I reciently backed into another vehicle in a private parking lot of a retail store. The police were notified and arrived to make a report. I exchanged information with the owner of the other vehicle. I happened to not have my license on me (had left it in a jacket pocket the night before). I was given a ticket for no drivers license (which isn't a huge deal since it should be dropped if I show my license in court), and another ticket for "backing up not in safety".
When I told my insurance agent, she was shocked that I had been written a ticket. She told me that she didn't think that the Houston Police Department had any jurisdiction in private parking lots and that unless there were injuries, they were not even supposed to respond the these types of calls. I've read other incidents (from other states) where a person was hit by an illegal immigrant with no license or insurance and the police would do nothing since it was on private property.
So, my questions are:
1) Was the officer out of her jurisdiction when she wrote the ticket for the violation?
2) What steps to I take to get the ticket thrown out? Do I need a lawyer?
(By the way, this is NOT a request for a thousand e-mails from laywers and their cost to defend me. Just looking for some clarification, really.)
Thanks!
When I told my insurance agent, she was shocked that I had been written a ticket. She told me that she didn't think that the Houston Police Department had any jurisdiction in private parking lots and that unless there were injuries, they were not even supposed to respond the these types of calls. I've read other incidents (from other states) where a person was hit by an illegal immigrant with no license or insurance and the police would do nothing since it was on private property.
So, my questions are:
1) Was the officer out of her jurisdiction when she wrote the ticket for the violation?
2) What steps to I take to get the ticket thrown out? Do I need a lawyer?
(By the way, this is NOT a request for a thousand e-mails from laywers and their cost to defend me. Just looking for some clarification, really.)
Thanks!