fail to signal lane change

[kiranv83]

What is the name of your state? texas

I was at an intersection signal and my right indicator was on. When the signal turned green I noticed that there was nobody behind. I then proceeded to change the lane and switched off the indicator( since there was noone around). Suddenly a cop came and issued me a ticket saying i didnt turn on the indicator.

I have not been issued any fine as such, but I have been issued an appointment to meet with a judge. Is there any means by which I can keep my record clean ( by asking for defensive driving, etc. If there is, is there any specific reason I can state in my defense?) as i just got my driving licence one month back. I am a student and need some means to get out of this predicament.

What sort of fine can I expect. Do I have a case worth presenting or Im better of just paying the fine that im given.

Please let me know if anyone of you have any solutions.

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by kiranv83

What is the name of your state? texas

I was at an intersection signal and my right indicator was on. When the signal turned green I noticed that there was nobody behind. I then proceeded to change the lane and switched off the indicator( since there was noone around). Suddenly a cop came and issued me a ticket saying i didnt turn on the indicator.

I have not been issued any fine as such, but I have been issued an appointment to meet with a judge. Is there any means by which I can keep my record clean ( by asking for defensive driving, etc. If there is, is there any specific reason I can state in my defense?) as i just got my driving licence one month back. I am a student and need some means to get out of this predicament.

What sort of fine can I expect. Do I have a case worth presenting or Im better of just paying the fine that im given.

Please let me know if anyone of you have any solutions.

Standard answer

Here are some hints on appearing in court:

Dress professionally in clean clothes.

Do not wear message shirts.

Don't chew gum, smoke, or eat. (Smokers...pot or tobacco...literally stink. Remember that before you head for court.)

Bathe and wash your hair.

Do not bring small children or your friends.

Go to court beforehand some day before you actually have to go to watch how things go.

Speak politely and deferentially. If you argue or dispute something, do it professionally and without emotion.

Ask the court clerk who you talk to about a diversion (meaning you want to plead to a different, lesser charge), if applicable in your situation. Ask about traffic school and that the ticket not go on your record, if applicable. Ask also about getting a hardship driving permit, if applicable. Ask about drug court, if applicable.

From marbol:

“Judge...

You forgot the one thing that I've seen that seems to frizz up most judges these days:

If you have a cell phone, make DAMN SURE that it doesn't make ANY noise in the courtroom. This means when you are talking to the judge AND when you are simply sitting in the court room.

If you have a ‘vibrate’ position on your cell phone, MAKE sure the judge DOESN'T EVEN HEAR IT VIBRATE!

Turn it off or put it in silent mode where it flashes a LED if it rings. AND DON'T even DREAM about answering it if it rings.”

(Better yet, don’t carry your cell phone into the courtroom.)”


Here are five stories that criminal court judges hear the most (and I suggest you do not use them or variations of them):

1. I’ve been saved! (This is not religion specific; folks from all kinds of religious backgrounds use this one.)

2. My girlfriend/mother/sister/daughter/wife/ex-wife/niece/grandma/grand-daughter is pregnant/sick/dying/dead/crippled/crazy and needs my help.

3. I’ve got a job in [name a state five hundred miles away].

4. This is the first time I ever did this. (This conflicts with number 5 below, but that hasn’t stopped some defendants from using both.)

5. You’ve got the wrong guy. (A variation of this one is the phantom defendant story: “It wasn’t me driving, it was a hitchhiker I picked up. He wrecked the car, drug me behind the wheel then took off.” Or, another variation: “I was forced into it by a bad guy!”)

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=854687#post854687[/url]

Public defender’s advice

[url]http://newyork.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/70300494.html[/url]


Other people may give you other advice; stand by.

[averad]

I think you made an incorrect lane change and dubble posted. I will steer you in the right direction.

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=1369285#post1369285[/url]

Originally Posted by kiranv83

Suddenly a cop came and issued me a ticket saying i didnt turn on the indicator.

I guess the ninja training police receive is working.

[ceara19]

Originally Posted by kiranv83

What is the name of your state? texas

I was at an intersection signal and my right indicator was on. When the signal turned green I noticed that there was nobody behind. I then proceeded to change the lane and switched off the indicator( since there was noone around). Suddenly a cop came and issued me a ticket saying i didnt turn on the indicator.

I have not been issued any fine as such, but I have been issued an appointment to meet with a judge. Is there any means by which I can keep my record clean ( by asking for defensive driving, etc. If there is, is there any specific reason I can state in my defense?) as i just got my driving licence one month back. I am a student and need some means to get out of this predicament.

