Traffic violation procedures

So, here’s how it went down. I was trying to make a left turn into a parking lot entrance. To my left, there were two lines of cars waiting at the light about 50 yards away—total nightmare traffic—just creeping along in that stop-and-go mess. The entrance to the lot was blocked. I’m sitting there with my left blinker on, just waiting for someone to be decent enough to let me in. One car actually stopped and let me through, so I pulled out in front of them, but then I had to wait for another car from the other lane to stop so I wouldn't cut anyone off. Basically, I'm caught between two lanes of cars crawling forward just to get into the lot. I stop and wait. Then this Mazda Tribute comes flying by at 1.2 miles/h. I honestly thought he was going to let me in, so I started moving, but he kept coming too, and... bam. Nothing happened to my car, but his—he had one of those big bumpers made of some soft fucking plastic—got a dent in it, like someone kicked it or something. Nothing huge, though. We waited for the police to show up and they filed a report. His info is at the top of the page and mine is at the bottom. A buddy told me that just looking at how the paperwork is laid out, it looks like I'm the one at fault, but it’s not really like that. I don't feel guilty, but I have no clue how to defend myself or if it’s even worth it... The guy in the car parallel to him actually let me in, but this guy thought he was being a hero and didn't need to stop, which led to the collision. If he had any space to go, he would've stopped anyway after five feet. Help

Just so we're clear, there’s a broken line there, so turning isn't prohibited. There's only one dedicated turn lane for each direction, but because the traffic gets so heavy, drivers naturally spread out into two lanes. Basically, turning left there is perfectly legal...

So, here’s the deal...
It was 4:00 AM in April...
I’m driving down Bauer's toward the Vlach district. I stop at a red light, but there isn't a soul out on the streets. After about five seconds, I pull off at 1.2 miles/h (super slow, just first gear) and very cautiously enter the intersection, heading toward Central Park. About 50 meters later, I turn left onto Petrov. As soon as I hit Petrov, I see blue lights behind me and pull over to the side. They pull me over to check things out, and everything seems fine initially, but then the trouble starts when they ask if I've been drinking. I told them yes, but just a couple of beers. The thing is, I stopped drinking by 1:00 AM at the latest because I knew I had to drive, and I felt totally sober. But once we got to the station, my breathalyzer came back at 0.17. I don't know if that's considered high, but I didn't feel drunk or anything—I wasn't driving wild or anything, just a normal drive. I'm 5'11" and probably weighed about 185 lbs at the time.

And then... they write me up for running the red light ($333) after 11:00 PM ($167, and I'm a new driver) plus the alcohol charge ($667). Plus points, and I'll likely lose my license in just under a year once it all adds up.

They claimed I ran the red light, but they didn't mention that I actually stopped and waited before entering the intersection carefully. They saw it because they were parked right there, but since it was pitch black, I didn't realize it was a police car; I just thought it was a regular vehicle...
Also, this is my very first offense... and they're applying the old laws, not the new ones yet.

My question is: Is there anything I can actually do about this? 🙂

Thanks

Hey mods, could you please delete this? I accidentally posted the whole thread twice because my computer was acting up.

Just so you know—did you realize you chose to run that red light right in front of a police station?

ruggedpanther27 said:So, here’s the deal...
It was 4:00 AM in April...
I’m driving down Bauer's toward the Vlach district. I stop at a red light, but there isn't a soul out on the streets. After about five seconds, I pull off at 1.2 miles/h (super slow, just first gear) and very cautiously enter the intersection, heading toward Central Park. About 50 meters later, I turn left onto Petrov. As soon as I hit Petrov, I see blue lights behind me and pull over to the side. They pull me over to check things out, and everything seems fine initially, but then the trouble starts when they ask if I've been drinking. I told them yes, but just a couple of beers. The thing is, I stopped drinking by 1:00 AM at the latest because I knew I had to drive, and I felt totally sober. But once we got to the station, my breathalyzer came back at 0.17. I don't know if that's considered high, but I didn't feel drunk or anything—I wasn't driving wild or anything, just a normal drive. I'm 5'11" and probably weighed about 185 lbs at the time.

