SC improper lane change

[Laz]

Hello, I'm from NC and was stopped I-95 in yammasee SC
for speeding 78/70 and for improper lane change. The officer
dropped the speeding charge(verbal warning), and wrote me
up for the lane change(no turn signal).
There are laws in some states that mandate you have to move
over to another lane,or barring that, SLOW way down for a stopped
patrol car.
Now here is my point, the officer was stopped behind another car on
the shoulder, had a semi-unmarked car(no lights on top,just lettering
on the side). There is no traffic any where near me(300 yds or more
front and back), I'm coming up on the 2 cars on the shoulder and at
the last sec. notice it's a cop. So trying to not break a "Greater law"
(officer safety), I make a quick check in the mirrors and make my move.

Yes I was speeding and would have acceppted the stop and fine for
that. The fine was for $233.00 for not useing a turn signal while trying
to insure the officer's safety by moving away from him. To me the fine
is way out of align for that type of infraction.

Any suggestions ???? I'm planning on pleading not guilty.

 

[poohmantbb]

Did the patrol car have his lights on?

 

[Ohiogal]

Hello, I'm from NC and was stopped I-95 in yammasee SC
for speeding 78/70 and for improper lane change. The officer
dropped the speeding charge(verbal warning), and wrote me
up for the lane change(no turn signal).
There are laws in some states that mandate you have to move
over to another lane,or barring that, SLOW way down for a stopped
patrol car.
Now here is my point, the officer was stopped behind another car on
the shoulder, had a semi-unmarked car(no lights on top,just lettering
on the side). There is no traffic any where near me(300 yds or more
front and back), I'm coming up on the 2 cars on the shoulder and at
the last sec. notice it's a cop. So trying to not break a "Greater law"
(officer safety), I make a quick check in the mirrors and make my move.

Yes I was speeding and would have acceppted the stop and fine for
that. The fine was for $233.00 for not useing a turn signal while trying
to insure the officer's safety by moving away from him. To me the fine
is way out of align for that type of infraction.

Any suggestions ???? I'm planning on pleading not guilty.

Turn signals are still required regardless of whether or not it is a police car. The law still states you have to use them to change lanes in order to signal others. You didn't use them. It doesn't matter if it is a cop or empty car or not. If you change lanes, you need to signal.

 

[Laz]

Turn signals are still required regardless of whether or not it is a police car. The law still states you have to use them to change lanes in order to signal others. You didn't use them. It doesn't matter if it is a cop or empty car or not. If you change lanes, you need to signal.

I think you are missing the point here, yes it is the law for turnsignals
to be used(no problem with that), but there is also a LAW that states
for you to move over for that police car on the shoulder. It is also a
good move to do so for personal safety even if it's "just a car".

Here it is in a nutshell, a move was made that broke the law, in order
to keep from breaking another law, which was to INSURE the officers
safety.
It's kinda hard to signal someone of your intentions when there is no
one to signal to.

For poohmantbb; to tell you the truth, I don't recall if his lights were on are not, if they were, since they are mounted inside the cars back glass,
it would not have been as easy to see them early.

 

[poohmantbb]

For poohmantbb; to tell you the truth, I don't recall if his lights were on are not, if they were, since they are mounted inside the cars back glass, it would not have been as easy to see them early.

Actually, if you were the only car.... they would have been easily isible from quite a distance. That's why police cars have lights at all angles. I am asuming that the lights were on, so your defense will not work, as you should have moved over long before you had to make a sudden lane change.