Beating a ticket

By jikamens on Tue, 09/12/2006 - 12:02pm

Got a ticket for improper passing on the right on Washington St. at the intersection with Waverly Ave. near Newton Corner. Contested the ticket. Spent hours preparing for the hearing. Punchline: The trooper representing the Commonwealth didn't have a copy of the citation, so I was found "not responsible" without saying a word in my defense.

The three people whose hearings were before mine were also found "not responsible".

Moral of the story: always contest the ticket if you think it was undeserved. Well, the moral for the unscrupulous might leave off the last part, but personally, if I think I'm guilty of what they accused me of, I'll grit my teeth, pay the ticket and live with the surcharge.

More details on my main blog.

Topics:

Driving

jikamens's blog

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Comments

Not Even Having to Fight

By massmarrier on Tue, 09/12/2006 - 2:21pm.

LOL. I had forgotten about years ago when I got a ticket on which the cop alleged that I had run a red light under the 203 overpass at Forest Hills. I hadn't, not even a yellow, and had my wife and kids in the car. There was no way I'd accept that.

I contested and showed up in court. The light is a beer can's throw from the court. I had my sheaf of papers. On top was a map of the immediate area. I was prepared to show right off how the cop could not have even seen the intersection from where he was stopped and waiting.

The judge looked at the stack of documents and then at the room filled with people awaiting trial. As soon as I said, "I am sure your are familar with the geography, streets and lights in this area," the judge interrupted with, "Case dismissed."

Not Washington St.

By jikamens on Tue, 09/12/2006 - 2:30pm.

Somebody just pointed out on my main blog that it wasn't Washington St., it was Tremont St. I live in the neighborhood, so when I'm heading from Brighton Center to Newton Corner I tend to think of the two streets interchangeably. Because of that, I didn't even notice the most obvious error on the ticket -- the cop wrote the wrong street on the ticket!

Passing on the right

By Ron Newman on Tue, 09/12/2006 - 2:38pm.

I thought you were always allowed to pass on the right in Massachusetts?

Nope

By jikamens on Tue, 09/12/2006 - 2:40pm.

You're only allowed to pass on the right if the vehicle you're overtaking is in the process of turning left, or if you're on a one-way street, or if you're driving on a road where traffic is restricted to one direction of movement (such as a multiple lane highway). See page 128 in the Massachusetts drivers handbook.