Hello, I'm located in San Diego and I just got a traffic ticket for turning left on a solid double yellow line with a 'no left turn' sign. Here's what happened: I was pulling out of a grocery store parking lot into a main road. I waited for traffic to clear and there were no cars coming either way so I proceed to make the turn. When I got over the double yellow lines I just noticed I made an illegal left turn as the lines were hard to see from the parking lot. I was in a place I've never been before.
Next thing I notice is a motorcycle cop flashing his lights. He cited me for making an illegal turn. After he was done with me I drove back to the grocery store lot and the 'no left turn' was there, which I didn't see before. I noticed the sign was really higher than normal, like 10ft high and on sloped terrain. Do you guys think it'll help if I take pictures or maybe even film the driveway to see if anyone else makes a left turn; to present that maybe it is hard to see the 'no left turn' sign? Also the cop immediately cited another person right after he was done with me.
In addition, it's been 15 months since I got my last ticket and I had already went to traffic school. I'm suppose to be free of violations for 18 months to be eligible for another traffic school allowance. If I ask the judge nicely to allow me to go to traffic school, do you think she'll allow it? Is it even possible?
What are my chances if I try to fight it? My hopes are that he won't show up, but with a motorcycle cop you'll never know. How does it work? Do I go on the court date and face a judge? If I plead not guilty, will there be another court date set or does the cop have to be there on my first day in court? Sorry if it's repetitive, I'm worried I may get a point on my driving record thus driving my insurance up.
Next thing I notice is a motorcycle cop flashing his lights. He cited me for making an illegal turn. After he was done with me I drove back to the grocery store lot and the 'no left turn' was there, which I didn't see before. I noticed the sign was really higher than normal, like 10ft high and on sloped terrain. Do you guys think it'll help if I take pictures or maybe even film the driveway to see if anyone else makes a left turn; to present that maybe it is hard to see the 'no left turn' sign? Also the cop immediately cited another person right after he was done with me.
In addition, it's been 15 months since I got my last ticket and I had already went to traffic school. I'm suppose to be free of violations for 18 months to be eligible for another traffic school allowance. If I ask the judge nicely to allow me to go to traffic school, do you think she'll allow it? Is it even possible?
What are my chances if I try to fight it? My hopes are that he won't show up, but with a motorcycle cop you'll never know. How does it work? Do I go on the court date and face a judge? If I plead not guilty, will there be another court date set or does the cop have to be there on my first day in court? Sorry if it's repetitive, I'm worried I may get a point on my driving record thus driving my insurance up.
