Bonus - Other types of tickets
Parking Tickets:
If you get a parking ticket, pay it. If you have an exorbitant number
of tickets you may consider fighting them, but you may be better off just
paying them. Also, consider yourself lucky that your car was not towed.
Repair Ticket:
If you get a ticket for a minor repair such as a rear tail light lens
that is broken, a head light that is out, fix the problem; it will take
care of the ticket. The easiest way to avoid getting a ticket is to blend
in with the crowd. Keep your car in good repair. It will pay off in the
long run.
U turns:
You should prepare before you arrive in court in order to defend this
type of situation. Research the vehicle code and look for the particular
section of code that gives all the details that must be proved against
you. The prosecution and the ticketing officer have the burden of proof
in order to prove you guilty. Most vehicle codes will specify when a U
- turn is illegal. Usually it is within a residential area and within
so many feet of an intersection. Check with your local zoning office and
see what type of district you are in and then return to the scene, measure
off the distance from the corner where you made the U - Turn and refer
to different land marks on the side of the road. Your best hope is for
an officer that does not show up in court. Should he show up, you can
give the prosecution the tiniest details and hope that these smaller known
facts will cause the officer to slip up and contradict his testimony.
Red Lights:
These types of tickets are difficult to beat simply because it is your
word against the officer's as to the position of your vehicle at the time
that the light actually turned red. The most important thing that you
will have to prove is the position of your vehicle at the point that the
light turned red. You have to be able to prove that you were not in the
intersection at that time. The best location for the officer in this type
of case, as far as you are concerned, is behind you or at least parallel
to you. That would make it difficult for the officer to assess the exact
position your car was in at the point that the light turned red. If the
officer was approaching from a right angle, it may be difficult for him
to give an accurate view of your vehicle and you may even state that he
was not able to see your vehicle and the traffic light at the same time.
There may also be some obstructions that may prevent him from having a
clear view of the intersection such as hedges, fences or buildings that
may be in the way. This could bring up the possibility of a theory of
blocked visibility which may assist you in defeating the ticket.
Stop Signs:
Stop signs are very similar to red lights in the fact that you have to
defend them in about the same way. If the officer is directly behind you,
it's difficult to assess the exact position of your vehicle in relation
to the stop sign. When an officer is checking to see if your car actually
stopped at a sign, the nose of your car will actually elevate slightly
when it comes to a complete rest. The best place for an officer to observe
this is from a 90 degree angle to your vehicle. If it is behind your car,
he obviously can't see the hood of your car and make the determination.
Basically any position that's perpendicular to your vehicle is impossible
to win, since the officer has a complete view of your vehicle.
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