Question About Uniform Traffic Citations...

[Rita7854]

What is the name of your state? Georgia

Every traffic citation I have ever seen has had the code section referencing which law was violated. However, I received one for "Improper Lane Change", but it does not have the O.C.G.A code section. Therefore, I cannot look up to see what I did wrong, because I really don't think I did anything illegal. Thanks for any input. Rita

What is the name of your state?

[The Occultist]

Google is your friend. I searched for "Georgia improper lane change" and found the code in 2 minutes. I'll give you a hint: the first link will give you the code. After you find it, you can look it up here: http://law.justia.com/georgia/codes/

[Rita7854]

Is it not required by law for them to put the code section on the citation?

If not, I find that odd.

Thanks,

Rita

[The Occultist]

15-10-63.
(a) The governing authority of any county or any state authority may provide that ordinance violations may be tried upon citations with or without a prosecuting attorney as well as upon accusations.
(b) Each citation shall state the time and place at which the accused is to appear for trial, shall identify the offense with which the accused is charged, shall have an identifying number by which it shall be filed with the court, shall indicate the identity of the accused and the date of service, and shall be signed by the county or authority agent who completes and serves it.
(c) Prosecutions for violations of ordinances upon citations shall be commenced by the completion, signing, and service of a citation by any agent of the county who is authorized by the county governing authority to issue citations or by an agent of the state authority who is authorized by the authority to issue citations. A copy of the citation shall be personally served upon the accused; and the original shall promptly be filed with the court.
(d) No person shall be arrested prior to the time of trial, except for the offenses of public drunkenness or disorderly conduct or as authorized by ordinance of a state authority; provided, however, that the accused may be arrested prior to the time of trial for the violation of a county ordinance relating to loitering; and provided, further, that any defendant who fails to appear for trial shall be arrested thereafter on the warrant of the magistrate and required to post a bond for his or her future appearance.

This is the only thing I could find governing the issuing of citations, and there's nothing that indicates that the citation is required to contain the code of the violation, simply just that the offense is identified.

I don't find it odd. The average person doesn't know what a bunch of numbers mean, but can see words and know what "running red light" or "kicking a baby" means. *ahem* don't take that last one too seriously...

[Hey There]

40-6-123.
(a) No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in Code Section 40-6-120 or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or change lanes or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. No person shall so turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate and timely signal in the manner provided in this Code section.

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(b) A signal of intention to turn right or left or change lanes when required shall be given continuously for a time sufficient to alert the driver of a vehicle proceeding from the rear in the same direction or a driver of a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.
(c) No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this Code section to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is an opportunity to give such signal.
(d) The signals provided for in subsection (b) of Code Section 40-6-124 shall be used to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes, or start from a parked position and shall not be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled vehicle or flashed as a courtesy or 'do pass' signal to operators of other vehicles approaching from the rear.

I followed the Occultist lead and came across the code and definition of Improper Lane Change.

To get further information on what the officer is citing you for check if Georgia has Discovery rights. If so , you are entitled to the officer's notes, video, and any other information he plans to use in court by making a written request to the citing officer and most likely the D.A. as well. A form to do this is provided in Beat Your Ticket Go to Court & Win by Attorney David W. Brown, as well as information on from receiving a citation to appeal . If your library has a copy the info is free. The listed price on the back of the book is $21.99

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by Rita7854

What is the name of your state? Georgia

Every traffic citation I have ever seen has had the code section referencing which law was violated. However, I received one for "Improper Lane Change", but it does not have the O.C.G.A code section. Therefore, I cannot look up to see what I did wrong, because I really don't think I did anything illegal. Thanks for any input. Rita

What is the name of your state?

My friend got a ticket and the whole danged thing was illegible....

[Hey There]

XLS] Sheet1File Format: Microsoft Excel - View as HTML
78, IMPROPER LANE CHANGE, 40-6-123A, $ 95.00.
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79, FAILURE TO USE SIGNAL, 40-6-124, $ 95.00. 80, NOISE VIOLATION, LOUD MUSIC FROM VEHICLE, 40-6-14, $ 160.00 ...
[url]www.hollyspringsga.net/documentview.asp?DID=345[/url] - Similar pages - Note this

[PDF] Georgia Violation Rules Published - 12:07pmFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
40-6-123A. IMPROPER/ERRATIC LANE CHANGE. 40-6-123B. GIVING WRONG SIGNAL. 40-6-123C. IMPROPER STOPPING. 40-6-123D. IMPROPER SIGNAL. 40-6-124 ...
[url]https://online.dds.ga.gov/gecps/files/GALegalCodes_20051213.pdf[/url] - Similar pages - Note this

[PDF] DDS Reportable Violation Code List - 053107.xlsFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
40-6-123A. IMPROPER/ERRATIC LANE CHANGE. 40-6-123B. GIVING WRONG SIGNAL. 40-6-123C. IMPROPER STOPPING. Page 4 of 8. Page 5. Georgia Department ...
[url]https://online.dds.ga.gov/gecps/files/DDS_Reportable_Violation_Codes_2007_05_31.pdf[/url] - Similar pages - Note this

[seniorjudge]

Rita, before your court date, go to the courthouse and ask for a complete copy of the charge.

A ticket is really not a charge till the cop gives it to the prosecutor who then files it with the court. That is the "official" ticket.