My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Texas
We live in the North Texas area and made a 40 minute drive down an area we are considering moving to. We knew there was a new Outlet Mall that had recently opened that received great reviews that we wanted to visit. As we approached an intersection there were cones lined up and down the road, which had a slight curve and our lane was about three lanes wide. All the cones blended together until you arrived at the intersection. Apparently we found out there was a 'Speedway' event with heavy traffic. Once I reached the intersection where my destination (at the corner of a major thoroughfare with a highway overpass) was catty-corner (SW) to my location (NE), I was diverted NE by the cones, so I immediately pulled into the corner gas station next to me to try and figure out if there was a sub-route. I circle back to where I just came from and happened to see a police car SUV sitting in the middle of an open safe area with several other cars (unmarked?), so I slowly pulled through the cone opening (which were not very close together) and slowly toward and close to the police car to have him roll his window down and ask him his recommendation. And also with my significant other in the car with me, who witnessed this.
As I approached the police car and started rolling down my window, he swung his car in front of me and blasted his siren (so uncalled for?). I moved over a bit to line up our windows and signaled for him to 'please roll down your window'. He gets out of the car, comes over and begins to lecture me that I was not suppose to cross 'the barricade'. I told him I was coming over to ask him a question and that I am not from the area and I wanted to know how to get to the (SW) corner of the intersection. He said 'You just crossed through a barricade. You need to follow the cars just like everyone else. Stay right here. I need to see you license and registration'. I commented to him that I am pulling through the barricade because I can SEE him sitting there and KNOW he is sitting there and my intention is to ask him for his input on the direction to go on how to get around whatever is going on with all the orange cones in the road diverting traffic. He just said wait right here.
He wrote me a ticket and I was COMPLETELY 200% infuriated. UNBELIEVABLE. My significant other was also pretty enraged and said 'so we cannot even ask you a question?' I told her while staring him down furiously that 'if she is dying of a medical emergency, we are not allowed to pull through the barricade and EVEN ask him for assistance'. I know some of reaction was wrong, but I hope you can see why I am still infuriated by this policeman and am going so far as to post here for your input on how to proceed in regards to my citation.
I am considering fighting this in court and trying to speak with the judge, or should I just pay the penalty? I am presuming I will be wasting my time and money and just need to 'submit' to this total uncalled for mistreatment. It was clearly safe (he was sitting inside a paved median with other cars) inside the coned area, there were no signs posted, I was not approaching him in a threatening manner, and I was very civil and respectful until he came back with a ticket.
Just wanted to get some input from this forum. I am not the type that is easily infuriated, but this just about took me over the edge. A nice wonderful pleasant day with my significant other turned into an uncalled for negative experience from this meathead with an ego. I know that policemen are wonderful folks and I back-the-blue, but I know there are also guys like this who are on some sort of power-trip.
MY QUESTION IS:
Should I just pay the ticket and move on based on these circumstances or do you see an opportunity for me to successfully challenge this ticket in court?
Thanks for your input.
bharv
We live in the North Texas area and made a 40 minute drive down an area we are considering moving to. We knew there was a new Outlet Mall that had recently opened that received great reviews that we wanted to visit. As we approached an intersection there were cones lined up and down the road, which had a slight curve and our lane was about three lanes wide. All the cones blended together until you arrived at the intersection. Apparently we found out there was a 'Speedway' event with heavy traffic. Once I reached the intersection where my destination (at the corner of a major thoroughfare with a highway overpass) was catty-corner (SW) to my location (NE), I was diverted NE by the cones, so I immediately pulled into the corner gas station next to me to try and figure out if there was a sub-route. I circle back to where I just came from and happened to see a police car SUV sitting in the middle of an open safe area with several other cars (unmarked?), so I slowly pulled through the cone opening (which were not very close together) and slowly toward and close to the police car to have him roll his window down and ask him his recommendation. And also with my significant other in the car with me, who witnessed this.
As I approached the police car and started rolling down my window, he swung his car in front of me and blasted his siren (so uncalled for?). I moved over a bit to line up our windows and signaled for him to 'please roll down your window'. He gets out of the car, comes over and begins to lecture me that I was not suppose to cross 'the barricade'. I told him I was coming over to ask him a question and that I am not from the area and I wanted to know how to get to the (SW) corner of the intersection. He said 'You just crossed through a barricade. You need to follow the cars just like everyone else. Stay right here. I need to see you license and registration'. I commented to him that I am pulling through the barricade because I can SEE him sitting there and KNOW he is sitting there and my intention is to ask him for his input on the direction to go on how to get around whatever is going on with all the orange cones in the road diverting traffic. He just said wait right here.
He wrote me a ticket and I was COMPLETELY 200% infuriated. UNBELIEVABLE. My significant other was also pretty enraged and said 'so we cannot even ask you a question?' I told her while staring him down furiously that 'if she is dying of a medical emergency, we are not allowed to pull through the barricade and EVEN ask him for assistance'. I know some of reaction was wrong, but I hope you can see why I am still infuriated by this policeman and am going so far as to post here for your input on how to proceed in regards to my citation.
I am considering fighting this in court and trying to speak with the judge, or should I just pay the penalty? I am presuming I will be wasting my time and money and just need to 'submit' to this total uncalled for mistreatment. It was clearly safe (he was sitting inside a paved median with other cars) inside the coned area, there were no signs posted, I was not approaching him in a threatening manner, and I was very civil and respectful until he came back with a ticket.
Just wanted to get some input from this forum. I am not the type that is easily infuriated, but this just about took me over the edge. A nice wonderful pleasant day with my significant other turned into an uncalled for negative experience from this meathead with an ego. I know that policemen are wonderful folks and I back-the-blue, but I know there are also guys like this who are on some sort of power-trip.
MY QUESTION IS:
Should I just pay the ticket and move on based on these circumstances or do you see an opportunity for me to successfully challenge this ticket in court?
Thanks for your input.
bharv
Other Violations: Crossing Barricade to Ask Policeman
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