought it.
He then said well things change and this is illegal why didn’t you remove it.
I said cause it has been there since we bought and how could I know it was now all of a sudden bad.
He said get back in the car.
The usual then happened.
Only note is there was a very very young man in the car with him in a uniform though it did not look like his. I'm unsure if it was a rookie, or a cadet, or some other deal.
So what can or should I do????
It is a 300 fine with mandatory school which is another 190 so if I go t court and the judge takes the side of the policeman then I’m out a day and almost 500. I could go to school out right for just 190 but then I’m paying a fine I feel is unjust regardless of not having it on record or mvd.
I guess I’m more venting than anything. It seems highly unjust that we have crimes that are redefined has "civil" and so are not giving the same process in court; How can it ever be fair that a person goes to court, stands before a judge and asks to be believed vs a policeman. Since it's "civil" there is no jury. No evidence. The only evidence is eyewitness testimonies which as many know is the most flawed and is open to misinterpretation.
I stopped at the back of the double line.
The cop was in the crosswalk in the far left.
IMO he saw me accelerate out and turn but did not know I had stopped.
So what to do??????
Here is the intersection FYI Google maps ftw:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&ie=U...02645425072416

