[quote name='tstrimple' timestamp='1302328807' post='4796228']
[quote name='MattV' timestamp='1302326412' post='4796223']
[quote name='D.Chhetri' timestamp='1302325441' post='4796221']
Here is the situation: I was driving back from my university with couple of my friends. I felt tired so decided to let my friend drive. So at the next red light, I got out the car, my friend scooted over to my seat, and
I got into the passenger seat. This all happened in a highway like main street.

The problem: The cops seen us. He pulled us over. Charged each of us with reckless driving in highway. The ticket was $75.


Should I plead guilty or not? This is my first soon to be ticket. I know what I did was stupid. There were girls in the backseat, so being guys, we had to do something stupid. And please, dont hesitate to say
how stupid it was for me to get out in the middle of highway main street on a read light just to change seats.

Should have argued the ticket, say you suddenly weren't feeling well or something. Now that you have it, too late. Pay the ticket and don't do it again.
[/quote]

It's definitely not too late. The signing the ticket is not an admission of guilt, and he could still make this argument in court.
[/quote]

The place to get the ticket dismissed is with the cop. It can be done in court, but it just got 10x more difficult - especially if the officer shows up.
[/quote]

That is so not true. Arguing a traffic ticket in court that isn't speeding or drunk driving is one of the easiest things you can do. In their situation all he has to do is go into court, and if the judge doesn't bulk reduce the tickets to something reasonable, which they often do when 50 people show up, all he has to do is say he was feeling dizzy and didn't feel comfortable or safe driving anymore.

Unless he was truly stupid and was a smartass to the cop and admitted that this was not the case, then it will more than likely get dismissed on the spot.

edit:

[color=#1C2837][size=2]I think the reason why I got the ticket also, was because I was being an ass to the cops. The cops was accusing us for drugs and alcohol beause me and my friend eyes were "blodshot red", when in fact it wasn't. So I started to get a little tone with him asking him why he was judging us. And so he got even more mad, and yea that probably didn't help but I wasn't gonna let him accuse of us stuff we didn't do.[color=#1C2837][size=2][/quote]
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[color=#1C2837][size=2][color=#1C2837][size=2]I missed this. That was dumb. The cop probably would have let you go if all you said was, "yes sir, I know it was wrong but I didn't feel safe driving," "no sir I'm not on drugs; I'm just trying to get home," etc. How to talk to someone who can send you to jail or fine you thousands of dollars on the spot seems like common sense to me, but apparently that assumption was wrong.
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[color=#1C2837][size=2]If he accuses you of alcohol then say you'll take a breathalizer. In most states now you can demand a breathalizer the second they accuse you of drinking and driving.
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[color=#1C2837][size=2]And weren't you the guy that recently got tackled by a cop? Don't you learn?

Yes I know it was dumb. Him accusing of us for drugs because of the way we look just ticked me off. I guess I should have swallowed my pride.

No question it was stupid-- pretty stupid. Especially the part where you mouthed off to the cop-- extremely stupid. So that answers the thread title.

As to what you should do, there's no real reason not to contest the ticket, if only to try and reduce the amount (unless you have particularly rigid ethics, since you are guilty). The worst that will happen is the cop will be pissed enough to show up, and you'll have to pay the ticket anyhow. Best case, you get out of the ticket completely.

Yes I know it was dumb. Him accusing of us for drugs because of the way we look just ticked me off. I guess I should have swallowed my pride.

I think it's standard procedure to ask if your on drugs/been drinking.

I got pulled over once for not having my headlights on at night, and was fully sober, and explained clearly that I thought they were on but it was an unfamiliar car. He still asked me, "Have you been drinking?" almost in the same sentence as "License and registration, please." He didn't really think I was, but just had to ask anyway - either because it's required to ask (IDK) or because alot of people DO drink and drive, so why not cover it just incase? (For the record: I got off scott free when he took a look at my driver's license photo and laughing asked, "Is this handlebar mustache real? Was it on a dare?". Yes it's real, not on a dare - I was petitioned to wax it by some friends)

Consider whether you might have been racially judging him by assuming his comments was directed at your skin color. Certainly there is racism with some cops, but they take so much flak for it by the media and through lawsuits and their superiors that I'd be surprised if half of what people blame racism for was actually racism (after all, you just got slapped with a fine and been embarrassed in front of some girls you know - you are mentally looking for things to critize them for, so why wouldn't you pull the ace card and crticize them for being racist? But that accusation that may make you feel better doesn't mean it's true).

