Re: HOV violation
Posted by:
Not Sure
()
Date: January 03, 2009 11:50AM
Once, going downtown early in the morning, I had enough time to ride 66 eastbound for a few exits before HOV kicked in (6:30). Just past the beltway exit, there was a problem that WTOP traffic didn't mention at all (shocker, but that's another topic) which delayed me 10 minutes. Anyway, I knew I had to get off, so at 6:25am I exited onto Route 7 and was going to take it to Rt. 29 and head in. In front of me, on the ramp, a cop had another car stopped in the middle of the ramp. I couldn't pass either on either side.
I waited until the cop let the guy go and then the cop pulled me over and said I was violating HOV and he was being a real dick about it. I pointed out that my car clock, my watch, and my satellite radio clock indicated that it was currently 6:28 or 6:29 and that I had been waiting for 3 minutes for him to finish with the car in front of me, so in theory I would have been off the ramp at 6:26am if it wasn't for him. He said his watch said it was 6:31 and that it didn't matter what my THREE clocks said.
Took it to court. I told the judge that if it had been 6:35 am I would have admitted guilt, paid my fine, and wouldn't be wasting the court's time. The judged agreed and dismissed it. He basically said that time is relative when your talking a minute or two and that it was too close to call, but don't cut it close again, blah, blah, blah. The cop was pissed. He had some other tickets dismissed prior to mine. Probably a bully that wants to throw his authority around. I wish I had his name, but I threw that ticket away.