Texasdriving
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas
Backstory on the violin man- There is a young man in our town who is well known and liked. He attends our local University and raises money to pay for it by playing his violin. He never bothers others, or asks for money. The young man just plays and is very very good. Many news stations around town have done multiple stories about him. Every time I see him I place case in his violin case.
The Event-
The other evening as I was driving home I witnessed two Police cars pulled over on the side of the road near a stop light. As I approach the stop light I see two police officers outside of their vehicles writing something on a clipboard. When I come to a complete stop at the red light, I see the young man playing his violin with his case open on the ground. The police officers were 5-10 feet back away from the man and his case. I decided to place my vehicle in park and walk 3 feet to the case and place cash inside. (The direction I was walking was no where near or close to the officers or in the direction of them. The total time out of my car was approximately 2-4 seconds) As I get back to my vehicle while the light is still red, and I begin to open my car door I hear one of the Officers yell "Hey!". I turn around and the younger officer said "You can't be giving this guy money. What he is doing is illegal!". I said "Ok?". Then the older officer with the clipboard tells the younger one "Tell him to pull over and give him a citation for impeding traffic". I get back in my vehicle and the light is still red. The light continues to stay red for another 20-30 seconds. I drive ahead after it turns green and pull over a street down. The younger officer comes up and tells me "I have been given direct orders by my Sergeant to write you a citation for impeding traffic". I tell him "I understand, but you do realize that the light was red the entire time and I know the individual I gave money to". He says "Yes I know, like I said, I was told to do this by my Sergeant". I take the ticket and head home.
Questions-
-Is this worth fighting or paying the fine?
-Is this a class C or class B misdemeanor?
-Should I plea not guilty and request a hearing by a Judge?
-If this is a Class B misdemeanor and I do request a hearing by a Judge, could he send me to jail for 180+ days for just impeding traffic?
-If this is a Class C misdemeanor what is the maximum penalty I could get?
Note:This is my first traffic ticket, and no I'm not young.
Thank you for your time, and patience.
Backstory on the violin man- There is a young man in our town who is well known and liked. He attends our local University and raises money to pay for it by playing his violin. He never bothers others, or asks for money. The young man just plays and is very very good. Many news stations around town have done multiple stories about him. Every time I see him I place case in his violin case.
The Event-
The other evening as I was driving home I witnessed two Police cars pulled over on the side of the road near a stop light. As I approach the stop light I see two police officers outside of their vehicles writing something on a clipboard. When I come to a complete stop at the red light, I see the young man playing his violin with his case open on the ground. The police officers were 5-10 feet back away from the man and his case. I decided to place my vehicle in park and walk 3 feet to the case and place cash inside. (The direction I was walking was no where near or close to the officers or in the direction of them. The total time out of my car was approximately 2-4 seconds) As I get back to my vehicle while the light is still red, and I begin to open my car door I hear one of the Officers yell "Hey!". I turn around and the younger officer said "You can't be giving this guy money. What he is doing is illegal!". I said "Ok?". Then the older officer with the clipboard tells the younger one "Tell him to pull over and give him a citation for impeding traffic". I get back in my vehicle and the light is still red. The light continues to stay red for another 20-30 seconds. I drive ahead after it turns green and pull over a street down. The younger officer comes up and tells me "I have been given direct orders by my Sergeant to write you a citation for impeding traffic". I tell him "I understand, but you do realize that the light was red the entire time and I know the individual I gave money to". He says "Yes I know, like I said, I was told to do this by my Sergeant". I take the ticket and head home.
Questions-
-Is this worth fighting or paying the fine?
-Is this a class C or class B misdemeanor?
-Should I plea not guilty and request a hearing by a Judge?
-If this is a Class B misdemeanor and I do request a hearing by a Judge, could he send me to jail for 180+ days for just impeding traffic?
-If this is a Class C misdemeanor what is the maximum penalty I could get?
Note:This is my first traffic ticket, and no I'm not young.
Thank you for your time, and patience.