Last night I was leaving the grocery store I work at after picking up some food right before close (10 PM). I was parked nose out in a 45 degree space, last car in the lot. As I pulled out I made the 45 degree turn towards the back of the lot very quickly, and immediately saw a local cop halfway across the lot pulling in. He came chasing after me, pulled me over, grilled me on what I thought I was doing. Then proceeded to tell me that what I did was wreckless because it was a parking lot and there were women and children around... #1. Then he issues me a ticket for local ordinance 331.13 Starting Without Care, telling me that I took off, to quote the ticket, "with tires squaling and car went sideways."... 's #2 and 3. As the clincher, he must have been looking at the wrong calender year when he wrote the date for my appearance in mayor's court, because the ticket says 7-17 (Sunday) instead of the proper 7-18 (Monday).

I'm definitely going to fight this one, because the officer is claiming that I did things I did not do. Due to the fact that he was moving the opposite direction, and probably just saw the HID's swing around the lot, I can understand why he might think that, but it's not the case. I think it's safe to say that the fact that I have the only S2000 in a town of 2900 and I'm younger than he is attracts some attention though.

 

sounds subjective to me...just show up to the court date and chances are he will not and the case will be thrown out because of lack of evidence. That is how my sister got 4 of 5 speeding tickets tossed. if he does show up, just tell the judge that you were not doing as he said you were....i.e-no tread marks in parking lot, there was no one else around, and he even misinformed you about the court date. That should be enough negligence to get it tossed.

John

 

Take it to court; the wrong date should get it dismissed right away. A long time ago I was driving my Dad's car doing 110mph at midnight right past an unmarked car and he wrote me up for speeding, reckless driving and eluding (I tried ditching him for awhile until he turned on his lights upon which I promptly stopped). Anyway, the officer put down the wrong information on the ticket and it was dismissed immediately. Go fight it, you were not endangering anyone. Sounds like a jealous cop, the constant battle between the haves and the have-nots.

 

I didn't think the police could issue citations for infractions that occurred on private property. Can they? Can any attorneys here answer this one?

 

That's exactly what I was thinking.

There was a video posted here a year or so ago with someone in a WRX STI doing 4-wheel burnouts in a parking lot. The cops showed up and were quite annoyed that the property owner/manager was there and obviously had no problem with it.

 

In case you have to defend yourself in court, go to the parking lot and take pictures. Draw out where you were and where he was and show that he did not have a good view of your car and could not have seen anything clearly. (plus point out it was dark) Take some pictures of your car at the same time of night. Just be prepared.

 

I'm not sure if they can issue tickets or not. I've gone stunt driving in many a parking lot in Ohio, and gotten chased/surrounded/pulled over by the cops, but never gotten a ticket. Don't go on my word though, I know a lot of people that have gotten tickets.

 

They cannot issue a traffic citation on private property but they can ask you to leave or issue you a code/ordinance violation. Probably why you got starting w/o care instead of reckless driving or exhibition of speed or somesuch other moving violation. Chances are this is an ordinance and won't be considered a moving violation on your insurance.

This is all speculation, laws vary by state/county/city.

 

If this is where you work, you can get your boss to help you out. If it's on his property, and he's OK with it, it should help your case.

Good luck.

JonasM

 

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