What sort of fine can I expect. Do I have a case worth presenting or Im better of just paying the fine that im given.

Please let me know if anyone of you have any solutions.

Signal or no signal, it's illegal to change lanes in the middle of an intersection.

If you are a minor (I'm assuming you are since you just got your license and you are a student), see if you can take the ticket to "Teen Court". You will state your case (for which you don't have much of a defense) and judged by a jury of your peers (other teen agers). Then your punishment comes in the form of community service including serving in Teen Court yourself, but the ticket is kept off your record. It's a better option then defensive driving for drivers under 18.

[ceara19]

Originally Posted by averad

I think you made an incorrect lane change and dubble posted. I will steer you in the right direction.

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=1369285#post1369285[/url]



I guess the ninja training police receive is working.

Actually, that thread was started by someone else 4 years ago.

[efflandt]

Have you checked your turn signals lately to see if any bulbs are burned out or hard to see?

Some older Chrysler vehicles have such opaque lenses that you cannot even tell if brake lights or signals are working from much of a distance in daylight (or maybe wrong replacement bulbs).

[AHA]

Originally Posted by kiranv83

What is the name of your state? texas

I was at an intersection signal and my right indicator was on. When the signal turned green I noticed that there was nobody behind. I then proceeded to change the lane and switched off the indicator( since there was noone around). Suddenly a cop came and issued me a ticket saying i didnt turn on the indicator.

I have not been issued any fine as such, but I have been issued an appointment to meet with a judge. Is there any means by which I can keep my record clean ( by asking for defensive driving, etc. If there is, is there any specific reason I can state in my defense?) as i just got my driving licence one month back. I am a student and need some means to get out of this predicament.

What sort of fine can I expect. Do I have a case worth presenting or Im better of just paying the fine that im given.

Please let me know if anyone of you have any solutions.

There is no reason to discuss this case all over again and waste everyone's time. You've been given answers, you've been asked questions that you refuse to answer, so close this thread ASAP!!!!!!!!!

[ceara19]

Originally Posted by efflandt

Have you checked your turn signals lately to see if any bulbs are burned out or hard to see?

Some older Chrysler vehicles have such opaque lenses that you cannot even tell if brake lights or signals are working from much of a distance in daylight (or maybe wrong replacement bulbs).

It doesn't matter if he signaled or not. It is still ILLEGAL to change lanes in an intersection.

[sukharev]

Originally Posted by ceara19

It doesn't matter if he signaled or not. It is still ILLEGAL to change lanes in an intersection.

Care to cite from the code?

This seems to contradict your statement:
[url]http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2003/0915/local/stories/16local.htm[/url]

Besides, that's not what he got. He got cited for not showing the signal before lane change.

[justalayman]

Originally Posted by sukharev

Care to cite from the code?

This seems to contradict your statement:
[url]http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2003/0915/local/stories/16local.htm[/url]

Besides, that's not what he got. He got cited for not showing the signal before lane change.

OP does seem to be in Texas. I am not an attorney and I'm not sure but I don;t think Oregon statutes apply (I know, you were simply making the point that it is not illegal in all states etc.)

Texas statute 545.104 states that a signal has to be displayed for 100 feet before the action. Funny thing though is it also applies this to leaving a parking spot (presumably parallel). That is kind of tough to do since you are not moving. Maybe you have to put on your left turn signal 100 feet before you park so you will have complied with the statute.

I did not find anything pertaining to intra-intersection lane changing.

OP: as another poster recommended, make sure the turn signals are working. Actullly get out and look, don't assume because the litle light on the dash is blinking that they are working, it is not proof.

If it isn't, go to the court with a repair receipt claiming you were unaware of the situation and you have had it repaired. Now while it does not negate the fact that there was no signal when the officer gave you the ticket, it does show your desire to comply with the law. The judge may have pity on you.

Other than that, it is you against the world and the world usually wins, sorry.

[ceara19]

Originally Posted by sukharev

Care to cite from the code?

This seems to contradict your statement:
[url]http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2003/0915/local/stories/16local.htm[/url]

Besides, that's not what he got. He got cited for not showing the signal before lane change.

As has already been pointed out, the OP is not in OREGON. It would be a very stupid move for a teenager that has only been licensed for ONE MONTH to try and argue that they didn't do anything wrong because an article in an Oregon newspaper says it's OK to change lanes in an intersection.

[sukharev]

1) Please, site the Texas code that states it's illegal to change lanes at intersection

2) Regardless, OP was sited with the different violation: failure to show signal. Why would he even have to mention lane change legality in the first place?