Which is why it is NOT in the report, Elly. The descriptives are not included in the police reports – only facts. The fact is you were in the left turn lane and you ALWAYS yield to the incoming traffic, regardless of how fast the car is coming. The very fact you didn’t see him coming FAST went to show that you were NOT paying attention. You saw him too late and if I recall, you were SURPRISED you were hit, like “where did you come from?” Then you saw a “hippie.” You assumed the cop would give HIM the ticket because you look like a mild-mannered law-abiding housewife. You got annoyed that he missed that and gave you the ticket. How dare he? The other driver was a HIPPIE and probably high on WEED. He must have been going too fast (actually, weed high makes your response time much slower) so you decided to contest the ticket. The cop went on the facts and the law. You were in the left lane and failed to yield. Case closed.
HOw can a judge make an honest decision if he hasn’t allowed witnesses to tell the complete story??? sounds like he may be prejudiced against female witnesses, imo.
The judge is biased toward the letter of the law, and against people who don’t know he has to follow the rules. Those rules also determine that evidence must be verifiable.
I don’t trust police reports, either. Years ago (1983, to be exact) I was in a car accident. A couple of drunken prom kids ran me off the road (drunken, I’m assuming; I could tell by their fancy dress and the direction they came from that they were prom-goers). Some people walking by saw the whole thing and came to my aid & called the police. The officer dismissed the witnesses without taking a single name or statement. I was sitting in the back seat of the police car looking over the officer’s shoulder while he wrote the report. I ordered him to rip that sheet up and start over! He said that it’s what happened. He had written that “the victim was distraught because she wasn’t going to the prom and it was a SUICIDE ATTEMPT!” I informed him, “First of all, my prom was last year…and I didn’t go to it, either. Second, I had had a WONDERFUL day today and, up until the accident, was in a great mood. Third, who with any ounce of sense would attempt suicide by driving a 1972 Plymouth Satellite station wagon into a tree?” I ended up going to the station the next day & talking to the OIC, who was a family friend, to report the officers less-than-professionalism. It turned out that the officer was near the end of shift & just wanted to finish & go home.
Was the light red when she turned? If it was it was his fault for running a red light. If not she was wrong for not yielding. I don’t remember if it was mentioned.
I’ve gotten six traffic tickets in my life (most when I was in my early 20s) and in three of them the cop lied. I was smart enough not to waste my time fighting them in court — what judge would believe a long-haired kid who claimed that one of “Los Angeles’s Finest” was lying?
Why did she complete the turning if she could see a car racing towards the intersection? IF the school bus was also approaching the intersection she should have also yielded and not made the turn. If she is in court for the ticket the police officer should be there hence no need for a report and the only issue is did she fail to yield, which she did.
Ok, in FBOFW I never know what year it is. But if this took place after, let’s say 2000, that bus had a video camera mounted in it. Even in Canada (beg pardon). Elly needs to ask for time to track down the bus camera footage.
I was always under the impression that witness testimony is admissible in court. Since the cops didn’t get there until after the crash, witness testimony is important.
I have had police dismiss both eyewitness and forensic evidence on grounds they didn’t witness it. My retort is always, “I wonder what the real murder rate is, since so few are done in the presence of police.” Of course, that was before so many are committed not just in the presence of police, but by the police.
Years ago, my car was hit in a busy intersection by someone running a red light (no injuries). Of course, the other driver denied that their light was red when our insurance companies got involved. I commuted to work through this intersection daily, and always noticed a school bus parked on one of the corners every day/same time, as if in stand-by mode before heading elsewhere. Next chance I got, I met the bus driver at her “post” to see if she witnessed the accident, and she definitely saw it all, and backed me up for my insurance company. I was beyond grateful, knowing it doesn’t work out that way for everyone.
Templo S.U.D. over 5 years ago
of course… the police came AFTER the accident
capricorn9th over 5 years ago
Which is why it is NOT in the report, Elly. The descriptives are not included in the police reports – only facts. The fact is you were in the left turn lane and you ALWAYS yield to the incoming traffic, regardless of how fast the car is coming. The very fact you didn’t see him coming FAST went to show that you were NOT paying attention. You saw him too late and if I recall, you were SURPRISED you were hit, like “where did you come from?” Then you saw a “hippie.” You assumed the cop would give HIM the ticket because you look like a mild-mannered law-abiding housewife. You got annoyed that he missed that and gave you the ticket. How dare he? The other driver was a HIPPIE and probably high on WEED. He must have been going too fast (actually, weed high makes your response time much slower) so you decided to contest the ticket. The cop went on the facts and the law. You were in the left lane and failed to yield. Case closed.
wldhrsy2luv over 5 years ago
Go get ’em , Elly!
