failure to keep right, what b.s.

[pi$$ed in ny]

What is the name of your state?I live in New York State. I was driving down the road and there was a vehicle in front of me going 15 mph in a 35 mph zone. It appeared that it was slowing down to pull over. I passed it on the left and then it swirved slightly to the right, let the left turn signal blink once, and then turned left after going this speed for about 30 seconds. Immediately after that, I see the red lights flashing behind me. The officer asked me if I knew why I was being pulled over, I responded with what I just wrote and that I "probably shouldn't have done that." He goes back to his car and after a couple minutes emerges with my failure to keep right, NYS V&T sec 1126, sub A ticket.

The officer said to me that it was a good thing the car didn't hit me when it turned left. I responded that I didn't know he was turning left because he didn't have his signal on, and the officer said he put his signal on. I didn't argue with him. I didn't point out that the signal didn't go on until after I passed, and that I had every reason to think that the vehicle was either disabled or pulling over. I just took the ticket and went home.

My first question is, this is being handled by the local police dept., so what chance do I have to plead not guilty and get out of it? I honestly don't think I'm guilty of anything. The second question is, if I'm found guilty, how serious an incident is this? Can someone please help me?

Thanks!
Pi$$ed (because as if it wasn't expensive enough to live in this state they have to charge you for trying to get around some idiot driving 20 mph below the speed limit).

[seniorjudge]

Q: My first question is, this is being handled by the local police dept., so what chance do I have to plead not guilty and get out of it?

A: If you plead not guilty, you will have a trial and maybe you will be found guilty and maybe you will be found not guilty.


Q: I honestly don't think I'm guilty of anything.

A: Based on the facts as you state them, you are definitely guilty. "I passed it on the left and then it swirved slightly to the right, let the left turn signal blink once, and then turned left after going this speed for about 30 seconds."


Q: The second question is, if I'm found guilty, how serious an incident is this? Can someone please help me?

A: I do not know.

[pi$$ed in ny]

He didn't swirve to get out of my way. He swirved like some people do when they go right before turning left. The thing is, I had every reason to believe that if I didn't pass him I would be sitting behind him indefinitely. If anything, HE was blocking traffic. I've heard of people getting pulled over for going too slowly. I've never heard of someone getting pulled over for trying to get around a vehicle that was practically stopped in the middle of the road. Remember, he didn't signal to turn until AFTER I had passed.

[LSCAP]

Fail to keep right?
Its been on the books a long time that you must keep right except to pass. Technically this also goes for multi-lane expressways etc.

Was there a double yellow line down the middle of the street?

Sounds like the other guy was lost and you were in a hurry.