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The state cops. They unfortunately have to play "local cop" in many areas around the state. In these areas, they are well known for being "assigned" these sh1t jobs because of discipline, or poor performance, whatever. Basically, it's a punishment to them.

So my wife is coming home from work, on a busy highway interchange. She gets off one highway to get onto the next, takes the exit, and as always, during rush hour, the traffic to get onto the highway is backed halfway up the ramp (ramp stoppers! ugh!). So she waits her turn at the end of the ramp.

She's got at least 20 feet of ramp in front of her and she's in the center of her lane. There's an 18 wheeler barrelling up the right lane on the highway, clearly going 70+ in a 50mph zone, my wife figures she aint gonna try to floor it to get in front of that truck, she plans to punch it when he gets past.

Only problem is that he isn't paying much attention, and veers into the merge ramp lane, and only by about 1 inch misses rear ending her, but does side swipe our new car (2012), obliterating the driver side mirror. Keep in mind, my wife was at a dead stop. The truck keeps going, of course, never even slowing down.

She goes into persuit mode, swerving, honking, flashing him, he ain't stopping. Finally about 2 miles up the highway she pulls over and calls the cops to report it. She has his plate #. Seems pretty clear cut.

Nope. State cop arrives. He has an attitude from the beginning. She explains everything to him exactly as I did above. He tells her that it's her fault. Yep. She can't understand why, he explains that just by being on the merge ramp, that she's required by law to yield to any highway traffic.

REALLY? I understand the law might be written to ensure MERGING onto the highway is clearly understood, but that's most certainly not the spirit of that law, nor a proper interpretation of it. This guy was clearly upset that his donut routine that morning was interrupted, and she was the only driver present to take it out on.

Isn't he going to persue the other driver for leaving the scene of an accident? Nope. Her fault. Period. No elaboration. Well.. she cried. Thanks mr public service, you made my wife's very first accident far more unpleasant and costly than it should have been. Care to kick a puppy while you walk back to your car?

So she came home, was upset for two days over it.

And then today. Just now. I get home, check the mail... Traffic citation. Failure to yield. $112.46.

ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME?!?

If you want to plead guilty.. you can sign the form and pay later, or make a payment arrangement.

If you want to plead NOT GUILTY, you must pay the entire fine UP FRONT within 10 days.

OMFG, I am going to see this AHOLE in court. I'm also going to file a complaint with his captain and start coaching my wife on how she's going plead her case in court. I've been thru this before, I know how to beat this kind of BS, but she's just never dealt with this stuff before. He saw an easy target to help fill his monthly quota. And yeah, I know they deny those exist, but they do.

F*ck Pennsylvania! I hate this state! Everything about it sucks, EXCEPT my job. Everyone here is so gaddam corrupt, right down to every local person with any power. This whole place just f*ucking blows.

First and foremost It's so good that your wife was not physically harmed,but,Boy do you hate that state.So your defense is,you going to court.Tell a judge that hey this cop is a big doughnut eater.This state sucks and this state is corrupt and i ain't gonna pay this ticket,and by the way I want that cop fired.Well best of luck I hope it does not cost you more than $112.00 that wouldn't make no sense.

Kramerguy wrote:The state cops. They unfortunately have to play "local cop" in many areas around the state. In these areas, they are well known for being "assigned" these sh1t jobs because of discipline, or poor performance, whatever. Basically, it's a punishment to them.

So my wife is coming home from work, on a busy highway interchange. She gets off one highway to get onto the next, takes the exit, and as always, during rush hour, the traffic to get onto the highway is backed halfway up the ramp (ramp stoppers! ugh!). So she waits her turn at the end of the ramp.

She's got at least 20 feet of ramp in front of her and she's in the center of her lane. There's an 18 wheeler barrelling up the right lane on the highway, clearly going 70+ in a 50mph zone, my wife figures she aint gonna try to floor it to get in front of that truck, she plans to punch it when he gets past.

Only problem is that he isn't paying much attention, and veers into the merge ramp lane, and only by about 1 inch misses rear ending her, but does side swipe our new car (2012), obliterating the driver side mirror. Keep in mind, my wife was at a dead stop. The truck keeps going, of course, never even slowing down.