TumblersBlue over 5 years ago
The sooner this story line is over and the armchair lawyers shut up the better!
sandpiper over 5 years ago
the education of the innocent. Always a shock
kfccanada over 5 years ago
HOw can a judge make an honest decision if he hasn’t allowed witnesses to tell the complete story??? sounds like he may be prejudiced against female witnesses, imo.
fuzzbucket Premium Member over 5 years ago
The judge is biased toward the letter of the law, and against people who don’t know he has to follow the rules. Those rules also determine that evidence must be verifiable.
Stevefk over 5 years ago
Lock her up! Oh no, wait, wrong comic, place and time!
russef over 5 years ago
Looks like she Stumped the Chump.
Wren Fahel over 5 years ago
I don’t trust police reports, either. Years ago (1983, to be exact) I was in a car accident. A couple of drunken prom kids ran me off the road (drunken, I’m assuming; I could tell by their fancy dress and the direction they came from that they were prom-goers). Some people walking by saw the whole thing and came to my aid & called the police. The officer dismissed the witnesses without taking a single name or statement. I was sitting in the back seat of the police car looking over the officer’s shoulder while he wrote the report. I ordered him to rip that sheet up and start over! He said that it’s what happened. He had written that “the victim was distraught because she wasn’t going to the prom and it was a SUICIDE ATTEMPT!” I informed him, “First of all, my prom was last year…and I didn’t go to it, either. Second, I had had a WONDERFUL day today and, up until the accident, was in a great mood. Third, who with any ounce of sense would attempt suicide by driving a 1972 Plymouth Satellite station wagon into a tree?” I ended up going to the station the next day & talking to the OIC, who was a family friend, to report the officers less-than-professionalism. It turned out that the officer was near the end of shift & just wanted to finish & go home.
well-i-never over 5 years ago
I’m still giving it to Elly. The guy flew into her careful left turn. Guilty!
Larrycleve over 5 years ago
Was the light red when she turned? If it was it was his fault for running a red light. If not she was wrong for not yielding. I don’t remember if it was mentioned.
Sportymonk over 5 years ago
So if it is not in the police report it cannot be discussed?? WOW!!
pshapley Premium Member over 5 years ago
I’ve gotten six traffic tickets in my life (most when I was in my early 20s) and in three of them the cop lied. I was smart enough not to waste my time fighting them in court — what judge would believe a long-haired kid who claimed that one of “Los Angeles’s Finest” was lying?
Fido (aka Felix Rex) Premium Member over 5 years ago
Just send for Perry Mason.
Gen.Flashman over 5 years ago
Why did she complete the turning if she could see a car racing towards the intersection? IF the school bus was also approaching the intersection she should have also yielded and not made the turn. If she is in court for the ticket the police officer should be there hence no need for a report and the only issue is did she fail to yield, which she did.
Durak Premium Member over 5 years ago
Ok, in FBOFW I never know what year it is. But if this took place after, let’s say 2000, that bus had a video camera mounted in it. Even in Canada (beg pardon). Elly needs to ask for time to track down the bus camera footage.
Dverny Premium Member over 5 years ago
That’s why I’ve had dash cams in both my vehicles since 2010. No disputes
Nicole ♫ ⊱✿ ◕‿◕✿⊰♫ Premium Member over 5 years ago
I was always under the impression that witness testimony is admissible in court. Since the cops didn’t get there until after the crash, witness testimony is important.
JD'Huntsville'AL over 5 years ago
So in Canada it’s only “evidence” if the police say so? Isn’t there a phrase about that? Let’s see — Oh, I know, it’s called a police state.
Hippogriff over 5 years ago
I have had police dismiss both eyewitness and forensic evidence on grounds they didn’t witness it. My retort is always, “I wonder what the real murder rate is, since so few are done in the presence of police.” Of course, that was before so many are committed not just in the presence of police, but by the police.
Jennifer Dressel Lower over 5 years ago
Years ago, my car was hit in a busy intersection by someone running a red light (no injuries). Of course, the other driver denied that their light was red when our insurance companies got involved. I commuted to work through this intersection daily, and always noticed a school bus parked on one of the corners every day/same time, as if in stand-by mode before heading elsewhere. Next chance I got, I met the bus driver at her “post” to see if she witnessed the accident, and she definitely saw it all, and backed me up for my insurance company. I was beyond grateful, knowing it doesn’t work out that way for everyone.