Video: passing emergency vehicle citation BS

[Broncojohnny]

You are guilty of drawing attention to yourself. Having a car that is louder than the norm takes on more responsibility. Being pulled over for frivolous things comes with the territory. The way it looks is if you are trying to get away from the cop. Pretty brainless to goose the gas right in front of him. It also looks as though you had plenty of time and space to slow down (especially in a Vette) to the required speed. If the judge hates loud cars as much as the cop the best you are looking at a lesser charge. Get a lawyer, dress in business attire and let lawyer do all the talking unless the judge asks you a direct question.

Sure it is. Having loud exhaust can invite a whole lot of different charges. One of them being whether or not your exhaust is legal, if it's w/in Db limits, if all components on your exhaust have an Executive Order number and if all smog components are on the car and operational.

I was going to say this. The car isn't helping things. The loud exhaust just makes it worse. People associate loud cars with going fast, it is nonsense but it is true. Add the cop's tender feelings into the mix and he took that loud noise as disrespect, that is why he chased you down through heavy traffic.

[mikec]

How did you get the video from the police car?

Carjacked the cop. Works just about every time, I hear...

[564826]

How did you get the video from the police car?

[SS Junk]

You are guilty of drawing attention to yourself. Having a car that is louder than the norm takes on more responsibility. Being pulled over for frivolous things comes with the territory. The way it looks is if you are trying to get away from the cop. Pretty brainless to goose the gas right in front of him. It also looks as though you had plenty of time and space to slow down (especially in a Vette) to the required speed. If the judge hates loud cars as much as the cop the best you are looking at a lesser charge. Get a lawyer, dress in business attire and let lawyer do all the talking unless the judge asks you a direct question.

I should have, but that isn't a citable offense.

Sure it is. Having loud exhaust can invite a whole lot of different charges. One of them being whether or not your exhaust is legal, if it's w/in Db limits, if all components on your exhaust have an Executive Order number and if all smog components are on the car and operational.

[tangstang]

Guilty of one thing: driving a vette.

He can't prove that you were doing more than 50 mph(the other cars in the video are definitely going less than 50 and you appear to be doing at least 5 mph more but still...), I say its BS, hope you get it thrown out.

[03trubluGT]

I understand some of that, but this guy shouldn't get a pass on those sorts of laws just because he's trying to catch someone. Speeding, sure. Not being able to keep his vehicle in one lane with no obstructions, unacceptable.

Most people freak out when they see a police car with lights behind them.

They forget what the hell to do, when everyone knows to pull to the right and stop.

This is from NHTSA's website:

When an emergency vehicle is approaching:
· Pull over to the edge of the roadway, clear of intersections, and stop.
· Remain there until the emergency vehicle has passed. Watch for others. There may be several other emergency vehicles.
· Keep a foot on the brake so the brake lights let emergency vehicle drivers know you have stopped.
· Stay at least 500 feet behind any moving emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights and sounding a siren. Never race after an emergency vehicle to get through a traffic light.
· Never pass a moving emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights unless directed to do so by a police officer or emergency personnel.

So, when you straddle a lane, for some reason it makes them think you want to pass on the left and they move right.

Now for the guy on the exit ramp, he sure as hell didn't pull over to the right and stop, he kept going.

[Machx2]

I understand some of that, but this guy shouldn't get a pass on those sorts of laws just because he's trying to catch someone. Speeding, sure. Not being able to keep his vehicle in one lane with no obstructions, unacceptable.

I know exactly what he is doing, because I do it as well. I usually get farther over to aviod cars that aren't paying attention. I have had many cars cut me off. I don't understand your complaint. I was actually taught to drive just that way at higher speeds passing traffic.

[racrguy]

Where did I hear this before? Oh yea, I said it.

If you want to see a good abuse of power and be helpless to do anything about it, ask for a trial by judge. They are supposed to be impartial, but they can make a finding without explaining it.



You seek out fault in anything with authority.

Yea, emergency vehicles are exempt. How do you think a fire engine gets to a scene? Using the emergency vehicle exemption.

How do you think an ambulance transports the injured to a hospital?
Using the emergency vehicle exemption.

How do you think police chase violators and respond to high priority calls?

Oh yea, the emergency vehicle exemption.

I understand some of that, but this guy shouldn't get a pass on those sorts of laws just because he's trying to catch someone. Speeding, sure. Not being able to keep his vehicle in one lane with no obstructions, unacceptable.

[LS1Goat]

Two things, "obviously disappearing" has nothing to do with either citation he received, and, if you would, prove to us real quick that he was going faster than 50 mph.

Stevo

i don't feel obliged to prove anything. it's just my observation. however, it's a moot point. the OP did a great job of explaining the circumstances that put him in this situation. just more very humorous (to me) ftp rhetoric with a mea culpa from the thread starter. always makes for a good read.

My big mistake is getting back on the gas immediately after I pass the DPS trooper and the car that had pulled over. That attracted his attention

[03trubluGT]

Or the jury. I have had jury duty TWICE in the last couple years now for people going to court to fight tickets. If he really wants for it to be impartially tried, it needs to be a jury trial. The judge that plays golf with the prosecutor on Wednesdays isn't all that partial in these cases it seems.

Stevo

Where did I hear this before? Oh yea, I said it.

If you want to see a good abuse of power and be helpless to do anything about it, ask for a trial by judge. They are supposed to be impartial, but they can make a finding without explaining it.

Therein lies the problem.

You seek out fault in anything with authority.

Yea, emergency vehicles are exempt. How do you think a fire engine gets to a scene? Using the emergency vehicle exemption.

How do you think an ambulance transports the injured to a hospital?
Using the emergency vehicle exemption.

How do you think police chase violators and respond to high priority calls?

Oh yea, the emergency vehicle exemption.

[racrguy]

huh?

No disrespect intended.

[mouthbreather]

huh?

[racrguy]

Emergency vehicles can operate contrary to the law.

He can park that thing sideways on the tollway and it is perfectly legal.

Therein lies the problem.

[stevo]

i didn't say he was going 70. i said he was speeding. technically, the speed limit was 50 in that circumstance. he appears to be going faster than the flow of traffic and then obviously disappeared. it's nothing a good traffic attorney can't take care of, but it's odd crying foul about it after seeing the video. some people just like to feel as if they are always slighted by the police and want a sympathetic ear.

Two things, "obviously disappearing" has nothing to do with either citation he received, and, if you would, prove to us real quick that he was going faster than 50 mph.

Stevo

[stevo]

I always think its funny when people get a ticket and come here to bitch about it looking for ways out.

Go get a lawyer. The only person you need to convince is THE JUDGE.

Or the jury. I have had jury duty TWICE in the last couple years now for people going to court to fight tickets. If he really wants for it to be impartially tried, it needs to be a jury trial. The judge that plays golf with the prosecutor on Wednesdays isn't all that partial in these cases it seems.

Stevo