Hearing for not stopping completely at stop sign?

Fred C

Nowhere do you say you are actually innocent, but the cop doesn't show up to your summons date to hear if you plead guilty or not guilty, despite what people say. If you plead not guilty, you get a hearing or trial date, and the cop is issued a subpoena to attend your trial. He will be there, by law, unless he is subpoenaed for a murder or arson, or similar serious offence, at the same time.
Chances are 99% he will be at your trial to tell them you not only rolled through the stop sign, but acted in an inappropriate manner when pulled over after the offence.
He is not there to confront you, as a matter of fact, he can't confront you, he is there to testify against you.

Now I ask you this. What if, instead of being caught by a cop, you had hit a pedestrian, or a child on a bicycle, or a car proceeding legally (or even speeding) through the intersection. Signs and signals aren't placed there as options to obey if you darn well feel like, and they aren't placed there just for other people. They apply to everybody, including you.

There is a reason I am still alive after 43 years of driving, and over 1 1/2 million miles. There is a reason I have maximum merits on my driver licence. There is a reason I have maxomum discounts on my automobile insurance. There is a reason each of the people I taught to drive received their licence after the first road test.

redhzkingswood

You should pay the fine, if you go to court the judge can increase it to over $500 so why risk it.

Jenna

Most of the time, the cop doesn't show up and the case is dismissed. However, if the cop does show up and truly wants to "have it out for you", the judge could rule in favor for the cop... meaning that you will have to pay the maximum fine and you won't be able to go to traffic school, hence your insurance could go up.

donktheclown

Here is what they do in my state of Connecticut. If you dispute a charge and then show up in court, they usually reduce your fine and dismiss your charges if you pay the fine to charity. Call and see if your's is the same.

sweetangel_1300

If it was me, I would have just paid the ticket. Its your fault you didn't completely stop. Sure he probably should have just given you a warning, but then again you broke the law. I don't even know if this is worth fighting. It seems like it would be more trouble and more money to fight it. I wish the best of luck to you though. I hope you win and learned your lesson.

JennyLove

usually when you fight a case, the cop doesnt even show up to court..so why not try?

fuzz_chick2000

Calm down Fred C...

Mz. L, if you stopped and your car rocked back then you were probably ok. If you didn't stop at all then you really can't do much. If you were in the right and you did stop you can maybe debate the rule of 'stopping' - the 3 second or rocking back thing... all said and done, it's not going to be easy but getting more common for cops to be picky.

Zac

Go, odds are the cop might not even show up, if he doesn't, you win. Case dismissed!

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