She goes into persuit mode, swerving, honking, flashing him, he ain't stopping. Finally about 2 miles up the highway she pulls over and calls the cops to report it. She has his plate #. Seems pretty clear cut.

Nope. State cop arrives. He has an attitude from the beginning. She explains everything to him exactly as I did above. He tells her that it's her fault. Yep. She can't understand why, he explains that just by being on the merge ramp, that she's required by law to yield to any highway traffic.

REALLY? I understand the law might be written to ensure MERGING onto the highway is clearly understood, but that's most certainly not the spirit of that law, nor a proper interpretation of it. This guy was clearly upset that his donut routine that morning was interrupted, and she was the only driver present to take it out on.

Isn't he going to persue the other driver for leaving the scene of an accident? Nope. Her fault. Period. No elaboration. Well.. she cried. Thanks mr public service, you made my wife's very first accident far more unpleasant and costly than it should have been. Care to kick a puppy while you walk back to your car?

So she came home, was upset for two days over it.

And then today. Just now. I get home, check the mail... Traffic citation. Failure to yield. $112.46.

ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME?!?

If you want to plead guilty.. you can sign the form and pay later, or make a payment arrangement.

If you want to plead NOT GUILTY, you must pay the entire fine UP FRONT within 10 days.

OMFG, I am going to see this AHOLE in court. I'm also going to file a complaint with his captain and start coaching my wife on how she's going plead her case in court. I've been thru this before, I know how to beat this kind of BS, but she's just never dealt with this stuff before. He saw an easy target to help fill his monthly quota. And yeah, I know they deny those exist, but they do.

F*ck Pennsylvania! I hate this state! Everything about it sucks, EXCEPT my job. Everyone here is so gaddam corrupt, right down to every local person with any power. This whole place just f*ucking blows.

Its like I said...We didnt vote for Obama, but he won anyway...Welcome to the new world order. Sorry your wife had to endure all that crap... If you decide to take this to court, do two things: 1) File a motion of discovery (so you can bring evidence to suppor your case...and avoid embarassment from the county prosecutor) 2) Be willing to accept partial blame. The law is the law, whether we agree or not. Most states carry the same law about merging traffic.

Damn Kramer that sucks, Im glad your wife is OK!

He ( other driver ) still has to stop by law. Whom is at fault at that point is irrelevant.
Get a lawyer . . .

Joewillplay wrote:First and foremost It's so good that your wife was not physically harmed,but,Boy do you hate that state.So your defense is,you going to court.Tell a judge that hey this cop is a big doughnut eater.This state sucks and this state is corrupt and i ain't gonna pay this ticket,and by the way I want that cop fired.Well best of luck I hope it does not cost you more than $112.00 that wouldn't make no sense.

No... I'm here venting. I'm not so dumb that I would walk into court with that attitude.


Here's what I'm doing:

Lawyer: No. Nobody brings a lawyer to traffic court, and it work against you if you do. It's not really even a proper court for traffic here, it's a judge or magistrate of the township, and the cop. It's fairly simple. Your case gets called, cop tells his side, then you approach and tell yours. The judges and magistrates generally have zero tolerance for elaboration, even if it's relevant to the argument. They want the facts and nothing but the facts.

So here's the facts:
* She was in a legal lane of travel
* the lane was a merge lane
* She was at least 20 feet away from the dotted line that marked the entrance from the merge lane into the highway lane.
* She was within the marked borders of that lane
* She was stopped, waiting for traffic in the highway lane to pass
* A vehicle from the highway crossed the border, into her lane
* The vehicle Struck her car
* the vehicle did not stop

If the cop WANTS to argue that "the law is the law" on merge lanes, I will gladly argue that the truck then is still at fault, because at that point, he's now IN the merge lane, and subject to the laws that govern it, and since he was in motion and she was not, and they were both in the merge lane, well, then it's an "all things being equal" application and she's still innocent.

I don't see how I could possibly lose this case.

AND THAT'S MY problem with this. She's an hour away from home, they KNOW most people would not fight it. Easy money. I'm thinking of getting a lawyer JUST to file a motion against the department for both our lost wages and mental anguish, just to make a point. But that's certainly money and time I'll never see again.

