My question involves a speeding ticket from the State of: California
I had just left work and was driving southbound on beach blvd in huntington beach. The speed limit varies on the road from 50-55 and even to 60mph further northbound.
I was driving between 75-85mph (not sure the actual speed when I hit the brakes), Again I was going southbound on a 3 lane road in each direction with a median in the middle. A vehicle pulled out of a neighborhood on the right side of the street to go Northbound through oncoming traffic (me and the other cars behind me). I slammed on my brakes and hit the rear left side (bumper) of her vehicle. The total impact movement of her car was maybe 5 feet. Meaning from where I hit her to where she ended up (which was nearly where she was going because I almost missed her) was about 5 feet of space. I continued forward holding the brakes still and left a few feet more of skids as out of fear I may have been pushing the gas and brake at the same time and pulled to the side of the road.
A gang of motorcycle cops appeared and started harassing me, stating that from the skid mark they could tell I was driving at an EXTREMELY high rate of speed. (I may have been going 10-15 mph above the speed limit but flow traffic permitted it and no pedestrians were present anywhere). The officers did the usual finger to eye test to make sure I was not under any substance which I passed with flying colors of course. They never asked once if I was hurt or needed any medical assistance, even though my vehicle was in MUCH worse condition then hers, hers being drivable and only having minimal rear body damage.
As I stated what happened and how I believed it was her fault for turning out of a neighborhood through traffic to go the opposite direction, one of the officers (the one who actually wrote the ticket I guess) stated "By the time the ink from my pen dries I'm gonna make sure its your fault". Also yelling at me and stating that I am the reason people get killed and whatnot.
This is all at 8:00pm and it is pretty dark out. The officers do the walk with their measuring device and then state that there is over 400 ft of skid marks (Which I contest and asked them to walk it again with me there, they deny and state they don't want to do it again)
all this being said I leave and await my fate... 2 days later I get the ticket in the mail, Unsafe Speed. 100mph+, Failure to yield to traffic, and a window tint ticket, all which are infractions..
My question now that the details have been given, is what can I do to protest this? I was NOT going 100mph + and I have been back to the accident scene the skid marks are NO WHERE NEAR 400ft long, they look to be maybe 200 if that. Which I read equals to a speed equivalent to which I said about 70-80mph. What can I do? Is it not her fault? Was she not supposed to yield?
Please let me know what I can do and if I have any rights here, the officers did harass me yelling and again never asking if I once needed any assistance.
Also they didn't give me the ticket there and I never signed anything the ticket where my signature should be states
Thomas 40600CVC
Which i read to be a Traffic Collision course the officers must take?
Please let me know
Also, will I get a ticket in the courtesy notice in the mail stating how much I owe, or do I need to appear in court? Do I need a lawyer? It is only an infraction right, so the worse that could happen would be a fine? Please I am very nervous about this any help is much appreciated.
Thanks

