while changing lanes. Plus, when I got pulled over, there were several other cars in front of me doing at least 15 MPH over the speed limit. I was pulling into the right, slower, lane when I got ticketed because I usually drive no more than 5 MPH over the speed limit there, and most other cars go 15+ MPH over. It's just a total bummer though. As for paying off the police... without donations the police department wouldn't even exist. What do the police here do? They stop people who are minorities other than Asian and give them a hard time. This is just a WEIRD police department. Sure, there's hardly any crime here, but I"m sure they can find something better to do than give out tickets for not blinking. I've seen the Ferrari club members drive down the same street on Saturdays doing at least 55 MPH in the 35 MPH zone right in front of the cops without penalty.

Mike

I'm curious because I live in PV as well and tend to drive over the limit (not more than +10 MPH). I have seen at least 2 other A4s in PV: one is silver with a touring car wing and body kit and the other is black with a body kit. Is one of them yours? I see the silver one all the time. Usually on my way home from work.

Anyway, on to the real part of my post. I always use my turn signals as well just about everywhere. I mean, its standard equipment on all cars (last time I checked they were).Therefore it's no excuse for anyone, especially police officers, not to use them. You just got unlucky the one time you didn't use them. Just do what has been mentioned above: request a court date and see if the cop shows up. If she's a no-show, you get the ticket dismissed automatically. But if she does show up, you can go to traffic school. But then you can't get another ticket for something like 1.5 years (I can't remember).

Good luck

-Greg
99.5 Silver A4TQM (bone stock, for now...)

I don't know how many times I'll change lanes to pass a car and then glance in the mirror and they'll change lanes right behind me almost pissed off because I didn't let them change lanes in front of them. If you use your damn signal, you can go ahead... no one knows what you're gonna do.

I have no respect nor do I give any respect to cars that don't signal... they need to get into a wreck to learn something...

IMHO, they don't give enough tickets to non-signalers. It's always those damn SUV's and BMW's. :)

I live in Via Zumaya right off of PV Drive West. This was on PV Drive West right next to Viva La Pasta. Just 30 seconds from my house. These cops are getting crazy with tickets. Are they even allowed to sit on people's driveways and radar out into the street? They just hired a motorcycle cop and let a detective go. According to the PV Newsletter, this is so that they can raise the city revenue by giving more tickets. CRAP! Yeah, I"ll do the INternet traffic school thing probably. It's cheaper and faster. Getting another ticket isn't really a concern for me. I observe all traffic laws. Never speed. Never roll through stop lights. I'm a VERY careful driver. 5 years without a ticket until now somewhat proves that. Hey, I have the black 1.8T with the euro sport badge, 17" R28s, adn tinted windows. We should start a South Bay A4 club. Get RickS and a couple of the other people here :)

Mike

Mike

Sorry, you're guilty. And other cars three car-lengths away is NOT an empty road. Go to traffic school so that the violation doesn't show up on your license. www.ticketerasers.com.

The manufacturer put the turn signal stalk in a convenient, easily accessible location SO THAT IT COULD BE USED!!!

This is a real problem here in the NC Triangle area. I swear to god, I think that half the drivers around here drive around in the same car for five years wondering "what the hell's this thing sticking outta my steering column?" I'm always apprehensive when pulling out of an intersection that that'll be the day someone not making their intentions clear will plow into me.

Sorry to hear about you ticket, nonetheless. It can't be a major infraction, though. How many points is it?

If you use a turn signal to switch lanes, the car in the other lane behind you will speed up to close the gap. So most people around here don't signal or do it at the last second. You signal, you lose, you get stuck in the same lane...

give to the PD, how fast you were going or the other traffic, and finally, it DOES NOT MATTER if the officer doesn't use their turn signal!

I don't know what your intent was when you stated your parents have donated a large sum of $ to the PD, but if its what I think it is, that's a big joke.

You should have NO concern what other cars are doing, be concerned with yourself. You will never be able to discern why an officer stopped you for a violation and not another.

Lastly, in TX, and as I'm sure in most states if not all, officers/troopers are exempt from almost all traffic laws. There are guidelines for doing so although, and there are departmental regulations concerning an officer's driving, but as a whole, the transportation code exempts many traffic regulations from officers. The reason for this is obvious, most officers could not do their job by obeying the traffic laws. I had a guy a few days ago ask, "How can you write me for speeding, when you had to speed to catch up to me?" Without sounding juvenile here,....Well, duhhh? (I didn't say that, being funny). How can I catch up to you from a dead stop, to stop you from speeding unless I exceed the limit? Another quick ex. When officers are called for a theft in progress, cutting, shooting, they've no time to jack around trying to find a "legal" parking spot. There are just way too many instances to cite where officers "break the law" in citizens' minds. My point is, it would not matter one iota to the judge or anybody if that female officer was not using her signal. Maybe to her supervisor, but that's it.