And then... they write me up for running the red light ($333) after 11:00 PM ($167, and I'm a new driver) plus the alcohol charge ($667). Plus points, and I'll likely lose my license in just under a year once it all adds up.

They claimed I ran the red light, but they didn't mention that I actually stopped and waited before entering the intersection carefully. They saw it because they were parked right there, but since it was pitch black, I didn't realize it was a police car; I just thought it was a regular vehicle...
Also, this is my very first offense... and they're applying the old laws, not the new ones yet.

My question is: Is there anything I can actually do about this? 🙂

Thanks

I'm absolutely up for it, and honestly, there's so much we could dive into!

I think I might go with this one instead! I was just reading this fascinating piece about how the Supreme Court is looking at those complicated cases involving state laws and federal authority, and it really makes you think about how much our legal landscape can shift with just one major ruling. It reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend over coffee in Seattle last week about how unpredictable things can feel sometimes, but honestly, watching these high-level debates unfold is always pretty interesting to me!,
I honestly can't believe the level of sheer stupidity some people are operating with lately; it’s actually quite wild to witness.I decided to grab a drink because I knew I'd be the one behind the wheel later that night.!
Was that just some kind of excuse to say you weren't drunk, or what? It reminds me of that awful case out in Chicago where a guy hit a pregnant woman on the highway and then tried to claim he just fell off a scaffold, acting all confused about why the police were even bothering him in the first place.
Here’s the link if you want to take a look and see for yourself how much that 1.17 of yours actually adds up to! I was just reading through some interesting research on how alcohol impacts our reaction times, and it really makes you think about those late-night drives home after a nice dinner out. It’s wild how even a little bit can subtly change the way we perceive distance or how quickly we hit the brakes, which is why I always make sure to grab an Uber if I've had more than one cocktail at a local bistro. I was just sitting out on my patio with a couple of cold Budweisers, thinking about how easy it is to say "yes" to a good time, yet somehow we always end up overthinking whether it's actually a "no."

It feels a bit much to give a pat on the back for someone who barely managed to navigate through a red light without causing a massive pileup, especially when you consider that eleven people lost their lives over the weekend alone. I honestly can't believe I'll end up getting lectured for pointing this out or being told not to play moral compass, because at the end of the day, we have to hold people accountable for these kinds of things.

I honestly think we should just go ahead and ban people who ask these kinds of ridiculous questions, then lock the thread immediately to keep things peaceful.

If a driver rolls through a red light because they just barely missed catching the yellow, I can look the other way... even if there isn't really a valid excuse for it. But someone who actually comes to a full stop at the light and then makes a conscious decision to blow right through it? That’s the kind of person who deserves the hammer coming down on them.👎

And you actually have the nerve to ask if there’s anything that can be done about this?

You earned this one. Just shut up, pay the fine, and please—for everyone's sake—never sit behind the wheel again.

Alright...
I see everyone here is tearing me apart, but clearly, nobody here actually lives in Chicago and knows what that intersection looks like in person...

That intersection is shaped like a T and there is no way you’re flying through that turn at 60 mph if you actually want to make it around safely...

Second off, when you're heading from one main street toward the downtown area, you can see at least 200 yards in every direction, and even more coming toward the center. Just so we're clear—there wasn't anyone else on the road. Plus, the road is wide, at least 50 feet across, and everything was lit up perfectly.

Third, I slowed down to 2 mph because I was still thinking about the fact that if someone comes barreling out without headlights, I might have to slam on the brakes again. And for the record, I did stop and wait for five seconds or longer, which proves I wasn't drunk and didn't just fly into the turn like a lunatic without even noticing there was a traffic light...

Fourth, there is a massive difference between speeding through a green light at 120 mph and hitting someone versus what happened here.

Frank Walker7
Don't twist my words; I hate that (you sound like some hack journalist)...
Just actually read what I meant regarding the part you bolded...

When I wrote "of course everything is fine," I wasn't saying I was sober—I meant my paperwork is in order and my record is clean. I haven't been penalized for anything, neither on the road nor anywhere else.