I'd be less concerned about traffic court. The trucker and his company should be sued . . . he placed your wife's life in jeopardy.

Hit and run / failure to stop and render aid, can be take out of their home jurisdiction.

Kramerguy wrote:

Joewillplay wrote:First and foremost It's so good that your wife was not physically harmed,but,Boy do you hate that state.So your defense is,you going to court.Tell a judge that hey this cop is a big doughnut eater.This state sucks and this state is corrupt and i ain't gonna pay this ticket,and by the way I want that cop fired.Well best of luck I hope it does not cost you more than $112.00 that wouldn't make no sense.

No... I'm here venting. I'm not so dumb that I would walk into court with that attitude.


Here's what I'm doing:

Lawyer: No. Nobody brings a lawyer to traffic court, and it work against you if you do. It's not really even a proper court for traffic here, it's a judge or magistrate of the township, and the cop. It's fairly simple. Your case gets called, cop tells his side, then you approach and tell yours. The judges and magistrates generally have zero tolerance for elaboration, even if it's relevant to the argument. They want the facts and nothing but the facts.

So here's the facts:
* She was in a legal lane of travel
* the lane was a merge lane
* She was at least 20 feet away from the dotted line that marked the entrance from the merge lane into the highway lane.
* She was within the marked borders of that lane
* She was stopped, waiting for traffic in the highway lane to pass
* A vehicle from the highway crossed the border, into her lane
* The vehicle Struck her car
* the vehicle did not stop

If the cop WANTS to argue that "the law is the law" on merge lanes, I will gladly argue that the truck then is still at fault, because at that point, he's now IN the merge lane, and subject to the laws that govern it, and since he was in motion and she was not, and they were both in the merge lane, well, then it's an "all things being equal" application and she's still innocent.

I don't see how I could possibly lose this case.

AND THAT'S MY problem with this. She's an hour away from home, they KNOW most people would not fight it. Easy money. I'm thinking of getting a lawyer JUST to file a motion against the department for both our lost wages and mental anguish, just to make a point. But that's certainly money and time I'll never see again.

YOu didnt catch my point... "The Law is the Law" meaning, no matter how right you are, the "good ol Boys" wont see it all in y our favor. That list you provided...Can you prove it?. The way you describe that court, its probably a kangaroo court environment... If you FILE the motion I suggested, they HAVE to let you elaborate, lest they get their pee-pees smacked by an appeallate court.

but there is no prosecutor in a magistrate district court- I don't think I can file a motion. Gonna look into though, will let you know.

My recent experience in traffic court tells me you are fighting a losing battle on that front. Best to file a claim with your insurance company (and if they advise to file a hit-and-run accident claim, do it)

that's a good idea mike.. I'm a little worried though.. the insurance company upon hearing she was issued a citation might choose to jack our rates thru the ceiling prior to it being resolved.. I generally don't trust any insurance companies.. they've never given me anything but reason not to.

Kramerguy wrote:that's a good idea mike.. I'm a little worried though.. the insurance company upon hearing she was issued a citation might choose to jack our rates thru the ceiling prior to it being resolved.. I generally don't trust any insurance companies.. they've never given me anything but reason not to.

By a new mirrow and pay the ticket. It will be cheaper in the long run. Let it be a lesson that your gubment don't give a RATSASS about your safety or YOUR RIGHTS!

nah, I've beat a speeding ticket in this state, I'm not about to bow down to a lesser offense. I'm going to make as much trouble as possible for "the system", what are they gonna do, give me a BS ticket? I've got a pretty strong and logical argument no judge should be able to deny. I can appeal it all the way to the PA supreme court (and I would), embarassing every "player" judge along the way if necessary. Nope, ain't gonna take this one sitting down.

surely, there is a good side to Pennsylvania.. our Founding Fathers are from Pennsylvania.. Philadelphia was the No. 1 city of Commerce before New York City became No. 1.. Rockefeller refined the first crude oil there, before Texas was a refiner and producer.. the traffic laws might suck in Pennsylvania, but do not throw the baby out with the bathwater..

We have some good beer at least