Racing cops follow up- court today

[dantama]

Some may remember the thread from back a ways when I raced a cop who was trying to prevent me from changing lanes into a freeway on ramp. I had a faster car and got on the ramp anyway, then of course got a ticket.

When I told about doing it on the day it happened, it apparently caused a ruckus and led to my exit as a staff member. Since it was such a ruckus, I thought I'd tell the final chapter.

I went to court today, went once to plead innocent (not so much innocent as "make the city prove it") Went again to ask for a postponement. Then today for the trial.

At trial I put on an excellent case, I had plenty of cross examination questions, and got most of what I wanted from the officer on cross examination. The judge did let her play the "I don't know" card very heavy.

"I don't know how fast I was going" "I don't know if I was going a reasonable speed", "as I said, I don't know". "I don't know if I was judging your speed relative to my own speed, or relative to fixed objects, that's not how I do it, I just look and see" <WTF? I'm thinking she failed physics.

So the judge let her get away with simply not knowing much. There was a lot more than just that of which she didn't know. I was successful in getting her to say that she blocked me twice when I was signaling to come into her lane, I give her kudos for that honesty.

I was basing my defense on the fact that I was "induced" to committed an offense that I would not otherwise have commited" at least not on that day anyway.

The judge found everyone guilty today, and I was the last one. He said that if she wouldn't let me into the lane, and she admitted to that, then I should have just kept going straight and turned around and gone back to the freeway. He didn't address the "inducing" part at all.

It was an enjoyable day, I like doing court. The officer was honest as far as not overtly lying, but sure claimed not to know much. I figured that she would deny her blocking efforts, but in the end under lots of cross examination, she admitted it. And admitted to twice doing it.

I was found guilty of a lessor charge, and the judge said he was sympathetic to the situation and that I put on a "pretty good" defense, but when people are trying to block you, you can't keep escalating it, just back off and go past the entrance and come back.

The cop came up after and shook my hand after and said "are you a lawyer?" I said no and she shook her head and said, "you sure do a good job." That pleased my egocentric nature.

I did a great defense, and I think I may win on appeal :)

So that was probably the second to last chapter on my old thread "I raced a cop today, I was faster, but she won." She still won :)