Update: SFPD harassment from last month
07-04-2004, 11:02 AM
#1
VIP Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,819
Car Info: subaru
Update: SFPD harassment from last month
OK last month I was pulled over for allegedly having my lights off and when I showed the officer my lights were on he put me in handcuffs for allegedly not obeying an officer's orders. I was cited for not having my lights on after dark and not obeying an officer(an infraction and a misdemeanor, respectively).
I received the courtesy notice in the mail yesterday, and the misdemeanor offense is not listed. The lights-off is the only violation on the notice.
My question at this point is if anyone with a Subaru equipped with daytime-running lights has been pulled over for not having their lights on after dark. And if so, how did you contest the ticket and what were the results? Also, does anyone know if the misdemeanor offense will be sent in a seperate notice to me?
Thanks in advance for the help, and fight the power.
I received the courtesy notice in the mail yesterday, and the misdemeanor offense is not listed. The lights-off is the only violation on the notice.
My question at this point is if anyone with a Subaru equipped with daytime-running lights has been pulled over for not having their lights on after dark. And if so, how did you contest the ticket and what were the results? Also, does anyone know if the misdemeanor offense will be sent in a seperate notice to me?
Thanks in advance for the help, and fight the power.
07-04-2004, 11:24 AM
#2
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: watching you get smaller...in my rear-view
Posts: 4,962
Car Info: 02 STi
Originally Posted by thebankman
OK last month I was pulled over for allegedly having my lights off and when I showed the officer my lights were on he put me in handcuffs for allegedly not obeying an officer's orders. I was cited for not having my lights on after dark and not obeying an officer(an infraction and a misdemeanor, respectively).
I received the courtesy notice in the mail yesterday, and the misdemeanor offense is not listed. The lights-off is the only violation on the notice.
My question at this point is if anyone with a Subaru equipped with daytime-running lights has been pulled over for not having their lights on after dark. And if so, how did you contest the ticket and what were the results? Also, does anyone know if the misdemeanor offense will be sent in a seperate notice to me?
Thanks in advance for the help, and fight the power.
I received the courtesy notice in the mail yesterday, and the misdemeanor offense is not listed. The lights-off is the only violation on the notice.
My question at this point is if anyone with a Subaru equipped with daytime-running lights has been pulled over for not having their lights on after dark. And if so, how did you contest the ticket and what were the results? Also, does anyone know if the misdemeanor offense will be sent in a seperate notice to me?
Thanks in advance for the help, and fight the power.
I am sure they will dismiss it....
-freddie
Good luck.
07-04-2004, 11:25 AM
#4
Registered User
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 774
Car Info: 1988 Carrera & 2013 Carrera S
I would not mess with a misdemenor offense with a lawyer unless you want to do some community service and pay a big fine or what not. Plus, it stays on your record for 7 year I believe. Get a lawyer and go to court if you actually get the misdermenor notice or whatever they call that. Usually they arrest you though, and you go through the night in jail, etc.
Oleg
Oleg
07-04-2004, 12:03 PM
#6
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: watching you get smaller...in my rear-view
Posts: 4,962
Car Info: 02 STi
Originally Posted by FUNKED1
DRL's probably won't get you out of the ticket. DRL only turns on the headlights, not the taillights or corners.
-freddie
07-04-2004, 12:35 PM
#8
the artist formerly known as mcdrama
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, CA.
Posts: 6,428
Car Info: WRBP 2015 WRX Premium/CVT
Get a lawyer find out what the law can do for you ( if anything ).
Maybe check out http://www.highwayrobbery.net for info to see if they have anything that applys to your situation.
When you go to court, dress like you were applying for a job making $250K a year, shave any facial hair. This will help show that you are taking this seriously. I had to go to small claims court in SF for buying a car from a dip **** that sold me a lemon and wouldnt refund the money like he said he would ( I even brought a witness ).
I technically won the case but was only awarded $60 which was the cost to go to small claims court.
Also check out www.nolo.com for legal info.
Maybe check out http://www.highwayrobbery.net for info to see if they have anything that applys to your situation.
When you go to court, dress like you were applying for a job making $250K a year, shave any facial hair. This will help show that you are taking this seriously. I had to go to small claims court in SF for buying a car from a dip **** that sold me a lemon and wouldnt refund the money like he said he would ( I even brought a witness ).
I technically won the case but was only awarded $60 which was the cost to go to small claims court.
Also check out www.nolo.com for legal info.
07-05-2004, 12:08 AM
#9
VIP Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Under your bed, in your closet, and in your head
Posts: 15,425
Car Info: Corvette Z51
Sorry to be a bit OT, but do you live on Joost St., bankman? I always see a WRB WRX with a 22b wing, and I figured from the location of the stop that you might live nearby. Just curious 
07-05-2004, 02:39 AM
#10
VIP Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Fremont
Posts: 975
I would definitely talk with a lawyer, it can't hurt. Does it say on the ticket or the police officer's report what lights were off. Because if it was the tail light, the DRL's won't matter. But if it is the front then you might have a case. Talk with a lawyer and find out what your next move is.
