What is the name of your state? California
I'm wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the following or if anyone has similiar experiences they could share.
I received a citation for violating vehicle code 21950 - failure to yield to a pedestrian. The area was in LA on a busy street (Highland) at morning rush hour on a weekday. The LAPD had set up an operation in the area for specifically this reason - to cite people for violating said code. There were numerous police cars and motorcycles on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 35 on that street but I was travelling at 30 because of the traffic and because there was so much going on. There were also a lot of pedestrians on the sidewalk making a lot of fuss - I don't remember why but I think they were sweeping or laughing at people who were being pulled over. I just remember being distracted by them. By the time I saw the pedestrian, it was probably too late for me to stop without blocking the crosswalk and it wasn't until I passed the crosswalk that I realized what was going on. The sun was also obstructing my view to some extent at that hour.
So I'm wondering if I stand a chance at fighting this ticket for the following reasons:
There was a lot of distractions that day(on a regular day there's already distractions - add police cars, motorcycles and more pedestrians than usual)
I wasn't travelling at an unsafe speed and the pedestrian (cop) was never endangered by me in any way. On the contrary, I feel I would have had to hit my brakes pretty hard to have stopped for him by the time I saw him. Wouldn't that be more dangerous?
The sun was partially obstructing my view ahead and the officer who wrote me a ticket acknowledged that.
I know my chances are probably slim since the pedestrian was an officer as well, thus I have two officers who will have different opinions than mine. Just looking for thoughtsl.
Thanks.What is the name of your state?
I'm wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the following or if anyone has similiar experiences they could share.
I received a citation for violating vehicle code 21950 - failure to yield to a pedestrian. The area was in LA on a busy street (Highland) at morning rush hour on a weekday. The LAPD had set up an operation in the area for specifically this reason - to cite people for violating said code. There were numerous police cars and motorcycles on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 35 on that street but I was travelling at 30 because of the traffic and because there was so much going on. There were also a lot of pedestrians on the sidewalk making a lot of fuss - I don't remember why but I think they were sweeping or laughing at people who were being pulled over. I just remember being distracted by them. By the time I saw the pedestrian, it was probably too late for me to stop without blocking the crosswalk and it wasn't until I passed the crosswalk that I realized what was going on. The sun was also obstructing my view to some extent at that hour.
So I'm wondering if I stand a chance at fighting this ticket for the following reasons:
There was a lot of distractions that day(on a regular day there's already distractions - add police cars, motorcycles and more pedestrians than usual)
I wasn't travelling at an unsafe speed and the pedestrian (cop) was never endangered by me in any way. On the contrary, I feel I would have had to hit my brakes pretty hard to have stopped for him by the time I saw him. Wouldn't that be more dangerous?
The sun was partially obstructing my view ahead and the officer who wrote me a ticket acknowledged that.
I know my chances are probably slim since the pedestrian was an officer as well, thus I have two officers who will have different opinions than mine. Just looking for thoughtsl.
Thanks.What is the name of your state?