Failure to Sign Registration

[stezieb]

Occurred 22:34 Denver, CO 040609

Officer "visually estimated" me driving 48mph in a 35mph zone. For the visual estimate, keep in mind officer had a blind spot of my car, it was dark outside, and he was moving in a perpendicular motion towards me. The officer had a maximum amount of 2-3 seconds to complete this estimation as I passed directly in front of him.

I pulled over, prepared my license/registration/proof of insurance, while the officer scolded me for speeding. He disappeared to his car to clear me (for warrants, etc.) after grabbing my information, he came back with a ticket.

He explained to me that he was writing me a ticket for Failure to Sign my Vehicle Registration, and told me how I was getting a huge break. Seeing as how I have spotless driving record, (I've never had a speeding ticket, or any ticket for that matter) my car was insured and registered properly, and he had viewed my credentials for being a 911 Police/Fire Dispatcher, for a city that borders his about 1 mile away (just north of)....I had hoped he would consider giving me a warning. Instead, he threw the ticket at me, and told me I better get the payment in the mail soon. I realized that Colorado gives you multiple copies of your vehicle registration, and I asked the officer if I showed him a signed copy that I had in my glove box inches away (as I previously just quickly handed him the first one I found, which was just a duplicate) if he could do anything for me. He just laughed and said not to even bother.

The ticket is for $30.60, No Points off.
$17.00/Fine
$10.00/Traffic Bureau Costs
$2.60/Scheduled Surcharge
$1.00/Family Friendly Fee

I am considering going to court, I already spent nearly an hour on the phone with his Sergeant who believes maybe this officer was just having a "bad day" as he is a 30+ year veteran preparing to retire. Should I just suck it up and pay the fine, or go to court. If nothing happens for me in court, I will just have to pay it anyway, so I feel as though I have nothing to lose. I feel the officer was negligent in not writing me a ticket for going 13mph over the speed limit (Why wouldn't he if it was that blatantly obvious that was speeding? Keep in mind this was all before I mentioned my driving record or showed him my credentials), he expected me to retort with "Oh, thank you Mr. Police Officer Sir, you made my day by giving me this ticket which is ultimately less the ticket would have been for the fictitious charges you were making up in the first place, you are my hero!"

If it isn't obvious I'm still a little upset about this. I would have loved to end our encounter with a "Why don't you go visually estimate F***ing Yourself". I feel like a chump for being respectful to this officer. At least with the way the economy is, his pension is F***ed up for his retirement.

What should I do????

[patstew]

I believe you'd do a lot better if you'd drop that sense of entitlement. What does being a 911 dispatcher have to do with your breaking the law? When I was hired at the police department, the chief told me something I already knew: that we were MORE responsible for observing the law than the general public.

You got off easy, nonetheless. He didn't give you a speeding ticket, which you apparently deserved and which would have been more than the $30.60. There are no points. What is your major malfunction? Pay the dang ticket.

[stezieb]

Originally Posted by patstew

I believe you'd do a lot better if you'd drop that sense of entitlement. What does being a 911 dispatcher have to do with your breaking the law? When I was hired at the police department, the chief told me something I already knew: that we were MORE responsible for observing the law than the general public.

You got off easy, nonetheless. He didn't give you a speeding ticket, which you apparently deserved and which would have been more than the $30.60. There are no points. What is your major malfunction? Pay the dang ticket.

WOW!

First off, I wasn't speeding in the first place, and he ultimately had no probable cause besides probably low stats this month to stop me. He was moving, in a blind spot, and it was at night that claimed to get an accurate visual estimate. Not to mention, I was traveling up hill, about 100 feet from the red light that I was just stopped at, and I have an old ford focus. Really think I was driving 50mph? He didn't write me for speeding because he couldn't. I wish he WOULD have given me the speeding ticket. I would have absolutely fought the ticket, and I guarantee you, with no radar or anything I would have won.

Secondly, I didn't mention anything about my job until after the fact. I said it to make the point that I am familiar with law enforcement, and that the ticket given was BS.

[Stevef]

Originally Posted by stezieb

I said it to make the point that I am familiar with law enforcement, and that the ticket given was BS.

