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Jail & Court - ever been in this experience?
So, I was driving somewhere I didn't really know and completely lost. I did the whole slow down when you pass the streetsign to make sure it is the street that I want deal.
Cops pulled me over and cited me for driving below the limit (about 10 under) improper turn and improper passing.
Course, you don't drive slow unless you're drunk or old. They didn't have the Breathalyzer in the car and had to take me back to the station.
Then they detained me for two hours trying to figure out how the Breathalyzer machine works.
They impounded my vehicle until Thursday which is the court date.
On the plus side, I wasn't drunk. :D And I got to work on time AND I now know what it feels like to sit in the back of the police car.
I called my Dad to take me to work. He started laughing at me, since out of my seven siblings - I'm the "good one". I'll be on the family bad list until someone else screws up...
The impound fee is going to be killer and I'm contesting the two improper turn/passing tickets.
Anywho, ever been arrested? What happened?
Also, in the realm of serious offences - should I feel bad that I sat in jail for a few hours? And how can I stop all my family from teasing me?
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Maybe give some free advice about: Families?
No you shouldn't feel bad and you shouldn't have any ill feelings toward the officer. He's doing his job and found probable cause to do what he did- whenever somebody like a drunk driver gets away and kills someone everyone always says "Well where were the police?" and then when someone gets pulled over it's because they're getting "picked on by cops who have nothing better to do." Not saying that's you; just a generalization.
Moving violations are tough to contest; especially with an officer testifying but everyone seems to do it lol so the odds are that you won't be in traffic court for very long- at least in NY most of the time the tickets are settled without even seeing a judge. Usually they will offer you a reduced summons or in some cases they'll just throw it away; your improper turn/pass stands the best chance of being thrown away but your under the limit summons probably will stick- hopefully I am wrong and all get thrown out :-D; if you refuse and want to see a judge then you have a 50/50 shot of paying or not paying.
You weren't arrested; you were detained. Big difference. Custody+Not free to leave= Arrest. You weren't free to leave but you weren't in lawful police custody.
So you know- the reason they impounded your car was for one because you were detained and they had to put it somewhere and when the car is in their possession- they have a right to search it. So I hope you didn't have anything you weren't supposed to have because since the search was valid it is admissible in court. Sounds like you didn't or you would most likely be sitting in jail now waiting for arraignment :-D
Sorry to hear about the cites and the impound; those are a real kick in the nuts.
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Oh, let the family tease you. Honestly I think it sounds great, people like "the good kid" a lot better if she's got a funny story like this to tell, and you'll be able to use this one for the rest of your life. Going to PRISON is not a funny story you want to tell everyone, but going to JAIL is a totally different thing that a lot of the population can relate to (and enjoy hearing about).
I think it's crap that they're impounding your car until Thursday! You should make some calls (read: a LOT of calls) and ask why they get to do that, or at least get the date moved to Monday or so, you can't be without a car all week because they're idiots!
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