What is the name of your state? CA
I was driving home one night on a road in the town. I was driving behind another vehicle which was slowing at a rapid rate of speed without applying brake, and my lighter car was unable to slow at the same rate without applying brake. I noticed a vehicle behind me following too closely to safely use my brake so I checked the other lane and saw the only vehicle visible 4 car lengths behind me after checking repeatably and also noticed that my speed was faster than theirs so I changed into that lane to create more room both in front and behind my vehicle. However, as I did this I noticed the vehicle behind me change lanes with me and speed up along with me to the P.F. Max. Since the vehicle behind me was still close enough to where I couldn't see all of their headlights, I switched back to the other lane to allow that vehicle to pass by after I had cleared the other vehicle in the other lane by more than 1 car length from where I would be merging in after speeding up an additional 5-8 mph faster than that vehicle. When I merged back into the other lane, totally missing my blinker (I went for it but I guess I missed the lever) the vehicle at my 6 followed me. I noticed this, and with the aid of the vehicle I had just passed's headlights was able to see the lightbar on top of the car and realized I had a PD unit following me the entire time, for some reason on my tail. The P.F. Max was 45, and I was traveling 35-38 when I made the first lane change (it was noted on my Notice to Appear that I was traveling at the P.F. Max at the time of the "incident"). I was cited for CVCs 21658(a) "Unsafe lane change" and 22107 "failure to signal".
I researched the vehicle codes through the CA DMV website and noted that 21658(a) reads "A vehicle shall be driven nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety." My car is roughly 170 inches in length, and I noticed that there was atleast 200 feet between my car's soon-to-be location and the other vehicle in the lane's location prior to my first lane change, and atleast 170 if not 200+ feet between my car's soon-to-be location and the original vehicle's location prior to my second lane change. Neither vehicle had to react to my lane changes as I was traveling at the P.F. Max as well as faster than their speed.
As for the second CVC, I also looked that up and it reads "No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement." Since neither vehicle was required to brake due to my movements as I was traveling faster than them and provided ample spacing between me and them prior to changing lanes, I feel I did not affect the safety of either vehicle nor affect their DOT, speed, etc. by my movements.
In both instances, I also was attempting to allow the vehicle riding my tail to pass by me safely and create more spacing in front as well as behind me but both lane changes were accompanied by said vehicle as it never let up on spacing, only moved closer and followed me no matter my location.
I am planning on fighting this ticket, but am not sure if it is worth it. If this ticket stands, do I risk having 2 points added to my record for this single incident? If I go to traffic school would it avoid both points? Does it seem like I have a chance of winning at all? I took notes of the incident before leaving, as I was in a safe location were parking was permitted so I have all the details I need, plus I also obtained a copy of "Fight Your Ticket in California" by Attorney David W. Brown.
Thank you all for your time, especially for reading this rather long post.
I was driving home one night on a road in the town. I was driving behind another vehicle which was slowing at a rapid rate of speed without applying brake, and my lighter car was unable to slow at the same rate without applying brake. I noticed a vehicle behind me following too closely to safely use my brake so I checked the other lane and saw the only vehicle visible 4 car lengths behind me after checking repeatably and also noticed that my speed was faster than theirs so I changed into that lane to create more room both in front and behind my vehicle. However, as I did this I noticed the vehicle behind me change lanes with me and speed up along with me to the P.F. Max. Since the vehicle behind me was still close enough to where I couldn't see all of their headlights, I switched back to the other lane to allow that vehicle to pass by after I had cleared the other vehicle in the other lane by more than 1 car length from where I would be merging in after speeding up an additional 5-8 mph faster than that vehicle. When I merged back into the other lane, totally missing my blinker (I went for it but I guess I missed the lever) the vehicle at my 6 followed me. I noticed this, and with the aid of the vehicle I had just passed's headlights was able to see the lightbar on top of the car and realized I had a PD unit following me the entire time, for some reason on my tail. The P.F. Max was 45, and I was traveling 35-38 when I made the first lane change (it was noted on my Notice to Appear that I was traveling at the P.F. Max at the time of the "incident"). I was cited for CVCs 21658(a) "Unsafe lane change" and 22107 "failure to signal".
I researched the vehicle codes through the CA DMV website and noted that 21658(a) reads "A vehicle shall be driven nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety." My car is roughly 170 inches in length, and I noticed that there was atleast 200 feet between my car's soon-to-be location and the other vehicle in the lane's location prior to my first lane change, and atleast 170 if not 200+ feet between my car's soon-to-be location and the original vehicle's location prior to my second lane change. Neither vehicle had to react to my lane changes as I was traveling at the P.F. Max as well as faster than their speed.
As for the second CVC, I also looked that up and it reads "No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement." Since neither vehicle was required to brake due to my movements as I was traveling faster than them and provided ample spacing between me and them prior to changing lanes, I feel I did not affect the safety of either vehicle nor affect their DOT, speed, etc. by my movements.
In both instances, I also was attempting to allow the vehicle riding my tail to pass by me safely and create more spacing in front as well as behind me but both lane changes were accompanied by said vehicle as it never let up on spacing, only moved closer and followed me no matter my location.
I am planning on fighting this ticket, but am not sure if it is worth it. If this ticket stands, do I risk having 2 points added to my record for this single incident? If I go to traffic school would it avoid both points? Does it seem like I have a chance of winning at all? I took notes of the incident before leaving, as I was in a safe location were parking was permitted so I have all the details I need, plus I also obtained a copy of "Fight Your Ticket in California" by Attorney David W. Brown.
Thank you all for your time, especially for reading this rather long post.
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