Tell it to the judge

[stezieb]

Originally Posted by Stevef

Tell it to the judge

I intend to, I believe I will winn and get it dropped since I had a signed copy of my registration on hand and the officer refused to view it.

[donnabert]

Wow, why are these people responding to this mans insightful question when they have nothing to offer? No where in the law does it say anything about a person's "attitude" re: signing registration. Nor is there a law that says "If an officer does not give you a speeding ticket then he can give you a ticket for not signing your car registration, even if you have another signed copy in your car."

The responses to this guys legitimate legal question should be deleted as drivel.

[donnabert]

Originally Posted by patstew

I believe you'd do a lot better if you'd drop that sense of entitlement. What does being a 911 dispatcher have to do with your breaking the law? When I was hired at the police department, the chief told me something I already knew: that we were MORE responsible for observing the law than the general public.

You got off easy, nonetheless. He didn't give you a speeding ticket, which you apparently deserved and which would have been more than the $30.60. There are no points. What is your major malfunction? Pay the dang ticket.

Please quote the law where it says "a sense of entitlement" is a required element of the crime. If it isn't, shut up about it. This is a legal forum, not somewhere to work out your mommy issues.

[donnabert]

Originally Posted by stezieb

WOW!

First off, I wasn't speeding in the first place, and he ultimately had no probable cause besides probably low stats this month to stop me. He was moving, in a blind spot, and it was at night that claimed to get an accurate visual estimate. Not to mention, I was traveling up hill, about 100 feet from the red light that I was just stopped at, and I have an old ford focus. Really think I was driving 50mph? He didn't write me for speeding because he couldn't. I wish he WOULD have given me the speeding ticket. I would have absolutely fought the ticket, and I guarantee you, with no radar or anything I would have won.

Secondly, I didn't mention anything about my job until after the fact. I said it to make the point that I am familiar with law enforcement, and that the ticket given was BS.

I don't think anyone here knows anything about this. That is too bad. I'm sure all the people who were giving legitimate information were very turned off by all of these snide, low-IQ, losers, and left. It is a shame. The owner of the forum should delete members who post without making a significant contribution to the legal question asked. Then I'd come back.

[AHA]

Originally Posted by donnabert

I don't think anyone here knows anything about this. That is too bad. I'm sure all the people who were giving legitimate information were very turned off by all of these snide, low-IQ, losers, and left. It is a shame. The owner of the forum should delete members who post without making a significant contribution to the legal question asked. Then I'd come back.

You registered on this site just so you could post FOUR posts about people's attitude here??!! Where is YOUR legal advice to the OP?

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by donnabert

The owner of the forum should delete members who post without making a significant contribution to the legal question asked.

Oh dear. I've just been run over by the Irony Truck. Ouch.

[AHA]

Originally Posted by You Are Guilty

Oh dear. I've just been run over by the Irony Truck. Ouch.

And since HE didn't give any legal advice himself, he would be one of the first to go. I bet he didn't think about that.

[donnabert]

Originally Posted by AHA

You registered on this site just so you could post FOUR posts about people's attitude here??!! Where is YOUR legal advice to the OP?

Yes, I came here looking for legal advice and found only morons talking about people's "attitudes." Thought I would let you all know how utterly worthless this place is. That is the only reason I made an account, and if my account disappeared now I would have done everything I wanted to do here: put you in your lowely place.

[AHA]

Originally Posted by donnabert

Yes, I came here looking for legal advice and found only morons talking about people's "attitudes." Thought I would let you all know how utterly worthless this place is. That is the only reason I made an account, and if my account disappeared now I would have done everything I wanted to do here: put you in your lowely place.

And what legal advice have YOU contributed with during your 24 hours here? You are the one that has littered this thread by NON legal stuff, so how about you stop and it will end right there obviously??

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by donnabert

That is the only reason I made an account, and if my account disappeared now I would have done everything I wanted to do here: put you in your lowely place.

If by "lowely" (sic) place, you mean my office on Wall Street, then thank you! The view is magnificent. Of course, I don't expect your account to remain active much longer, but thanks for stopping by.

[stezieb]

Back to topic anyone? or should I consider this topic completely hijacked?