Fight denver traffic ticket? (Disobedience to Lane Assgn)

[KestrelBike]

Hello,

Last week on the way to work in DTDenver, it was my 2nd day at the particular jobsite (bookkeeper) and my 2nd foray into Denver, ever. There was heavy traffic, and I thought I was in the correct lane to turn left, but my left was about 4 blocks up, and in the meantime my lane was going to force a left on me in 2 blocks. There was ZERO room (everyone was stopped at a red) to move over, but there was a good gap in/after the intersection, so I scooted over and suddenly a cop standing on the sidewalk was waving me over. I obediently (heh) moved over to the curb, where I found I was behind 2 other people also getting tickets. Turns out this cop was just camping there giving tickets to everyone he sees leave that lane. I really wasn't in that lane to "skip the line", I honestly was just following my garmin's directions and didn't want to get further lost and lose time.

The ticket is for $130, total pts = 3 (but if I pay before my court date, it's just 1 point). Should I fight the ticket in court or just pay up?

Sure the cost sucks, but I can live with that. What I loathe is the point on my license (or I assume 3, if I fight it and lose in court) and any increase in my car insurance premiums, which are already too high. I currently have zero pts on my license. I suppose my defense would just be "Hey it was basically my first time ever driving in denver, I had no idea where I was going, and it seems like it was just a ticket farm there with no real safety purpose." I realize now that it's a terrible defense, but I still would ask you guys what you think.

Thanks!

[SuperiorDG]

Pay the ticket. If you make or have made the statement you made in your post already to the cop you are admitting you committed the crime. Guilty as charged.

[JM Ver. 2.0]

Makes me wonder if they've had issues with people doing that before and causing accidents...

[bigun1962]

Since you saw the cop and obeyed then admitted that you made a mistake. Pay the ticket.

[sniper7]

You screwed up, the GPS may have screwed up but you were in control of the car. You also pulled over to a cop waving you over. Could have been a stripper or a crazy guy impersonating a cop (your defense if you got pulled over later), but you decided to stop and it turned out to be a real cop with a real ticket for a real screw up and unfortunately you got caught. Just pay it, take the 1 point and learn to use google maps in addition to your GPS so you know where you are going instead of blindly watching a screen that alerts you too little too late.

[SAnd]

Throw yourself on the mercy of the court.

Talk to the District Attorney or whoever and ask if they will give you a break. It won't hurt to ask.

[bigshane]

If you have the spare time and choose to fight it my experience is that at the least it will be reduced, with about a 25% chance they drop it altogether. Even if they drop it though it'll cost you 20-30 (been awhile, can't remember) in court fees. Basically, if you have a job >burger flipping then your time is probably worth more than just paying it.

[BushMasterBoy]

Did you violate a city law or a state law? Sounds like a confusing intersection and a money maker for the city. I'd go to court and and fight for a reduction. What do you have to lose?

[SideShow Bob]

Left turn only lane means left turn only, you will lose in court and have court costs tacked on on.....unless there is no or obstructed signage stating a left turn only lane. Go take pictures, good pictures and have them enlarged to at least to 8"x10" glossy photos, if this is the case and you could win in court.

[SideShow Bob]

Did you violate a city law or a state law? Sounds like a confusing intersection and a money maker for the city. I'd go to court and and fight for a reduction. What do you have to lose?

Court costs being tacked on to the fine, another Denver revenue generator.......

[Clint45]

Pay the ticket and take the one point. If you go to court the DA will offer you the same deal, but you'll need to take a day off from work, pay parking fees, and pay court costs. The judge will definitely not dismiss the ticket . . . I do not believe that has ever happened in the history of Denver.

[ray1970]

You'll just end up having to pay it in the end anyways. I would save all of the grief and hassle of court proceedings and just pay the stupid thing. One point is no big deal. I do understand it sucks to be out $130 for an honest mistake.

Not everything in life is fair or just.

[MarkCO]

Did you violate a city law or a state law? Sounds like a confusing intersection and a money maker for the city. I'd go to court and and fight for a reduction. What do you have to lose?

2 more points and about 10% increase in insurance premium...

1 point rarely gets a bump in premium, 3 points usually does.

I'd pay it and take the 1 point.

[KestrelBike]

Ok thx everyone for the replies!! Next time ill just suck it up and take the left turn lol. I'm going to pay the fine now and avoid the chance that I get 3pts instead of early 1pt.

Should I have just ignored the cop? As I sat there waiting for him to give me the ticket, I thought "I should have just ignored him and kept driving", but then looked at his open door and figured he might have just hopped in his car and then busted me additionally for refusing an officers orders or something even more expensive.

Most annoying: I went online to pay the thing and it said "fine on ticket does not match court amount, please call this number" what is that all about?? Nice system, Denver.

[JohnTRourke]

everyone should ALWAYS go to court.
If you don't go to court, you admit that it's all about the revenue (even if you think you were guilty, which is a stupid thought to have).

if EVERYONE went to court instead of just being sheep and paying it, the system would jam up and stop and they would actually have to fix it.

GO TO COURT.

it never gets worse, it can always get better.

[ben4372]

Funny how crossing a line means anything from an hours worth of pay to 2 days, depending on how you roll. Right to free travel?

[glock21]

You must have been on park ave and market st! I see the cop there everyday busting drivers for that same move. Its usually a unmarked maroon vic.

[Ashton]

Pay the ticket. If you fight it you will lose anyways.

[Ashton]

Also, for others that say goto court. It's a 1pt ticket for 100 some bucks plus 75 in court costs. If you miss a day of work? Time to prepare? Pre trial conference with the DA? Depending on how much you get paid you've already lost 2x that. Sometimes the dice roll in your favor and sometimes they don't. If it was a speeding ticket 4+ points I'd say fight it because it's going to get plea'd down. My DMV record is 4 pages long and I still have my license FYI.

[SideShow Bob]

My DMV record is 4 pages long and I still have my license FYI.

Let us all pray that your job isn't driving trucks...................[LOL]

[KestrelBike]

You must have been on park ave and market st! I see the cop there everyday busting drivers for that same move. Its usually a unmarked maroon vic.

Bingo. He was there the next day, too. I honestly think that it just takes drivers by surprise and they don't mean to shortcut everyone else, then they get to pay for the cops pensions. *shrugs*

[babirl]

everyone should ALWAYS go to court.
...
GO TO COURT.
...r.

Been many years since I had a case vs. the "traffic enforcement/revenue enhancement bs nazis" but pretty much agree w/ this... Go to court!

If you "sheep up and pay" for whatever, you'll also likely pay in your long-term insurance rates.

Typically, going to court and a "plea deal" reduces points/severity of your "criminal behavior" and won't adversely affect your insurance, but the "fines/taxes" are never reduced. Lord only knows if you're ever involved in a real trial... If it's true BS, you can request a trial and roll the dice as I understand. (Good grief, hope I'm never there...)