Traffic Citations

Am I the only one who thinks they're primarily bullshit and free revenue for cities? I get the speeding thing, because people in my area drive wayy too fast, as well as DUI etc. But a month ago I wrecked my car, a 2005 Lancer, total loss in a rear end collision ( I hit someone who stopped abruptly to avoid another rear end ) and I had to pay to get the guy's car fixed. On top of that, the cop wrote me a citation for 'following too closely' Fucking bullshit, because I was not following too closely, I basically got brake checked. Trying to go from 35-0 takes about 80 feet in that car, which I was following at - I skidded due to the shit condition of Virginia's roads. I'm an excellent driver, though, that was the only thing on my record. Fucking assholes. I think speeding fines aren't high enough and everything else is taken too seriously. Grr. I was able to get the citation dismissed, but eh, I don't want to deal with speeding BS again.

>primarily bullshit and free revenue for cities? Pretty sure that's exactly what it is and I've heard police have quotas to meet so they love to hand those things out. Before learning that I always found it rather strange and backwards that people who swear to serve and protect the public would in turn rob hard working people of their money for trivial and petty reasons without a care. I figure they must realize that countless people live from pay check to paycheck these days and can't afford a $500 ticket/Citation, and by robbing these people they're likely to force them into desperate situations that increase the likelihood of them committing a crime. It makes sense though when you realize police are being forced to do these things.

In most cases if you rear end someone it is always classed as being your fault as your are supposed to ensure that there is enough distance for the car in front to stop suddenly. That being said if you are being "brake checked" it would mean the other driver intentionally tried to force you to stop by slamming on their own brakes. That would mitigate your liability. Downside is it is near impossible to prove that you were brake checked unless you have it on video. I would say that most traffic citations make perfect sense and do have legitimate reasons for being enforced. Just most people complain that is it not their fault when it is. Then try to blame that they are being used to make money. Police may have quotas to fill but they cannot write you a citation without reason.

:shrug: Its funny that I got a citation for it when my wreck was caused by someone just in front of the person I hit - they would have had a better case if they gave both drivers in front of the person I hit improper/reckless driving citations. I was able to get out of mine because I do otherwise have a clean driving record, I don't speed and I fully agree with speeding tickets except for the fact that Virginia is draconian about their speed limits. It just blows my mind they would write someone a citation who wasn't, in fact, following too closely. Braking is too subjective to physics at any given point - under normal conditions I would have stopped fine - you get a downward grade in a heavy little compact for its size, and 35 mph braking distance becomes a question of physics that no driver should have to take into account. Frankly Virginia sucks for driving period.