Your Honor,
I would like to start by saying that prior to receiving this ticket, I received 2 other traffic tickets within a 3 month period. I received my first ticket when I was on my lunch break, and left Taco Bell to go back to work. As I was pulling out, I looked to my left and saw that there were no cars coming, so I didn't make a full stop and turned right into the street. I received my second ticket 2 weeks after, when I was driving my wife to school. I had plenty of time to get her to class on time, and I was Rinaldi Street. The street was free of traffic and there were barely any cars on the street. I approached a yellow light, and started to speed up. I passed the yellow light. Before I got any chance to slow down again, I was pulled over by a cop who was using a laser gun. There were actually 2 cops there and they were pulling people over left and right. After receiving my ticket, the cop immediately pulled over another car, and I left the scene. You can see how unlucky I have been. After paying more than $400 worth of fines, and going through an exhausting 20 hours of traffic school, I vowed that I will never receive another ticket. Unfortunately, that did not happen. On Friday, ----- , I was driving back home from UCLA, and driving down Santa Monica. As I was driving on the left lane, I saw officer Sandovol's car driving ahead of me on the slow lane. I believe he was preoccupied with a pedestrian, because he slowed down for a few seconds, and I passed by him. I believe we were driving side by side, but I was ahead by a few feet. As I was driving, I noticed that there was a Ford Expedition with very dark tints ahead of me, trying to make a left turn. There was no incoming traffic, but the car didn't make his turn. I suspected that there was something wrong, but as I kept looking, I could not see anyone behind the car, due to the car's size and the dark windows. Therefore I slowed down, but did not suddenly stop because there were cars behind me. In addition, officer Sandovol was driving by my side, and I thought if I make a full stop for no reason, (in case there was nothing there) I would end up with the ticket that I vowed not to receive. Your Honor, if the car had been any other car, I would have been able to see the couple stopping behind the car. It could have even been a Ford Expedition with no tints, and I would have still been able to spot them, and come to a stop. I used my best judgment not to violate any traffic laws, and my judgment directly led me to getting my third ticket. Your Honor, I am convinced that the couple were standing there for at least 5 to 10 seconds, because while I was not able to see them, and I was scanning the road ahead of me, they were able to see me through the car's tints. As I passed the couple, I saw that they had stopped in front of the car, and were waiting for me to pass by. This all happened very fast, and shortly after I passed the couple, I was pulled over by officer Sandovol. Your Honor, first, I'm very glad that I'm standing here in front of you instead of being in jail with a felony charge. I'm not arguing that I'm entirely innocent, and I should be dismissed, but I want to bring to your attention that first of all, I really, honestly did not see the couple standing behind this car, and second, I would never ever want to violate a traffic law, especially when a cop is driving right by my side. That would just be irrational! Why would I ever want to break a traffic law, after vowing myself not to ever get another traffic ticket, especially when I was driving right next to officer Sandovol. Your honor, I'm currently insured by Wawanesa who only insures good drivers with clean records. I was able to dismiss my other 2 tickets by going through 20 hours of traffic school, but this ticket will definitely mean that I will no longer be part of this company. I have called them in person and I have confirmed with them that my policy will be cancelled in the coming months. I really can not afford to pay my insurance, and I know that it will be increased by at least double the amount. Again, this does not in any way imply that I should be dismissed and I understand that, but I wanted to ask you if there is any other possible way for me to pay my fine and not receive any more points on my driving record. This will be the biggest blessing that I could have ever received, and I totally respect officer Sandovol's decision to pull me over. In conclusion, I only want to stress that moments prior to this incident, I was using my best judgment to comply with the traffic laws, but I was unfortunate. I am done.
I would like to start by saying that prior to receiving this ticket, I received 2 other traffic tickets within a 3 month period. I received my first ticket when I was on my lunch break, and left Taco Bell to go back to work. As I was pulling out, I looked to my left and saw that there were no cars coming, so I didn't make a full stop and turned right into the street. I received my second ticket 2 weeks after, when I was driving my wife to school. I had plenty of time to get her to class on time, and I was Rinaldi Street. The street was free of traffic and there were barely any cars on the street. I approached a yellow light, and started to speed up. I passed the yellow light. Before I got any chance to slow down again, I was pulled over by a cop who was using a laser gun. There were actually 2 cops there and they were pulling people over left and right. After receiving my ticket, the cop immediately pulled over another car, and I left the scene. You can see how unlucky I have been. After paying more than $400 worth of fines, and going through an exhausting 20 hours of traffic school, I vowed that I will never receive another ticket. Unfortunately, that did not happen. On Friday, ----- , I was driving back home from UCLA, and driving down Santa Monica. As I was driving on the left lane, I saw officer Sandovol's car driving ahead of me on the slow lane. I believe he was preoccupied with a pedestrian, because he slowed down for a few seconds, and I passed by him. I believe we were driving side by side, but I was ahead by a few feet. As I was driving, I noticed that there was a Ford Expedition with very dark tints ahead of me, trying to make a left turn. There was no incoming traffic, but the car didn't make his turn. I suspected that there was something wrong, but as I kept looking, I could not see anyone behind the car, due to the car's size and the dark windows. Therefore I slowed down, but did not suddenly stop because there were cars behind me. In addition, officer Sandovol was driving by my side, and I thought if I make a full stop for no reason, (in case there was nothing there) I would end up with the ticket that I vowed not to receive. Your Honor, if the car had been any other car, I would have been able to see the couple stopping behind the car. It could have even been a Ford Expedition with no tints, and I would have still been able to spot them, and come to a stop. I used my best judgment not to violate any traffic laws, and my judgment directly led me to getting my third ticket. Your Honor, I am convinced that the couple were standing there for at least 5 to 10 seconds, because while I was not able to see them, and I was scanning the road ahead of me, they were able to see me through the car's tints. As I passed the couple, I saw that they had stopped in front of the car, and were waiting for me to pass by. This all happened very fast, and shortly after I passed the couple, I was pulled over by officer Sandovol. Your Honor, first, I'm very glad that I'm standing here in front of you instead of being in jail with a felony charge. I'm not arguing that I'm entirely innocent, and I should be dismissed, but I want to bring to your attention that first of all, I really, honestly did not see the couple standing behind this car, and second, I would never ever want to violate a traffic law, especially when a cop is driving right by my side. That would just be irrational! Why would I ever want to break a traffic law, after vowing myself not to ever get another traffic ticket, especially when I was driving right next to officer Sandovol. Your honor, I'm currently insured by Wawanesa who only insures good drivers with clean records. I was able to dismiss my other 2 tickets by going through 20 hours of traffic school, but this ticket will definitely mean that I will no longer be part of this company. I have called them in person and I have confirmed with them that my policy will be cancelled in the coming months. I really can not afford to pay my insurance, and I know that it will be increased by at least double the amount. Again, this does not in any way imply that I should be dismissed and I understand that, but I wanted to ask you if there is any other possible way for me to pay my fine and not receive any more points on my driving record. This will be the biggest blessing that I could have ever received, and I totally respect officer Sandovol's decision to pull me over. In conclusion, I only want to stress that moments prior to this incident, I was using my best judgment to comply with the traffic laws, but I was unfortunate. I am done.
