Barely Careless Driving

[johnny5z2]

My question involves a careless driving ticket from the State of: New Jersey

Ok so I was out with some friends and we decided to go to this restaurant we always go to in Montclair. I was traveling down the street then like I always do I made a right hand turn into the parking lot we always park in. This time for some reason there were about 8 cops cars sitting in there and cops just standing literally everywhere. As soon as I pulled in one cop marched over to my moving truck and told me to pull over to the side so I did and he was like "You pulled into the parking lot way too fast and I cant let this slide because my captain is standing right behind me." In reality I pulled into the parking lot at tops 15 MPH, mostly due to someone riding up my *** so I wanted to get out of their way. My truck was in total control, no screeching tires no swerving.

How can he judge I was going too fast into the parking lot when he was just standing there, no radar gun no nothing but pure assumption? He took all my information and gave me a careless driving ticket. I looked it up and yeah pulling into a parking lot too fast is endangering others and what not but 15 MPH is NOT TOO FAST.

So I plan on fighting it, on May 5th, but what are my chances here, he has no proof, no cameras no radar gun just his word. I know its not right to bring friends to the court but all my friends in the car said the same thing I was not going too fast or operating my car "carelessly" so what grounds did I get this ticket on?

Someone help me, I don't want to 2 points and don't really mind the fine but I really don't think I should have gotten this at all.
Please help.

[DonnyC]

Assuming that you can prove this in court the charge will probably be dismissed. Afterall he simply wanted to prove a point to the Captain. If it can't be dismissed for some reason at least try to plead to a non moving violation. There are several specialized law offices in New Jersey that deal with this. Try googling "New Jersey Careless Driving" and see what you come up with

[johnny5z2]

Well does anyone think pulling into a parking lot at 15MPH is too fast? I mean if I came barreling around the turn screeching my tires and was all over the road thats one thing...but I was in complete control.

Thanks for the advice Donny and yeah my friend got pulled over in that town for speeding and the cop let him go and again for making an illegal left turn (following me ) and the cop let him go so this guy probably was trying to make an example for himself.

[DonnyC]

We can't tell if 15mph was to fast without reinacting the complaint. However with that many police together it could have been that they were looking for someone and with identifying you they could have rules you out but the ticket makes no sense unless you were driving a little to fast to get out of the way of the vehicle behind you. Like i said try those specialized traffic offices they should be able to get it al least down to a non moving violation for you.