What is the missing piece of information exactly?
I hope we all know that traffic laws vary from state to state. Jeez, I would think motorcycle helmets laws prove that!
As I related, the newspaper column I had in the glove box quoted a State Patrol CAPTAIN saying unequivocally that the left turn I made was LEGAL. What part of that is confusing?
I didn’t say it was prima facie evidence for my court hearing, but, if called as a witness, I’m certain he would repeat exactly what he told the newspaper and their 100,000 subscribers. I’m sorta guessing here, but I bet he knows the relevant RCW. (Revised Code of Washington) I do, and did, and learned it in 1968 on my driver’s permit exam.
This isn’t about the fact that we have different traffic rules across America. We all know that, hopefully. It is about being pulled over TWICE, by the same agency, for the same supposed offense, when I hadn’t actually broken any law. It is about neither officer bothering, in this computer age, to SHOW me the RCW I was accused (the correct word) of breaking. It is about pretending that all police are out there doing the right thing, and only the right thing all the time. The younger officer was courteous, polite, and friendly. The older gentleman was none of those things. He quickly escalated (the exact opposite of what police are supposed to do) his conversation because I politely, and confidently, challenged his accusation that I had broken the law. Since he was just a bit uncertain about “the left turn thing” he decided to look for anything else to charge me with. My bicycle rack is made by Yakima. They have sold millions of them for 40 years. Do you really think that they would/could do that if they were illegal because they obscure the license plate? The answer is “No”. Fact, not opinion.
When Powedubs writes that he would have written me both tickets, and let the courts sort it out, it says more about him than it does about the officers that didn’t cite me. That isn’t “abuse“, Mickey, just a recognition that he and I fundamentally disagree about something that is tearing at the fabric of our culture and civilization. A badge and a gun doesn’t give the police the right to issue specious tickets for legal conduct. Politely questioning their “interpretation“ of an extremely black and white law that needs no interpretation should not result in “Oh yeah, let’s just look around and see what else I can find.” Powedubs reacted viscerally to reading about me “challenging” the justification for a traffic stop. Writing that he “would have wrote me both tickets” hit a nerve.
As CITIZENS of the United States, we ALL have rights that we should be very protective of. That doesn’t mean I need to let them write the tickets and wait for a court appearance to cite the RCW for them.
All the trooper had to do was say “Hey, let me take a look at what you have. Might save us both some time and me some embarrassment.” A couple of responses have stated he was under no obligation to do that. I completely agree. No obligation whatsoever! Clear enough? At that point in our conversation, I assume he WAS a bit embarrassed, and chose to escalate and lash out at me because he didn’t like a citizen questioning his actions. The point is: Both officers were wrong. Wrong then, wrong now. In Washington, where I live, and they work. Where they work every day enforcing traffic laws (this is the State Patrol we are talking about). It would be nice if they KNEW the laws they are sworn to uphold.
One last time, this isn’t about red light left turns in CA, or NV, or NJ, or OH or anywhere else.
This is simply about being accused of breaking the law on two separate occasions by TRAFFIC police. And not liking it when Powerdubs says I deserved it.