How stupid was your action? On a scale of 1 to 10, it was about a 3. Slightly stupid, but way less stupid than some other things you could've done. What should you do? Either pay the fine, and learn not to use stupid actions to impress girls, or if you genuinely felt unsafe to drive, go to court and say calmly, "It wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I was sleepy and so I felt unsafe to drive and wasn't thinking clearly enough to realize how stupid it was - which is why I wanted someone else driving" - but only if it's the truth, don't lie to try and make the situation better, and don't exaggerate. The judge will see right through it - he knows how to identify a lie.
If the cop brings up your back-talk, be honest, "I was trying to impress the girls, and wasn't thinking clearly, your honor". Then genuinely apologize to the cop - again, both the cop and the judge know lies when they see them, so just be honest and humble yourself, and you'll get out of it alot easier than trying to manipulate a judge who has to deal with that every day.

Why are you asking other people for advice when you already know the answer?

First, you did something that wasn't very smart and potentially dangerous. By doing so, you also broke the law. Lastly, you were caught doing it.

Be a responsible citizen and a responsible adult: admit your guilt and and pay the fine. Laws exist for a reason. Don't waste the valuable time of civil servants. Take your punishment gracefully and use it as an opportunity to learn something.

I mean no offense to you personally, but this type of behavior is an ailment of our society. Police officers are busy people. He may not show up to court because--*gasp*--he may have better things to do. This does NOT make you any less guilty for what you did. This does NOT somehow make the fact that you broke the law go away. Being less than honest about your reasons for making the switch, attempting to downplay your choice and agency in the matter, is wrong. How will doing that do anything to improve yourself as a person and as a citizen, or help society? It doesn't.

Take responsibility for your actions.

P.S. -- I support people who contest charges when they are truly innocent. However, you've essentially admitted to everything and are just wondering if you should try to wiggle out of it. Bad form.

P.S. -- I support people who contest charges when they are truly innocent. However, you've essentially admitted to everything and are just wondering if you should try to wiggle out of it. Bad form.

Just a side note on your post in general. You can still go in to plead guilty/no contest and still get the charge reduced usually just because you spent the time to go in. I have found that in traffic cases they will usually penalize you to the maximum if you don't go in, but are often ready to drop various parts of the penalty be it lowering the fine, not taking away points on your license, or whatever else.

P.S. -- I support people who contest charges when they are truly innocent. However, you've essentially admitted to everything and are just wondering if you should try to wiggle out of it. Bad form.

You think changing seats while the car stationary is really "reckless driving"?

You think changing seats while the car stationary is really "reckless driving"?

If the car isn't moving you are wasting gas. That's pretty reckless.

edit: that made me think of a funny defense. How was it reckless driving if he wasn't even in the car?

I am surprised so many people here think what he did was dangerous. It was at red lights, if the change over was quick enough to be done before the lights changed, then no one was in danger.. Him continuing to drive while feeling in a bad way is much more dangerous.

<br />[quote name='tstrimple' timestamp='1302391763' post='4796534']<br />You think changing seats while the car stationary is really &quot;reckless driving&quot;?<br />

<br /><br />If the car isn't moving you are wasting gas. That's pretty reckless.<br /><br />edit: that made me think of a funny defense. How was it reckless driving if he wasn't even in the car?<br />[/quote]<br /><br /><br />

ROTFL, that made my night. I'm deciding to plead not guilty, and at least reduce my ticket. After all, I am a broke college student. Sorry for the hassel guys. Just thought I would share a story.