HELP failure to stop at a stop sign and reckless driving

[laymanator2006]

I live in pennsylvania and was pulled over by an under cover police officer IN THE MIDDLE OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD. there is a stop sign that i stop at 95% of the time, but it's not really necessary to stop because i can see up and down the road and it's not dangerous to go through without stopping. The cop was in an undercover cop car and wasn't in uniform and didn't carry a firearm. He showed me his badge took my insurance and driver's license back to his car and then told me i would be receiving a ticket for 150-200 dollars for failure to stop at a stop sign.... and reckless driving. I can understand the failure to stop at a stop sign, but why would i get reckless driving too. he gave me his card and he's a police officer from north middleton township. I live in South middleton township does he have jurisdiction where i live? Also why wouldn't i receive a ticket? he didn't give me one he only told me it would be coming in the mail. I thought you were supposed to receive a ticket on the spot. My questions are why would i be given reckless driving for merely missing a stop sign and does a cop from another township not in a cop car and not in uniform have the right to give me a ticket? Lastly why didn't i get a ticket on the spot? why would it be coming in the mail?

[Curt581]

Originally Posted by laymanator2006

I live in pennsylvania and was pulled over by an under cover police officer IN THE MIDDLE OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

Dang... They're moving into regular people's neighborhoods now? What's this world coming to?

there is a stop sign that i stop at 95% of the time, but it's not really necessary to stop

Yes, it is. It's a STOP sign, not an "if you feel like it" sign.

because i can see up and down the road and it's not dangerous to go through without stopping.

At least, not until someone broadsides you.

he's a police officer from north middleton township. I live in South middleton township does he have jurisdiction where i live?

Probably. It depends on lots of different factors. Township border locations... mutual aid agreements... Some small town agency's officers are deputized to have authority throughout the county... etc.

Also why wouldn't i receive a ticket? he didn't give me one he only told me it would be coming in the mail.

A plainclothes officer might have been a detective, or police command staff officer. He may not have had a ticket book with him, because traffic isn't his primary function. That does NOT mean he doesn't have the authority to issue one.

My questions are why would i be given reckless driving for merely missing a stop sign

I'm speculating, but it was probably in the manner in which you ran it. Blasting straight through, rather than just failing to come to a complete stop.

and does a cop from another township not in a cop car and not in uniform have the right to give me a ticket?

If your local ordinances say he can, then he does have the right.

Lastly why didn't i get a ticket on the spot? why would it be coming in the mail?

A ticket is nothing more than a summons to court. It can be served in person, or by mail.