07-05-2004, 08:26 AM
#11
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 599
Car Info: was 05 WRX Wagon
To fight the "lights not turned on ticket", DMV states that you must have your headlights on 30 minutes "after" sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise. According to the a US Almanac, sunsets in the San Francisco area has been in the 8:30PM range. So, if you're ticket doesn't state a time past 9:00PM, you're off the hook. Let me attach the website pages I got this info from. Good luck.
DMV webpage:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs33thru41.htm
Online Almanac:
http://www.almanac.com/rise/index.php
-Soren
DMV webpage:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs33thru41.htm
Online Almanac:
http://www.almanac.com/rise/index.php
-Soren
07-05-2004, 07:13 PM
#12
VIP Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,819
Car Info: subaru
OK I'll try to respond to as many questions as possible:
I believe the misdemeanor charge was dropped (I was told by an interviewer at the Office of Citizen Complaints that this would be the most likely outcome) as it was not on the "courtesy notice" I received in the mail.
No I don't live on Joost street, but that is a funny coincidence as the stop sign on Joost @ Foerster is the one the officer did not stop for. And considering you know Joost street, you will know that Miraloma nursery school is at the corner of Joost and Foerster. Nothing like cops driving dangerously around children.
I have a black wagon. Hope no crooked cops are reading this.
I have not contacted a lawyer but will be going to the 850 Bryant courthouse tomorrow to find out what the formal charges are against me.
The official civil twilight was at 8:30 that night while sunset was at 9:01. The ticket was issued at 8:00, so legally the charges are not appropriate. As well, it was not dark at all on the street, regardless of the time of day.
For the court appearance, I am going to present the official twilight/sunset times, my owners manual, pictures of my car's lights in all stages of operation, and a copy of the statement I made in protest of the officer's actions at the OCC. I have been in court before (nothing serious I swear!) and will dress appropriately.
Thanks for the support and info, and enjoy the day
I believe the misdemeanor charge was dropped (I was told by an interviewer at the Office of Citizen Complaints that this would be the most likely outcome) as it was not on the "courtesy notice" I received in the mail.
No I don't live on Joost street, but that is a funny coincidence as the stop sign on Joost @ Foerster is the one the officer did not stop for. And considering you know Joost street, you will know that Miraloma nursery school is at the corner of Joost and Foerster. Nothing like cops driving dangerously around children.
I have a black wagon. Hope no crooked cops are reading this.
I have not contacted a lawyer but will be going to the 850 Bryant courthouse tomorrow to find out what the formal charges are against me.
The official civil twilight was at 8:30 that night while sunset was at 9:01. The ticket was issued at 8:00, so legally the charges are not appropriate. As well, it was not dark at all on the street, regardless of the time of day.
For the court appearance, I am going to present the official twilight/sunset times, my owners manual, pictures of my car's lights in all stages of operation, and a copy of the statement I made in protest of the officer's actions at the OCC. I have been in court before (nothing serious I swear!) and will dress appropriately.
Thanks for the support and info, and enjoy the day
07-05-2004, 07:46 PM
#13
Yeah, You've Probably Never Heard Of Me.
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: in a glass case of emotion.
Posts: 17,962
Car Info: 345/30/19s
not trying to flame Bank, but there has to be more to this story than just "he told to turn on my lights, I told him they were on, the next thing I knew I was in handcuffs"
what the hell happened?
what the hell happened?
07-05-2004, 08:54 PM
#15
VIP Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,819
Car Info: subaru
Check out my original thread, it has the words 'sfpd harassment' in it.
A cop car ran a stop sign at Foerster st. @ Joost st. I was stopped at the opposite stop sign, and as the officer drove past me I leaned out of my car and told him "rolling stop". He flips a u-turn, pulls me over, asks me what I said and I told him that it looked dangerous and was a poor example to set from my perspective. I ask him why he pulled me over and he claims I had my lights off which was bull and I told him I could turn on the car and prove my lights were on. He tells me to display lights, I turn the car on and he claims I'm not obeying his orders so he handcuffs me and yells at me in the back of the cop car. Check out the other post for a better narrative but that's basically it, he was pissed that I told him he was driving dangerously and decided to prove a point that he's a police officer and I'm just a citizen. I have since filed a complaint with the Office of Citizen Complaints.
A cop car ran a stop sign at Foerster st. @ Joost st. I was stopped at the opposite stop sign, and as the officer drove past me I leaned out of my car and told him "rolling stop". He flips a u-turn, pulls me over, asks me what I said and I told him that it looked dangerous and was a poor example to set from my perspective. I ask him why he pulled me over and he claims I had my lights off which was bull and I told him I could turn on the car and prove my lights were on. He tells me to display lights, I turn the car on and he claims I'm not obeying his orders so he handcuffs me and yells at me in the back of the cop car. Check out the other post for a better narrative but that's basically it, he was pissed that I told him he was driving dangerously and decided to prove a point that he's a police officer and I'm just a citizen. I have since filed a complaint with the Office of Citizen Complaints.