South Carolina
Got charged today with improper start/stop- violation section 56-5-2110
ARTICLE 15
STARTING AND TURNING; SIGNALING
SECTION 56-5-2110. Starting of a vehicle.
No person shall start a vehicle which is stopped, standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
So thats what it says.
What happend was...
I was on my way to work this morning about 6:40am.... I had come to the end of my street (Stop Sign). RIght directly in front of me was a city police officer in a marked car. The vehicle was directly in my sight. I was traveling in a southward direction when approaching the sign, while he was facing in a easterly direction on an empty lot where a house used to be.
Well I saw him.... PLain as day.
I feel as if I stopped at the sign... Maybe not 5 seconds or anything like that. BUt at least 1 second of stop time. It was 6:40 in the morning with nothing happening..... No traffic at all. No kids around... Well I proceeded turning right... He pulled out of his spot right after I pulled away. Followed me about .1 of a mile and then through his blue lights.
He came to the window and asked "Do you know why I pulled you over?" and in all honestly I had no idea. THen he proceeded to tell me that I made a incomplete stop.
Well anyways- whats the best defense??? He came back with my ticket- said "This could have been a $300 fine but you were very nice and respectable... So I dropped it to $150..... "
Ill be honest the whole time he was in his squad car- I was thinking it will be a warning or a small fine.... But $150- that makes it seem like I just flat out ROLLED through it at 10 mph or something....
I need help- The way that the law reads above- I am totally INNOCENT! BUt how do you convince a judge? Or should a jury be the answer?
Any help and ideas appreciated... - I figure the fact of his facing direction in comparison with me would be one defensive angle.
Thanks and sorry it was so long!
Got charged today with improper start/stop- violation section 56-5-2110
ARTICLE 15
STARTING AND TURNING; SIGNALING
SECTION 56-5-2110. Starting of a vehicle.
No person shall start a vehicle which is stopped, standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
So thats what it says.
What happend was...
I was on my way to work this morning about 6:40am.... I had come to the end of my street (Stop Sign). RIght directly in front of me was a city police officer in a marked car. The vehicle was directly in my sight. I was traveling in a southward direction when approaching the sign, while he was facing in a easterly direction on an empty lot where a house used to be.
Well I saw him.... PLain as day.
I feel as if I stopped at the sign... Maybe not 5 seconds or anything like that. BUt at least 1 second of stop time. It was 6:40 in the morning with nothing happening..... No traffic at all. No kids around... Well I proceeded turning right... He pulled out of his spot right after I pulled away. Followed me about .1 of a mile and then through his blue lights.
He came to the window and asked "Do you know why I pulled you over?" and in all honestly I had no idea. THen he proceeded to tell me that I made a incomplete stop.
Well anyways- whats the best defense??? He came back with my ticket- said "This could have been a $300 fine but you were very nice and respectable... So I dropped it to $150..... "
Ill be honest the whole time he was in his squad car- I was thinking it will be a warning or a small fine.... But $150- that makes it seem like I just flat out ROLLED through it at 10 mph or something....
I need help- The way that the law reads above- I am totally INNOCENT! BUt how do you convince a judge? Or should a jury be the answer?
Any help and ideas appreciated... - I figure the fact of his facing direction in comparison with me would be one defensive angle.
Thanks and sorry it was so long!