Girlfriend pulled over unjustly.?

About 2 days ago my girlfriend was pulled over by a cop for no particular reason. The cop than notified her that she tried to switch lanes without signaling however she argued that she did signal ( I can testify this). The cop than told her that " he's not going to argue with her and he doesn't make mistakes". Also, he " noticed a couple of cars in front of her not signal but he can't catch them all". At this point I was pretty furious and was about to ***** the cop out ( I didn't though to avoid further conflict). Anyway, she was let off with a warning, however if in the case that she had gotten a ticket, how would I go about appealing it to the court? I'm just asking out of curiosity because cops always think you don't know anything about the law and take advantage of you and i want to educate myself.
Additional Details
Yeah, i'm actually looking for suggestions in the case that she actually did get a ticket.. so if you don't have one any... move on.

beverly

Here we have another installment of 'for no reason', where people say that something happened to them 'for no reason' and then prove that they either have no clue, or that there IS a reason and they were told what it is.

You then explain the reason.

Whether you agree with the officer or not, the fact is that failing to signal a lane change IS a reason. If the officer is mistaken, fine, you can argue it in court; however, if he *believes* it to be true he has a reason and thus cause to stop you.

Good thing you didn't say anything; that would have turned the warning into a ticket straightaway.

In the event that he had written a ticket, there really isn't anything you could have done about it. You are free to contest such tickets in court; however, if it comes down to the word of the driver versus the word of the officer, the driver will lose. 'Witnesses' who are also passengers in the car are almost never persuasive because they almost always have some personal relationship to the accused, so your testimony would have likely been ignored.

For what it is worth, signaling lane changes must be done properly to avoid a violation. You have to signal a reasonable amount of time prior to the lane change and it must continue until the change has completed. Most people do these little half-hearted, signal-as-I-move things that are just as legal as a 'rolling stop' at a stop sign.

mikeysco

I think Beverly worded it beautifully. I would only add one thing:

You wouldn't contest this at all. You aren't the one who would have received the ticket. You can show up and testify as a witness and Beverly pretty much addressed that.

tacos

wow...good thing you didn't get a ticket....ENOUGH SAID !!!!

I think the police officer was "fishing." What kind of car were you driving (for example were you driving a "beater?") What do you guys look like? (partakers of illegal substances?) Officers get "hunches" about the apperance of drivers and cars on the road (one that says he doesnt is lying) Just thought I would interject this idea so you might take a look at yourselves and your car. Policer Officers can stop you for minor traffic violations such as the one you describe, but most usually dont take the time unless they are looking for more in your vehicle. You also didnt tell us where and when this happened (late at night in the middle of the hood?) It might have been who you were with and where you were. Im quite sure the officer had his reasons.

delive_rance

You were there with your girlfriend, therefore you can assess fully if she is pulled over unjustly or not. I for one couldn't rightfully tell whether the cops are right or your girlfriend committed a violation of the traffic rules & regulations by just reading your side of the story. As we always know there are 2 sides of the coin right? Your side and the side of the arresting police officer. If you firmly believe your girlfriend didn't commit a traffic infraction then you can contest the ticket if any in the court of law. And since she was let off with a WARNING only then no harm no foul policy is implemented on your case.

Your girlfriend can appeal it to the court through your own counsel or lawyer in the court of law. Yes that is correct in some point in time that some cops not all cops are like this one who thinks that you do not know anything about the law and some how will tell it to you right in the face. Just like I read before in a news article "some cops are robbers....and some robbers are cops..."If you really want to educate yourself then read more on the law books or study the law course and be a lawyer someday.

consrgreat

You would PAY the ticket....I guarantee in Court you would lose the Judge would take the word of a LE officer over that of a motorist and her boyfriend..

McCain's a butt sniffer!

If she had gotten a ticket you would be able to contest it court... You would tell your side of the story to the judge and he would decide

Mad Viking

Sounds like hew as just pissed that he couldn't get one of the people who wasn't signaling, so just took out his frustration by pulling you guys over to harrass you.

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