Hit while making turn on arrow, received Careless Driving ticket

[LsThree]

What is the name of your state? New Jersey

I was hit halfway through making a turn at an intersection with a green arrow. The officer took down the other driver's story and my story. After some time, he then gave me a ticket for Careless Driving, stating that I should have yielded right of way to traffic in the intersection, as if he had ignored my statement that I had a green arrow for my side--but both parties' statements are on the accident report as they had been recounted.

Why did he decide to place the blame on me?

How should I go about this in court?

This is my first moving violation, ever, in four years of driving.

 

[ylen13]

were there cars waiting to finish making left turn when you entered the intersection on gree arrow? Or are you saying that intersection was clear and you had green arrow and the car that hit yo run a red light?

 

[LsThree]

Intersection was clear.

No cars waiting to turn because it was a green arrow.

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

You have no case to prove. You were cited, not the other driver. You have no witness, so the cop did his job.

I"m sure the cops looked at skid marks and everything else they are trained to look at.

 

[LsThree]

Will my two passengers be considered biased? No skidmarks since the ground was wet.

You were waiting to turn.

You have no case to prove. You were cited, not the other driver. You have no witness, so the cop did his job.

I"m sure the cops looked at skid marks and everything else they are trained to look at.

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

Fight it in court, bring documents, police reports and your mother OK?

 

[LsThree]

Thanks for the candid advice. I guess trivial matters like mine really don't matter. I'll go to my mother and ask her to yell at someone for me.

 

[ljt99]

Intersection was clear.

No cars waiting to turn because it was a green arrow.

I'm really curious---if it was a clear intersection, where did the car you collided with come from? They almost would have had to have run a red light to collide with your car. Did they?

 

[LsThree]

It would seem so, I only saw the other driver when I was halfway through the turn, by the time I saw the other car, it was too late, their tires locked up and and the car smacked into me.

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? New Jersey

I was hit halfway through making a turn at an intersection with a green arrow. The officer took down the other driver's story and my story. After some time, he then gave me a ticket for Careless Driving, stating that I should have yielded right of way to traffic in the intersection, as if he had ignored my statement that I had a green arrow for my side--but both parties' statements are on the accident report as they had been recounted.

Why did he decide to place the blame on me?

How should I go about this in court?

This is my first moving violation, ever, in four years of driving.

You do not say but I am assuming you were making a left turn. Based on that assumption, you must remember that if you were NOT in your own lane of traffic and there is an accident, the cop will almost always give you the ticket.


Standard answer

Here are some hints on appearing in court:

Dress professionally in clean clothes.

Do not wear message shirts.

Don't chew gum, smoke, or eat.

Bathe and wash your hair.

Go to court beforehand some day before you actually have to go to watch how things go.

Speak politely and deferentially. If you argue or dispute something, do it professionally and without emotion.

Ask the court clerk who you talk to about a diversion (meaning you want to plead to a different, lesser charge), if applicable in your situation.


Here are five stories that criminal court judges hear the most (and I suggest you do not use them or variations of them):

1. I’ve been saved! (This is not religion specific; folks from all kinds of religious backgrounds use this one.)

2. My girlfriend/mother/sister/daughter is pregnant/sick/dying/dead/crippled and needs my help.

3. I’ve got a job in [name a state five hundred miles away].

4. This is the first time I ever did this.

5. You’ve got the wrong guy. (A variation of this one is the phantom defendant story: “It wasn’t me driving, it was a hitchhiker I picked up. He wrecked the car, drug me behind the wheel then took off.”)

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=854687#post854687

Other people may give you other advice; stand by.

 

[LsThree]

Thank you, seniorjudge

 

[seniorjudge]

Thank you, seniorjudge

You are welcome.

 

[Jersy]

what else.. No patience!!

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Generally I see cops doesn't have patience in listening & taking time to decide which side possibly truth reside? In you case also, this is what happenned? Best thing I can say, is write down clearly what happenned that day immediately. this will help avoid any contracdiction on the court date as any of this is immediate pointers for rejection. Courts/procecutors always look for any inconsistency & be judgemental about it rather than facts of the case.. Ex. facts consistancy, record consistency, etcc. some time tkt record is given too much consideration than facts of the case itself.. HE/SHE SHOULD HAVE BEHAVED in a particular fashion etc... based on past record!! after all they are judges right?? they will be judgemental!!!!!!!