I was issued a violation ticket today at great falls park off georgetown pike. I gave him my information with a couple letters or numbers off, except for social security (I got nervous near the end). Is there anyway I can avoid this ticket? Maybe play it off like it's someone else. I know I gave my social, but the guy didn't even write down my last name correctly when I gave it to him.

You are screwed. Th officer will ID you in court. If you try to blow it off then you are toast. LOSER!!

Not with the correct soc #. You might get lucky and the judge throws it out or bargin down it to be dismissed for some community service. Was it Fairfax county or National Park police. Two different jurisdictions and courts.

Were you swimming in the river or one of the streams? Was it clearly marked?

Isn't Great Falls Park Federal? Do you really want to fuck with the Feds over a lousy ticket?

I almost got one of those and simply stated to the officer that I had no idea and didn't see any signage. Walked away with a warning.

What is the code cited on the ticket?

OH SHIT. All that bacteria gave you cancer

I strongly encourage liberals to swim Great Falls just to stick it to the man!

haha I did lie. I told him we came with a neighbor who invited us and had no clue but it didn't matter.

He was a park ranger. The ticket says United States district court violation notice.

I don't exactly know what you mean by code, but for CVB location code it says eu64 and it says US district court violation notice.

Where does it say you have to go to court? Alexandria?

swimfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was issued a violation ticket today at great
> falls park off georgetown pike. I gave him my
> information with a couple letters or numbers off,
> except for social security (I got nervous near the
> end). Is there anyway I can avoid this ticket?
> Maybe play it off like it's someone else. I know I
> gave my social, but the guy didn't even write down
> my last name correctly when I gave it to him.


The cop wanted your name in case the river got the best of you.

What is the rangers name.... One of those dudes gave me and my boy Yogi a hard time when we stole a picnic basket...

Just don't go trying to cut a deal saying you saw us guys doing our thing ......

Congrats you now have an alias on file with the govt....and a FBI number....take your chances but if you don't show up on a Mandatory Appearance ticket you USMS will not come after you for this but expect to get arrested at Regan Airport or Dulles if you go through customs

I got $100 ticket for swimming there last summer- two plain clothes officers that looked like regular college dudes snuck up on us, and were the biggest pricks I have ever come across. I guess they feel important for handing out smimming tickets- good job fellas!

These pathetic excuses for law enforcement went on about how unsafe the current / bacteria levels are and I am not arguing that, but if there concern was safety they would put a sign in front of where everyone has been swimming for 20+ years! The only 'no swimming sign' was about a mile down the trail.

I have been swimming there for years- I have seen others getting tickets, searched, etc, and one time there was blood everywhere and a park ranger was there stating someone had died the day before- but of course, there is still no sign posted at that part so they can make more money from violations.

and 'where' yes the courthouse for these violations is in alexandria

swimfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was issued a violation ticket today at great
> falls park off georgetown pike. I gave him my
> information with a couple letters or numbers off,
> except for social security (I got nervous near the
> end). Is there anyway I can avoid this ticket?
> Maybe play it off like it's someone else. I know I
> gave my social, but the guy didn't even write down
> my last name correctly when I gave it to him.


Man up and pay the ticket. You were wrong and got caught. Tell the judge the truth if you go to court. He might cut you some slack for being honest since 99% of the people lie in court.
The Potomac at Great Falls is a drowning machine. They prohibit swimming for a good reason. Swim someplace else. If you need to be rescued or your body recovered, it means that many others have to risk their life for you mistake. Don't be stupid. Life here is good, don't end it prematurely.

wqedwedwed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I got $100 ticket for swimming there last summer-
> two plain clothes officers that looked like
> regular college dudes snuck up on us, and were the
> biggest pricks I have ever come across. I guess
> they feel important for handing out smimming
> tickets- good job fellas!
>
> These pathetic excuses for law enforcement went on
> about how unsafe the current / bacteria levels are
> and I am not arguing that, but if there concern
> was safety they would put a sign in front of where
> everyone has been swimming for 20+ years! The only
> 'no swimming sign' was about a mile down the
> trail.
>
> I have been swimming there for years- I have seen
> others getting tickets, searched, etc, and one
> time there was blood everywhere and a park ranger
> was there stating someone had died the day before-
> but of course, there is still no sign posted at
> that part so they can make more money from
> violations.
>
> and 'where' yes the courthouse for these
> violations is in alexandria

