Stopped by Police for no real reason...

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I must be in a string of bad luck... As if it isn't enough that someone rear ends me and runs away... This has to happen.

On the gowanus expwy I'm driving in the middle lane and here comes a curve and after coming out of the curve theres 2 police cars by the divider and an officer standing there looking down oncoming traffic... along with heavy traffic upahead just after the curve (most likely caused by the rubbernecks looking at the police cars) and I brake from 40-45 and as I near the officer he flags me over. So I have to pull into the HOV lane (left) and stop.

He then glances down at me and the passenger (chest??, seatbelt check??) Then shouts "license, insurance, and registration" after providing him with that he screams "what is the speed limit on this expwy!!?" I tell him 50 he says "How fast do you think you were going!!?" I tell him 40 (which is ACTUALLY the truth +-2 probably, I actually was watching the needle) He then exclaims WHAT! 40!!!? I tell him yes then he goes on to tell me the rules of the HOV lane and how its closed at this time and how I was driving in it (WTF!) and he is going to write me a summons warning (there is no summons warning) I try and tell him I was in the middle lane the whole time he just says pull further over and walks away for 5 minutes. Then the other cop hands me the summons and asks me if I know what it's for, I tell him no cop goes from normal to WHAT!!? and then tells me I switched lanes from the HOV lane into the middle all the way back and to follow the instructions on the back of the summons...

BASTARD COPS! I can't believe the NYPD writes bullsh*t tickets, (ellusive you're absolutely right) I never even drove in the HOV lane the officer flagged me over from the middle lane and it was slightly foggy. I should have driven the regular streets instead now I have to take a day off for this. I swear this BMW is bad luck first the mech, then the hit and run, and now this...

 

[Militant-Grunt]

Yea living in NYC sucks sometimes, i know how it feels, all those bullshit parking tickets for being 14.7 feet away from hydrant instead of 15 Feet.....

 

[MrElussive]

Grunt, they're actually pretty leniant about that. I think the actual rule is 25 feet or something really long like that, but most cops let it go when cars are pretty close because they know how tight parking is in NYC.

325i, I'm really sorry to hear what happened to you and obviously I know you feel, heh. Man if I were you, I would have just kept going acting all clueless and if they chased me down, I would have been like, "Oh sorry officer, I didn't realize you were signaling at me and that you wanted me to pull over, I don't run from cops or anything stupid like that blah blah blah" They must have been bored and decided to pick on the BMW driver. Would you like the info of the lawyer I'm using? $400 flat fee, he represents you in court (meaning you don't have to showup in court), and it's the most assured way -though not the cheapest- to get rid of the ticket

 

[codex57]

ok, now that sounds like a real bullsh ticket. man, sounds like NYC cops really are as corrupt as the rumors make them out to be.

 

[ThinkingBMW]

Cops. What's up with them these days? Seems like they're much more disfunctional than the rest of us. I guess there's too much hate going around and they're the magnets. Can't decide whether to hate them or feel sorry for them.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

325i, I'm really sorry to hear what happened to you and obviously I know you feel, heh. Man if I were you, I would have just kept going acting all clueless and if they chased me down, I would have been like, "Oh sorry officer, I didn't realize you were signaling at me and that you wanted me to pull over, I don't run from cops or anything stupid like that blah blah blah" They must have been bored and decided to pick on the BMW driver. Would you like the info of the lawyer I'm using? $400 flat fee, he represents you in court (meaning you don't have to showup in court), and it's the most assured way -though not the cheapest- to get rid of the ticket

Elussive thanks for the offer but I'm not spending $400 on a bullsh*t ticket, I am going to go to court IN PERSON and explain to the judge exactly what happened. It's a $90 fine and 2 pts. (I believe) if I plead guilty. My license is clean and I intend on keeping it that way, it would be ideal if the officer show's up I would love to have it dismissed in front of his face.

And as for being bored.... they actually had a parade of cars pulled over and as I was pulled over they got a van who was ACTUALLY driving in the HOV lane.

 

[MrElussive]

Your call, but I don't think it will work out well for you. It's your word against the cop's and the cop probably kows the judge personally. The ticket will probably just stand, NYC tickets are super hard to fight.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

NYC tickets are super hard to fight.

I remember saying that.... But I have a feeling this one will go down.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Update... Went to traffic court and sure enough the officer didn't show up. We waited 30 minutes until the Admin Law Judge (real bitter old man) tells us the officer was called into criminal court and he would decide case by case to either dismiss or postpone cases. This Army Capt. who came dressed in uniform with a traffic law book had to come back 3 times so he got his dismissed, a man from williamsport PA (who drove all the way here, same ticket HOV lane) got his dismissed too. Then after he postpones someone elses ticket, he gets to me and decides to postpone mine till practically November. I tell the ALJ I'll be in NJ without a car on that day and he tells me Union NJ is practically riverdale and it would take me 1/2 hour by car to get here (obviously he hasn't driven from Union NJ to the Brooklyn south DMV in a long time) and not to make any excuses for that day...

Beforehand while looking up my name on the board to see which room, some guy tells me "Oh you got a bad judge, they should take him off he's like a machine..." From my experience what that guy said seems right. So im wondering are there POINTS for HOV lane violations??? If it's just a fine even though the ticket was bullshit, I'll just pay it since that guy's gonna find me guilty anyway. Especially if it's just a fine when he sees BMW as the car make he's gonna cash it...

