So ... Im driving to work around 9:00 AM this morning and there is a bit of traffic on 50. Im on the lane immediately to the right of the carpool lane... and some douche decides he wants to show all the people tailing behind him what his break lights look like... so off he goes... and on come the lights... the SUV behind me however seemed to like following my G real close and also seemed to like staring away into the reflection of her face just as much as paying attn to driving... so I make an educated guess that she wouldnt stop in time and jet out to the carpool lane... as soon as the breaking is resolved i try to get back in ... and the same SUV decides that I would be better off in the carpool lane and lane blocks the **** out of me... so off I go increasing my acceleration to get back into my old lane (had to pass like 5 cars) and a bike po got me... now... I am pretty sure he saw all this take place... but even after than or my story didnt really care... he was very professional about it... didnt give me **** about my non-updated lic plate sticker and didnt even care about no front plate...

guess its quota time...

BTW: any sacramento-ites get carpool violations? how much am I looking @?

/VENT

 

That does suck man. I've often wondered what would happen if I had to swerve out into the carpool lane to avoid hitting someone, or being hit. Guess it's luck of the draw. I'm sure he cited you for the carpool lane violation because that's going to be a nice fine. I think it's $275 for the first violation. And it's a state thing, not just a Sac thing...

You can always try and go to court to state your case to the judge!

 

Yea... I was debating that... but problem is... he has me going 75 in a 65 (he didnt give me a speeding tix) ... I am assuming that if i did take it to court he could cram that on me too? I dont mind paying the fine... as long as I was using it improperly... but it was out of need not want... Eitherways... ill keep the thread updated w/ what i do

 

same thing happened to me last year. some guy cut into the middle lane at 20 mph slower in heavy traffic and the guy in front of me didnt care to brake until the last second. i swerved out and had my signal on to get back in, cop pulls me over and doesnt give a crap, *******.

ended up costing 300-400 and that was before they raised the minimum fine.

 

Waiting for G35Mass to chime in

 

Had the same thing happen to me a couple years back. I ended up just going to the court, pleading guilty, and getting the fine cut in half. I believe its about $375 for the fine, he lowered mine to $150.

 

I'm sure g35chippie will chime in first.

 

He was probably thinking that you shouldn't have been in the carpool lane regardless of what happened.

Sucks but you are pretty much screwed. Best thing to do is plead guilty and ask for a reduced fine plus traffic school. If you REALLY feel sour about it then maybe you should go to court and try to explain to the judge that you were just avoiding an accident due to a tailgater.

 

I didnt think the fine could be lowered It states that the fine is a minimum fine.




This happened to me a long time ago, and I told the officer why I was in the carpool lane...his responce was just as plain as the law. He said the law is 2 or more people during the posted times. Next time you should give yourself more distance between the car in front of you. Its that simple...and it really is. It sucks that we put ourselves into situatuions that cause us to break the law (even though its not intensional)

They are really not out there to to "jack us" imagine if they weren't out there at all...everyone would be in the carpool lane.

Still sucks man...sorry to hear it!

 

for sure ... thats what I thought I would do... Prolly end up going to court and pleading guilty... ill try and refresh my case for the judge... Hopefully he would have had a good day so far and would give me a smaller fine ...

Thanks guys for chiming in... Ill keep everyone updated when I get my tix

 

Not sure about the law in your state but don't think they can give you a ticket for speeding now. You should go to court and at least try to get it lowered.

 

well put

 

California will definitely give you a ticket for speeding.

 

I think there's a chance that the ticket might get dismissed if you provide a well-written declaration by mail or a good oral argument. Judges are people and can be nice, too, you know.

Anotherg35 said that you should have more distance in front of you, but according to your story, you didn't cut into the carpool lane because you feared crashing into the car in front of you; you cut into the carpool lane because you feared the SUV closely following you was going to crash into you. I would think safety would defintely be a reasonable excuse.

 

no traffic school. it isnt a moving violation