When I was a kid in high school or junior high, we would go down there and I would always go in the water. Once, a large guy who was with us got taken out by the river and I went in to rescue him. I remember the current pushing me as I navigated the best I could to the next rock to grab hold of it and hang on until I gained some composure before letting go and, hopefully, getting to the next rock until I caught up with him. To me it was fun. An adventure. I never considered I could drown. I was young and invincible. I don’t even remember how I helped him once I got to where he was. Maybe just having someone show him it could be done. I don’t remember, but I know he made it out. I didn’t think anything of that either. It was just a fun time. Later, I realized how much risk there was. Much later, like 20 years. Stupid for almost a lifetime.

I guess those jerk cops just don’t want to see another dead kid. They are doing the only thing they know to make an impact on them to try to save their lives. Not that anything will make a difference. The swimmers will either be lucky or unlucky.

Good-luck

I hear you, but allow me to clarify. The cops were not jerks because they wrote me a ticket for swimming, but beacuse they were unfriendly pricks who enjoyed their power too much. It felt like a felony interrogation...for swimming lol.

I am sure they don't want to see any more deaths, but if public safety was top priority they would simply put a big sign there stating the associated risks. This alone would decrease the number of swimmers/ accidents, however they choose not to do this so it is a perfect trap for them to catch more people and rake in more revenue from tickets.

next time simply tell the federal officers that you have no SSN and are in fact an undocumented Obama refugee from Guatemala named Francisco and that you successfully navigated the Rio Grande and that you are trying to navigate across the Potomac to the sanctuary state of Maryland. You will probably be given a helicopter ride, a free Obamafone and a pre-loaded EBT card.

A great article regarding the danger...beware!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/in-the-potomacs-grip-the-deceptively-placid-waters-at-great-falls/2013/08/10/2cd1f3c0-efd8-11e2-a1f9-ea873b7e0424_story.html

allwet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> next time simply tell the federal officers that
> you have no SSN and are in fact an undocumented
> Obama refugee from Guatemala named Francisco and
> that you successfully navigated the Rio Grande and
> that you are trying to navigate across the Potomac
> to the sanctuary state of Maryland. You will
> probably be given a helicopter ride, a free
> Obamafone and a pre-loaded EBT card.


that’s funny

Idiot you knowingly lied and then signed a government document which you told the cop was correct information this is also known as forging a public document. Aka a felony.

werhwjerhgjwhergjwgr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hear you, but allow me to clarify. The cops were
> not jerks because they wrote me a ticket for
> swimming, but beacuse they were unfriendly pricks
> who enjoyed their power too much. It felt like a
> felony interrogation...for swimming lol.
>
> I am sure they don't want to see any more deaths,
> but if public safety was top priority they would
> simply put a big sign there stating the associated
> risks. This alone would decrease the number of
> swimmers/ accidents, however they choose not to do
> this so it is a perfect trap for them to catch
> more people and rake in more revenue from tickets.

The Cop's attitude and the ticket are separate. After you settle the ticket issue, you can complain about their attitude to whatever agency they work for and keep complaining. Just don't make it sound like you are angry about the ticket since they will think you are just "sour grapes" which they get a lot.
You might also make the suggestions you articulated above to improve awareness.

There are ALWAYS going to be cops with bad attitude. You need to get over it.
Rule one with police: They can make your day at lot worse then you can make theirs. Always remember that.
Fortunately bad cops seem to be the minority lately around here. Something else to ponder: He may have sensed you were being evasive and that might have pissed him off.


As the old song goes "I fought the law and the law won"

The only exception is getting a good lawyer which is going to cost way more then the ticket.
Just my two cents worth, I'm assuming you are fairly young and this is the advice I would give my kids. I have lived near Great Falls Park for 50 years and played there myself when I was a kid and have seen plenty of drownings. Truth be told, I have swam there as well but stopped after I became aware of the problems.

Good luck

idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



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