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Discussion in 'Trucker Legal Advice' started by Clintonstain, May 6, 2014.

  1. Clintonstain

    Clintonstain Light Load Member

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    Oct 12, 2012
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    Going through a Kentucky weigh station and got a ticket for "Failure to Obey a Traffic Signal" for not stopping at the weigh station.

    The sign indicating whether to Park or Go sits over the road. The truck in front of me is blocking my view of it.


    When he finally moves under it clearing my view of it, it says PARK for a quarter second but then changes to GO. Seeing this, I think "man, that guy just ran a park order - idiot". I very slowly creep up to and underneath the sign which doesn't change from GO.

    The cop runs me down and gives me a $20 ticket, $145 court costs and 6 CSA points.


    I think the officer pushed his 'Park' button too soon, when I couldn't see it and didn't know it was for me. Stop lights aren't strobe lights. Traffic signals should be clear and easy to observe - this one wasn't.

    I know there are some folks who will think I'm full of it, but look at this pic and tell me what you think.


    Hard to see it but it's the station to the right. The sign is to the right of the two red dots and left of the tall light. It sits over the road and you drive underneath it. If you copy and paste this in the address box you can see it.

    https://www.google.com/maps/@37.061073,-88.183428,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sBHMuDDqQcNSuHGaWYjbhsQ!2e0

    Going to have to go back to Kentucky in a month to fight this.

    The cop looked VERY young. Anyone know how I can find out how long he's been a DOT officer? Suggestions?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2014
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  3. Dr_Fandango44

    Dr_Fandango44 Road Train Member

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    Austin, TX
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    No just hire a lawyer to fight the ticket. Don't even try to figure out how the court system works in KY, and the age of the DOT guy has no bearing on the outcome.
    Ive had good luck fighting tickets when in the truck. Much better luck than when I'm in my 4-wheeler.
    Yeah, you have to pay good $$ for the lawyer but it's the best path to take.
    Good luck
     
  4. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    Cheap tic. when paying for lawyer costs will be hi. you can try roadlaw lawyers OOIDA tells its members that they can use them.
     
  5. Dewey120

    Dewey120 Road Train Member

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    Sounds like you may have been following the truck in front of you a little to close. I always keep a 100 foot gap. Most of the time the driver behind me is right on my trailer bumper.
     
  6. bigdogpile

    bigdogpile Road Train Member

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    Thats what I was gonna say,if you cant see the sign because the truck in front of was blocking your view...your to close...The closer the truck behind me gets,the slower I go..
     
  7. TankerYankr

    TankerYankr Medium Load Member

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    Jan 16, 2010
    Central US
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    I've said this before, but I'll go ahead and repeat it.

    A superior driver,
    Uses his/her superior judgement,
    To stay out of situations,
    Requiring his/her superior skills.
     
    gpsman Thanks this.
  8. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Tennessee
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    6 points is nothing. $165 is cheaper than fighting it. Unless it's general principle hoping your word will override his word I would move on with life. When you get up above say 30-40 points then you get a bad reputation. 6 points isn't squat unless you already have 24. :)
     
  9. gpsman

    gpsman Road Train Member

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    That doesn't make any sense. Why would you be slowly creeping "on the road"? It appears you meant "on the ramp", and you were following too closely.


    Stop trying to blame others for your mistakes.
     
  10. cnsper

    cnsper Road Train Member

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    Sorry, I refuse to stoop to that level.
     
  11. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Sioux City,ia
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    In the future stay behind the trk a head of you 50 to 100 feet which scale houses prefer.When the guy ahead of you left, the lite changed was meant for you not him.Sure the sign didn't say stop?Once you're on the scale you stay there till the officer changes the sign to either park or go even if 5 minutes.The parked or stop lite at the scale means just that,not go once you're stopped until the officer changes the lite.Just pay the ticket, take the points and remember that scale house for the next time.I would'nt waste my time fighting this.You may not get a load towards the court house and the first of the fight is pleading your case then in a month or so the court.Is it really worth it?
     
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