[Turkish Mafia]

I am absolutely frustrated right now as my friend just received quite the bs ticket. Pulling out of a very well-lit gas station, he had forgotten to turn his headlights on and was pulled over by the police who issued a citation of $126.50. Now before I get flamed, I want to make something clear, I'm not calling the act of pulling over bs, but rather the issuance of a citation. It was an honest mistake, he had a lot on his mind, and a warning would have sufficed and would have insured that he would be much more careful the next time around. I just need the advice of some fellow e90post members as I am very upset about this ticket right now... What can we do to decrease the fine? Is there anything we can do to eliminate it? What should we say when we take it to court? Just general advice on either reducing the fine or eliminating it would be great... Thank you all in advance...

[Blue328xi]

Auto headlights FTW!

[Chitown-Irish]

Originally Posted by Turkish Mafia

I am absolutely frustrated right now as my friend just received quite the bs ticket. Pulling out of a very well-lit gas station, he had forgotten to turn his headlights on and was pulled over by the police who issued a citation of $126.50. Now before I get flamed, I want to make something clear, I'm not calling the act of pulling over bs, but rather the issuance of a citation. It was an honest mistake, he had a lot on his mind, and a warning would have sufficed and would have insured that he would be much more careful the next time around. I just need the advice of some fellow e90post members as I am very upset about this ticket right now... What can we do to decrease the fine? Is there anything we can do to eliminate it? What should we say when we take it to court? Just general advice on either reducing the fine or eliminating it would be great... Thank you all in advance...

And this related to owning a BMW, how?

[e90driver]

Call number on back of ticket- go to court and hope that the cop doesn't show up. If he doesn't- they usually file your ticket in the circular file- if he does, you still have a good chance of getting it reduced or eliminated- just explain your side. If that fails- just pay the ticket- it is not worth the time or hassle to fight it further.

[STE92VE]

Florida cops have nothing better to do than harass motorists. My friend got a ticket for flashing his hi-beams to alert other drivers of a speed trap.

The cops should spend more time and energy tracking down and locking up real criminals....

[LEDZEP]

I think people see the Disney commercials on TV and forget that Florida is the most deep south backwater place on Earth. "Deliverance" is considered a snooty art film down there.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by STE92VE

Florida cops have nothing better to do than harass motorists. My friend got a ticket for flashing his hi-beams to alert other drivers of a speed trap.
The cops should spend more time and energy tracking down and locking up real criminals....

Actually, that is a well known law in FL, and he's lucky he was not jailed for that -- I know someone that was...in the 90's though...

[mds82]

i got pulled over once for that, i had a cop behind me for a few seconds because i forgot my lights, but i flicked them on 2 seconds before he put on his flashers - at least it saved me from a ticket

[xsb00st]

Originally Posted by dr325i

Actually, that is a well known law in FL, and he's lucky he was not jailed for that -- I know someone that was...in the 90's though...

What exactly is the law, flashing to warn others of a speed trap, or flashing in general?

[Bimmer335i07]

Originally Posted by STE92VE

Florida cops have nothing better to do than harass motorists. My friend got a ticket for flashing his hi-beams to alert other drivers of a speed trap.

The cops should spend more time and energy tracking down and locking up real criminals....

+1

[thegeneral101]

Originally Posted by xs*****

What exactly is the law, flashing to warn others of a speed trap, or flashing in general?

i believe its flashing for the speed trap. you can flash motorists if there is a real problem or to help semis change lanes, but when its deliberately for a speed trap I believe thats illegal.

[HennarotM3]

Originally Posted by xs*****

What exactly is the law, flashing to warn others of a speed trap, or flashing in general?

I think it can be both, and may be at the police's discretion. I lived in FL at the time; they passed the law to prevent people from signaling speed traps, but sold it to the public as a stand against gangbangers who rode around in their car with the headlights off in order to kill the first person who flashed them (to turn the headlights on).

[user328i]

Originally Posted by thegeneral101

i believe its flashing for the speed trap. you can flash motorists if there is a real problem or to help semis change lanes, but when its deliberately for a speed trap I believe thats illegal.

I'm not sure how it works in USA but in Canada you can get a ticket for warning other drivers but it can be easily disputed in court.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...811738-cp.html

The article mentioned a case in States where the guy won the ticket.

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by xs*****

What exactly is the law, flashing to warn others of a speed trap, or flashing in general?

This is the only flashing that I know of that is illegal:

[xsb00st]

Originally Posted by HennarotM3

I think it can be both, and may be at the police's discretion. I lived in FL at the time; they passed the law to prevent people from signaling speed traps, but sold it to the public as a stand against gangbangers who rode around in their car with the headlights off in order to kill the first person who flashed them (to turn the headlights on).

A law based on an urban legend... what has the world come to?!?!

[PeteM6]

sorry to hear about your friend man. I can't believe that asshole cop gave him a ticket. I am a police officer here with the houston police department and headlights are always used as probable cause to stop a vehicle and search for drugs or any other illegal activity. This basterd just wants court hours because its considered time and a half pay. Fight it man! Tell your friend t go t court. There is a 90 percent chance the judge will dismiss it and just have him pay the court fees (10 bucks) and the asshole cop will get his overtime pay. Hope this helps.

[Turkish Mafia]

Thanks for all the replies, but I feel as if my thread was hijacked... Anything more anyone can say, perhaps from first-hand experience?

Thanks again...

PS
To the poster above who asked how this relates to BMWs. I own a 335i, and being a member of e90post just wished to ask the advice of the fellow members on this board. Is that a problem?

[oilcrankinject]

I got the same kind of ticket once too. I argued after I got the ticket that the damn street lights were so bright I couldnt even see my own headlights.

I hate cops like that, fucking JBTs if you ask me.

[Turkish Mafia]

Originally Posted by Police328i

sorry to hear about your friend man. I can't believe that asshole cop gave him a ticket. I am a police officer here with the houston police department and headlights are always used as probable cause to stop a vehicle and search for drugs or any other illegal activity. This basterd just wants court hours because its considered time and a half pay. Fight it man! Tell your friend t go t court. There is a 90 percent chance the judge will dismiss it and just have him pay the court fees (10 bucks) and the asshole cop will get his overtime pay. Hope this helps.

I'm gonna go for this as soon as I can... Hopefully it gets tossed or at least reduced. Thanks a bunch for your advice.

[Scarecrows25]

Turkish, my brother got the same ticket in Madiera Beach (near St. Petersburg) many years ago. Exactly the same scenario as your friend -- he pulled out of a well lit gas station without his lights on, but as soon as he left the lot, realized they weren't on, and flipped them on. Unfortunately, not soon enough in the opinion of the Mad-Beach cop sitting across the street.

He ended up having to pay the ticket -- the only alternative was to go to court and hope the cop didn't show up.

[Turkish Mafia]

Originally Posted by KenB

The ticket is less then two tanks of gas, pay it and move on

Easy for some to say...

[Turkish Mafia]

Originally Posted by Scarecrows25

Turkish, my brother got the same ticket in Madiera Beach (near St. Petersburg) many years ago. Exactly the same scenario as your friend -- he pulled out of a well lit gas station without his lights on, but as soon as he left the lot, realized they weren't on, and flipped them on. Unfortunately, not soon enough in the opinion of the Mad-Beach cop sitting across the street.

He ended up having to pay the ticket -- the only alternative was to go to court and hope the cop didn't show up.

Hopefully the judge will at least reduce the ticket... and if the cop doesn't show up, well all the merry