No seat belt ticket inside of a parking lot...

[qualityeye]

What is the name of your state? New Jersey

I was driving on Parkway North and stopped at the rest area for lunch. Before going to eat lunch I saw a sign that said Commuter Parking, I thought maybe there would be a train station or a store or something there that I never saw since I never actually went into that part. So I go into the parking lot and I see a police officer speaking to someone in another vehicle. I try to go around them and the police officer sticks his hand out and tells me to stop. He says he has good new and he's going to do me a favor. I said, "What's the favor?"

He said, "I'm not going to give you a ticket for toll evasion, but I'm going to give you a ticket for no seat belt?"

Of course I was surprised and asked what kind of favor he was doing especially since I wasn't evading any tolls? I guess people cut through the commuter parking lot to evade tolls and from what I can tell from asking other people it's the people that are going southbound that can avoid a toll. I was going north and I have receipts when I started (gas) and when my trip ended (lunch, since I was so pissed I just went to my destination and ate there).

I didn't mention I told him that I wasn't trying to evade any toll and didn't know where the street outside of the parking led to. He said that I live pretty close by and I should know there is a street there. How am I suppose to know about a street hidden under a center island (rest area)? Basically he told me he could give me the seat belt ticket or both it was my decision. He said that if I didn't take the seat belt ticket I'd have two tickets to fight instead of one. Of course I said ok then give me the ticket.

Now for my questions...

Can you legally be given a seat belt ticket inside of a parking lot? I took my seat belt off when I got into the parking lot because I was going to park and then I just took a two second detour to see what was there. I never left the parking lot area.

Can a police officer stop you only for not wearing a seat belt?

How can I evade a toll if I didn't pass one? Was I stopped unlawfully?

If I take this to court and win is there any way I can sue the police officer for wasting my time fighting a $46 ticket? The ticket is so cheap I can pay it and it's not worth my time to even fight it, but it gets me mad to think that cops can stop anyone for whatever they want and give out tickets for fun. It's like they give out tickets to waste people's time and know that it's such a waste of time that it's not even worth it to fight it. And of course the fact that it's not a moving violation, there are no points involved so it's really not worth fighting. Of course I feel I have a moral obligation to fight it even if it costs me a lot more money. Police are always picking on people because they can.

[Ozark_Sophist]

Originally Posted by qualityeye

If I take this to court and win is there any way I can sue the police officer for wasting my time fighting a $46 ticket?

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Ok, had my laugh for the day.
You were operating a motor vehicle. You were not wearing your seat belt. Pay the fine.