If there are points for it in NYC I guess I'll have to get a lawyer, anyone know?

 

[MrElussive]

That's complete and absolute bullshit. Small towns can reschedule court dates because their courts aren't busy, but NYC courts are ridiculously busy...judges aren't supposed to reschedule court dates for stupid traffic violations such as yours. Poor move on the judge's part to reschedule, now you're gonna go back there and the cop probably won't show up again.
You should really get a lawyer for this, he wouldn't have allowed the judge to reschedule the court date. If the cop doesn't show up to a NYC court, the ticket is supposed to get dismissed. If you get a lawyer, he can also represent you in court, meaning you don't have to show up to court date at all.

Sounds like you got a real jerk of a judge....but hey, they're all law enforcement so it's a given that they're jerks.

 

[R3LzX]

fook em is what i say they are in process of revoking my license, i have a court hearing on it in a few days.. i am going to beat them on a technicality.. ive been thrown in jail for speeding, license threat revoke etc... i hate cops and they always let the women get away with it and f you ahve anice ride you get stomped on

damn shame

 

[MrElussive]

If there are points for it in NYC I guess I'll have to get a lawyer, anyone know?

Check this out:
http://nytrafficticket.com/nyspointsystem/
I looked through that and I couldn't find any specifics on the HOV Lane points system. But if you look at all the 0-point violations, they all have nothing to do with the HOV Lane, so I'm guessing it's 2-4 points.

 

[MrElussive]

fook em is what i say they are in process of revoking my license, i have a court hearing on it in a few days.. i am going to beat them on a technicality.. ive been thrown in jail for speeding, license threat revoke etc... i hate cops and they always let the women get away with it and f you ahve anice ride you get stomped on

damn shame

Let us know what happens, I truly hope everything works out for you. I remember when you made the post about you possibly losing your license due to numerous speeding tickets. Just tell them you have an M3, maybe they'll understand.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Check this out:
http://nytrafficticket.com/nyspointsystem/
I looked through that and I couldn't find any specifics on the HOV Lane points system. But if you look at all the 0-point violations, they all have nothing to do with the HOV Lane, so I'm guessing it's 2-4 points.

It's failure to comply/obey traffic device (written on the ticket) so it looks like it's 2 points as everyone thinks...which means the premium rises. I just wanted to know for sure. Is that link the site of the lawyer you hired?

Sounds like you got a real jerk of a judge....but hey, they're all law enforcement so it's a given that they're jerks.

Haha thats for sure...

 

[MrElussive]

The lawyer I hired is at this web site:
http://www.notspeeding.com/
My brother got a 5-point ticket (59 in a 40, in NJ) and the lawyer got it reduced to 0 points. Then he got a 2-point ticket for making an illegal turn, 2 points reduced to 0 points.

As for my bullshit 62 in a 35 zone (I was only going about 40-45 on a NYC highway), he is still working on that one....I just got another notice in court, the lawyer keeps pushing it back and then it will finally be resolved.
He got my brother out of 6 potential points, so he's pretty damn good in my book! I just hope he gest rid of my 5-point ticket.

 

[aNoodle]

Dude that freakin sucks. When I pass the bar I hope to I can be meaningful and represent regular people with common issues. Problem is.....it don't pay much of anything. Listening to these posts makes me realize what matters. Meanwhile a big firm is offering good money for me to be downtown. This shizzy tears me apart. I don't know what to do. They say the trail lawyers are somehow the problem, but I would hope I could represent regular citizens against the State with its disfuntion. I almost want to defend against the monied interests and all their wealth and resources. Then again I'm reminded how I can get my next 3 series...I want another one in the first month of production again....unless Bangle hasn't been promoted enough up the chain. LOL. I've had a few...don't hold this post against me!!!!!!!!

 

[tool fan]

Ok STUPID question time.................What the hell is a HOV...never even heard of one.

 

[aNoodle]

Ok STUPID question time.................What the hell is a HOV...never even heard of one.

LOL. Dude, took me at least a year driving in GA to find someone to tell me. I was told High Occumpant Vehicle.

Get the blow up doll out and you're good to go.

 

[tool fan]

Get the blow up doll out and you're good to go.

HAHAHA

 

[codex57]

Dude that freakin sucks. When I pass the bar I hope to I can be meaningful and represent regular people with common issues. Problem is.....it don't pay much of anything. Listening to these posts makes me realize what matters. Meanwhile a big firm is offering good money for me to be downtown. This shizzy tears me apart. I don't know what to do. They say the trail lawyers are somehow the problem, but I would hope I could represent regular citizens against the State with its disfuntion. I almost want to defend against the monied interests and all their wealth and resources. Then again I'm reminded how I can get my next 3 series...I want another one in the first month of production again....unless Bangle hasn't been promoted enough up the chain. LOL. I've had a few...don't hold this post against me!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, fighting the good fight barely makes enough to make a decent living usually. People who need help the most usually can't afford it. Talk to your firm about doing pro bono work. Most traffic court attorneys I know are not wealthy people.

And yes, it's the trial attorneys that make it so tough on everyone. Not to be political, but just check who John Edwards' top supporters are and how they made their money.