A .08 BAC isn't the same thing for a parent with a 30lb seven-year-old as it is for someone weighing 180lbs or more, so I don't really feel like debating that point...

The internet is a toxic place because people like you get to act all high and mighty behind a screen without ever having to stand by those words face-to-face.

AND YOUR P.S.—nobody asked you, so you don't need to offer your "suggestions"...

Hehe, I had a feeling you’d show up with a post just like this one.
To be honest, I’m not a journalist or anything, but I don't think that really matters here.

It seems like you don't actually know much about how alcohol works, yet you're still out there drinking it.
Contrary to what you think, a BAC of 0.17 is essentially the same for a small child as it is for someone weighing 330 pounds; the only difference is how much they have to consume to reach that level. Blood alcohol content doesn't measure the volume of liquid you swallowed, but rather your level of intoxication. So, while a kid might hit a 0.17 after just one beer, an adult would need way more to get there, but the actual effect of that alcohol remains roughly the same (if we ignore the fact that we're talking about a child). Also, I'm not sure why you're bringing up your weight—being 185 pounds at 5'11" is perfectly normal, so it's not really a factor here.

From your perspective, the main issue is just getting caught at that specific intersection. But that's totally irrelevant since you didn't mention where you sat in the car or where you were headed. That feeling of "I can handle driving" is exactly what causes accidents, because people who realize they shouldn't drive won't even try, whereas overconfident people like you end up killing folks on the road. At a 0.17, you could easily miss a motorcyclist who just has dim headlights.
"I can drive"... sure you can, right up until the moment you fail and hit someone. If you started driving drunk this young, and you still have decades of driving ahead of you, I honestly doubt you'll make it through your driving years without ruining someone's life if you keep up this habit.

When I said you were wasted, well, you were—so I'll say it again: YOU ARE WASTED AND RECKLESS, AND YOU SHOULD BE THROWN IN JAIL IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE YOUR LICENSE REVOKED FOR A LONG TIME!!! You knew you were going to drive, and you drank anyway, quite heavily at that, so there's really nothing left to debate.
(Katrin, if you feel like this language warrants a warning or a ban, go ahead and hand it down, but guys like this just get under my skin).

As for showing some real-world courage, why don't you try walking down the street and asking strangers for advice (just like you bravely ask anonymous people on a forum) on how to dodge a fine? Out of a hundred people, you'll probably run into someone whose life was ruined by a drunk driver, and at best, they'll probably punch you in the face. And I'm genuinely curious to see if anyone here is actually going to step up and help you deal with your legal troubles.

And I know you'll probably jump back in here claiming I have no right to call you out or telling me to shut up, but hey, this thread is as much yours as it is about the little guy, so maybe read up on what people like you do to others before it eventually happens to you.

I’m not deleting Temu, but I’m asking everyone to please stop replying to the latest inquiry posted , because any response is just going to be deleted.

Man, sorry, but 😁Zuckerberg
really took it too far...

I seriously need some advice here!!! So, I used to run my own small business back in the day, but I shut everything down around 2005. Back in 2004, I had an audit where they flagged a misdemeanor because of a cash shortage in the register, which kicked off a legal process. I was fully expecting to get hit with the fine pretty much immediately, but then out of nowhere, I just got the official ruling this past Monday, July 21st, 2008. My big question is how I should even handle this since it feels like the whole thing might have been lost in some bureaucratic black hole or something, and I'm honestly thinking about appealing it because the fine is just way too steep. Any tips on what to do would be awesome, thanks a ton!!

