My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: California
I was recently ticketed for failing to stop in Southern CA. I came to a full and complete stop at this intersection. So, I was rather shocked when the officer stated what he was writing me up for.
The incident happened early in the evening, but it was dark out. The area around the intersection is all residential and has poor lighting. The only reason I can possibly imagine getting pulled over and getting the ticket is because the officer wasn't paying attention (and/or) didn't see the full chain of events.
Here's what happened:
I was traveling northbound on Myers. I stopped at the intersection of Myers & Primrose and then proceeded to make a right hand turn onto Primrose. The officer lit up my car before even completing the turn. There was very little interaction with the officer, and I was only told why I was pulled over when he handed me his ticket book.
How do I know I stopped?
I only travel these residential roads when leaving a shopping center in Riverside. You only travel on Myers a short distance before reaching Primrose and only takes a minute. This particular evening - I was traveling behind a late model Lexus RX350 (who was also leaving the shopping center) which was driving extremely slow - no more than 15mph. The driver was occupied on the phone which you could see lit up next to their head.
When we reached intersection the Lexus stopped, and I stopped behind the Lexus. The Lexus started their turn onto Primrose and I started to progress towards the limit line, but before completing the turn they tapped their brakes stopping for a brief moment and then continued his turn.
There were no other cars at this intersection, so I'm not sure why he stopped. Now that I think back on the possible reasoning - he probably saw the cruiser and reactively hit his brakes.
Whatever the reason - this allowed me to be past the posted stop sign and not more than a couple feet away from the limit line. Any closer and I would have been over the limit line.
Once the Lexus completed his turn and was onto Primrose and out of the intersection - I made my right hand turn and was instantly lit up.
The only way I could have been more stopped at this intersection is if I parked there and read a book.
I've received plenty of tickets in the past during my younger years, and I was always guilty. I either paid the fine, or went to traffic school. This time - I want to fight the ticket. I was absolutely stopped - I was at limit line. I followed all traffic laws.
Here's a picture of the intersection:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...=12,0.74,,0,42
It's going to be my word against the officers, though. Am I doomed?
-
sad & angry.

