teamhypoxia
Thu Aug 13th, 2009, 08:24 PM
So I got a nice little ticket today... 8 points and $200.
I'm sure everyone says this, but I don't think I did anything wrong.
Stop reading if you don't care because I'm about to launch into a lengthy explanation.
Riding southbound on I-25, I take the exit ramp for 58th. I hear the "bloop" of a police siren (you know how they just bump it sometimes) and I turn around to see a maroon unmarked sedan. (note: no lights on top) I immediately pulled over to the left (I was in the far left turn lane).
The officer jumps out and practically runs up to my bike. He's irate. "Why don't you pull your GD bike up further so I can get my car of the road!" "First, give me your f'in license so I know you're not gonna run!" I seriously thought he was going to pull his gun on me and make me assume the position or something. This dude was pissed!
I hand him my license, and he goes back to the car as I begin to push the bike further up and off the pavement. "When I get back I want your helmet off and your insurance and registration!" he yells back at me. So I get my papers from the airbox (riding the drz) and he waves me back to the car.
"You made me look like a jackass!" he says. "I had to call dispatch back, there were six more cars on the way because I thought you were running!" At this point he obviously realizes that I never had any intentions of running and he starts to calm down a bit, but he's still plenty pissed.
"I've been trying to pull you over for miles! You might want to look behind you once in a while you know. I've had my lights and siren on since 36! The reason I was pulling you over is because you were following that car way too close!"
The only thing coming from my end is a bunch of yessir, nosir, and I apologize. (seriously... I'm plenty pissed now, but at the time I was just confused about the whole situation and his fury) I never even asked about the car he said I was following too close to, I figured my best course of action at this point was to be as polite and non-antagonistic as possible.
So, I got a ticket for "CRS 42-4-705 Failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicles" (4 points and $87) and "CRS 42-4-1008 (1) Following too closely" (4 points and $111.00) plus a DNA surcharge of $2.50 (?)
I have no idea about the car he said I was following too close. I'm sure not going to tailgate when riding my bike. If you know the area, you know there's a lot of traffic converging, merging, and exiting right there (25, 36, 76, 270, etc.) so I'm sure that at one point someone may have changed lanes right in front of me or I right behind them, but I have no recollection of any close calls or anything that concerned me at all.
The first I knew of the cop behind me, was when I was actually on the exit ramp and he bumped his siren. Clearly, he didn't have his siren on immediately prior to the "bump". I was wearing a helmet, but I've always been able to hear sirens, horns, screetching tires, and all the other noises you hear when riding, so I seriously doubt his claim of having "lights and sirens going for miles". Also, it's not that great a distance between highway 36 and 58th Ave. with few opportunities to pull over due to exit and entrance ramps.
The Adams county sheriff warned me that if I chose to take it to court, he would definitely be there.
So I think the ticket is BS (doesn't everyone), but I'm wondering if it's worth fighting or not. The burden of proof is on the prosecution, but I think typically the word of the officer is looked at as "proof" by the courts? So, I pay within 20 days and half the points drop off, or I fight it and risk what?
I did call the Adams county sheriff's dispatch to see if they recorded radio traffic and if it was public record. They said they did and it was, but that it would cost $50 for an audio CD and $25 for a written transcription. It's his claim that "I had to call dispatch back, there were six more cars on the way because I thought you were running!" and "You made me look like a jackass!" that made me curious about the radio recordings.
Thoughts?
I'm sure everyone says this, but I don't think I did anything wrong.
Stop reading if you don't care because I'm about to launch into a lengthy explanation.
Riding southbound on I-25, I take the exit ramp for 58th. I hear the "bloop" of a police siren (you know how they just bump it sometimes) and I turn around to see a maroon unmarked sedan. (note: no lights on top) I immediately pulled over to the left (I was in the far left turn lane).
The officer jumps out and practically runs up to my bike. He's irate. "Why don't you pull your GD bike up further so I can get my car of the road!" "First, give me your f'in license so I know you're not gonna run!" I seriously thought he was going to pull his gun on me and make me assume the position or something. This dude was pissed!
I hand him my license, and he goes back to the car as I begin to push the bike further up and off the pavement. "When I get back I want your helmet off and your insurance and registration!" he yells back at me. So I get my papers from the airbox (riding the drz) and he waves me back to the car.
"You made me look like a jackass!" he says. "I had to call dispatch back, there were six more cars on the way because I thought you were running!" At this point he obviously realizes that I never had any intentions of running and he starts to calm down a bit, but he's still plenty pissed.
"I've been trying to pull you over for miles! You might want to look behind you once in a while you know. I've had my lights and siren on since 36! The reason I was pulling you over is because you were following that car way too close!"
The only thing coming from my end is a bunch of yessir, nosir, and I apologize. (seriously... I'm plenty pissed now, but at the time I was just confused about the whole situation and his fury) I never even asked about the car he said I was following too close to, I figured my best course of action at this point was to be as polite and non-antagonistic as possible.
So, I got a ticket for "CRS 42-4-705 Failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicles" (4 points and $87) and "CRS 42-4-1008 (1) Following too closely" (4 points and $111.00) plus a DNA surcharge of $2.50 (?)
I have no idea about the car he said I was following too close. I'm sure not going to tailgate when riding my bike. If you know the area, you know there's a lot of traffic converging, merging, and exiting right there (25, 36, 76, 270, etc.) so I'm sure that at one point someone may have changed lanes right in front of me or I right behind them, but I have no recollection of any close calls or anything that concerned me at all.
The first I knew of the cop behind me, was when I was actually on the exit ramp and he bumped his siren. Clearly, he didn't have his siren on immediately prior to the "bump". I was wearing a helmet, but I've always been able to hear sirens, horns, screetching tires, and all the other noises you hear when riding, so I seriously doubt his claim of having "lights and sirens going for miles". Also, it's not that great a distance between highway 36 and 58th Ave. with few opportunities to pull over due to exit and entrance ramps.
The Adams county sheriff warned me that if I chose to take it to court, he would definitely be there.
So I think the ticket is BS (doesn't everyone), but I'm wondering if it's worth fighting or not. The burden of proof is on the prosecution, but I think typically the word of the officer is looked at as "proof" by the courts? So, I pay within 20 days and half the points drop off, or I fight it and risk what?
I did call the Adams county sheriff's dispatch to see if they recorded radio traffic and if it was public record. They said they did and it was, but that it would cost $50 for an audio CD and $25 for a written transcription. It's his claim that "I had to call dispatch back, there were six more cars on the way because I thought you were running!" and "You made me look like a jackass!" that made me curious about the radio recordings.
Thoughts?