Hey everyone...
So, there I was this morning—just doing my usual routine before heading out to the coast for a vacation in Oakland—checking the mailbox to see if any mail had been left for me. I hopped in the car, full tank, and drove over to the local post office (which, by the way, should have been just past where Zuckerberg’s headquarters is located...) thinking I'd see what was waiting for me. And then, being an absolute idiot, I signed for a letter without even looking at it first. Turns out, it was a summons for a court hearing regarding a traffic violation I committed last year. Now, look, I would gladly show up, but the hearing is scheduled for just one week after the date I received the notice!!! And I already have my whole summer vacation paid for...
So here's the deal... A lawyer friend of mine suggested that since I'm currently away on vacation, I should send a handwritten and signed certified letter directly to "my" judge. So, I did exactly that—I wrote a nice, polite note explaining that I am 100% willing to appear at any other scheduled time, but right now, life happens and I simply can't make it work (okay, maybe I didn't use those exact words in the letter 😁).
A few questions for you all:
Is this approach actually okay? Do I just sit tight now and wait for the court to notify me via mail about a new hearing date? Will I face any financial penalties or other legal headaches? And will I come off as arrogant for, well, refusing to cut my prepaid vacation short and waste money driving back and forth across the country again...?
Just to clarify, this is the second hearing; the first one was back in the spring and I showed up without any issues, just like I would have done for this one if I were physically able to be there.

Thanks in advance. 🙂

you might not trust a lawyer, but you’ll definitely end up trusting the folks on this forum 😁 😁

😬 I honestly have no idea how you could possibly jump to that conclusion—I mean, really? Of course I trust him, which is exactly why I went ahead and did it... but I guess I was just looking for a little bit of a second opinion, you know?

Don't sweat it at all, because honestly, what happened is more than understandable and serves as a perfectly valid reason for needing that first postponement, especially since you were just getting started. It’s really no big deal.
P.S. I'm just crossing my fingers that it wasn't anything to do with alcohol, based on those few posts a little further up the thread.

It wasn’t even about the alcohol... though, speaking of which—it’s actually kind of wild when you think about it—how the officer couldn't believe his own eyes when the breathalyzer hit 0.0 at 11:00 AM on a Tuesday morning 🙄 😁

thanks

Laura Clark54 said:So, here’s how it went down. I was trying to make a left turn into a parking lot entrance. To my left, there were two lines of cars waiting at the light about 50 yards away—total nightmare traffic—just creeping along in that stop-and-go mess. The entrance to the lot was blocked. I’m sitting there with my left blinker on, just waiting for someone to be decent enough to let me in. One car actually stopped and let me through, so I pulled out in front of them, but then I had to wait for another car from the other lane to stop so I wouldn't cut anyone off. Basically, I'm caught between two lanes of cars crawling forward just to get into the lot. I stop and wait. Then this Mazda Tribute comes flying by at 1.2 miles/h. I honestly thought he was going to let me in, so I started moving, but he kept coming too, and... bam. Nothing happened to my car, but his—he had one of those big bumpers made of some soft fucking plastic—got a dent in it, like someone kicked it or something. Nothing huge, though. We waited for the police to show up and they filed a report. His info is at the top of the page and mine is at the bottom. A buddy told me that just looking at how the paperwork is laid out, it looks like I'm the one at fault, but it’s not really like that. I don't feel guilty, but I have no clue how to defend myself or if it’s even worth it... The guy in the car parallel to him actually let me in, but this guy thought he was being a hero and didn't need to stop, which led to the collision. If he had any space to go, he would've stopped anyway after five feet. Help

And what about me? Is nobody actually going to hold him accountable?!

Around 11:50 PM, I was driving back from Oakland toward downtown. Right where you hit that turnoff by the traffic light, I headed toward the stadium. A cop pulled me over just before the next light and pointed out that I was doing 46 miles mph in a 31 miles mph zone. The fine is $167. While he was writing me up, an ambulance was pulling up behind us—they were also doing 74 (which feels a little weird to me)—and the officer just told them to slow down and let them go. I know, I know, I’m being nitpicky, but even they have to follow the rules if their sirens and lights aren't actually on. This is my first offense; I was just rushing home (my parents are pretty old-school about this stuff, plus I'm driving a total clunker). I'm a sophomore in college, so paying this ticket is going to sting. What do you guys think I should put in my appeal?

Moderators, please let me know if this isn't the right sub for this... I already tried posting in the correct section, but they shut it down on me.

Does anyone here know what the penalties look like for a car accident involving property damage, assuming nobody was drinking or under the influence...?

Are we talking just a fine, or points on my license, or losing my driver's license entirely... or maybe all of the above?

Thanks!