If you've a weird PD there, which by the way I know what you're talking about, just do your best to obey all the traffic laws so YOU don't have to be stopped again. Barking about everybody else's driving will not change a thing.

One more thing. I've written people for failing to signal lane changes, but usually the ones who are changing lanes frequently, in traffic. FYI, keep this in mind, I've followed people (I drive a slick top), for over a half mile before and counted how many times they change lanes w/out signaling. It's quite a surprise to them to not only discover I was right behind them (or a lane over), but to learn they could be written for EACH lane change, that's bout a $100 a lane change. I haven't written for more than one, but it's usually an eye-opener for em to know that.

Buena Suerte, and don't let her get under your skin, if that was her intent, then she's already won.

on their cars that say "Palos Verdes Police Officers Association Supporter". People that have this sticker can get away with murder when it comes to speeding and other tickets. Everything is a warning. 20 MPH over the speedlimit? No problem. I don't like stickers on my car, but I"m sticking one on! My parents have them and never get tickets.

Mike

that is probably what you should do. I don't know the law where you live but supervision probably lasts 1 year.

If you go to court they will sometimes give you supervision and lower or reduce the fine. If you do it by mail you have to pay the full fine. This is done in the first meeting with the judge not in an actual trial.

My guess is that they will be prettly lenient with you, unless you end up with a real jerkoff for a judge.

You may be able to win the case in trial but if you choose this course definitaly get a lawyer. (For hassle reasons most people choose not to go this route.)

Hugh

1.8Tqms Avant APR'd

officers employed in your area, speeding. I'm really curious what they'd do, J/K, but let us know if you do put it on and get stopped again what the outcome is.

I'm personally opposed to this idea and the ilk. 1) I think it kinda fosters the "if you pat my back, I'll pat yours" mentality, and in my mind, that should not exist with any profession that has legal 'power'.

2) In TX, there's a group that calls people across the state and asks for donations to the Tx State Troopers Assoc. or something like that. They tell whom they're calling that the money goes to the families of KIA troopers families, and for scholarships for their kids etc. Unfortunately it's total BS. The group has no formal ties with DPS, and only %1 of the $ collected goes to DPS (Department of Public Safety, our state troopers). The only thing the poor sucker gets in return is a sticker. It not only does nothing to help them in getting out of a ticket, but shows every officer in the state that you're not very bright.

One other thing I meant to mention in my previous post, I'm personally wary of small dept's (maybe 10 or less), including sheriff depts. Although I'm stereotyping all small depts, but I feel there's a great lack of professional training, there's a LOT of politics involved, and tickets ARE a primary source of town revenue. This INAPPROPRIATELY influences IMO, the reason why the officers stop traffic violators. Even though I've a badge, I still drive the speed limit in small towns in TX.

I'll tell you that in SA, there's no pressure on me to write tickets. Even though I know the revenue generated by traffic fines has got to be a part of the city budget. I really don't give a flyin' rats A** about the city budget etc. When I enforce traffic law, I'm not only very fair about it, but I enforce the traffic law when/where it's needed, with discretion.

small towns are the worst. I have only received one (legitimate) ticket from the LAPD in over ten years of driving, and a couple of warnings. I have received three tickets in Malibu from the Malibu Sheriff's Dept. one of which was thrown out by the judge, who claimed she was also given a ticket in the same location, and it was impossible to do what the officer claimed. I now avoid driving PCH, unless I have to (a shame since it's so beautiful), but it's definately a fund raising ticket trap.

CW, what you did forget to mention is that blonde chicks who drive Grand Cherokees (and sometimes WHITE A4s) are exempt from every moving violation in the state of Texas.

However, if they happen to be driving SILVER A4s then this exemption doesn not apply.

Had a NICE driver casually drift over three lanes without looking or using his blinker. Luckily the road was empty enough for me to move over too. He probably doesn't know that there was a car in his blind spot the whole time.

a tad more polite when he or she gives you your citation.

Now, law enforcement credentials, that's another story: I got a pass on 81 in a 65 in Ga. a few years ago when I got my license out for the trooper and he saw my law enforcement credentials [but even that's a 50-50 shot to work]; and my colleagues can at times get away with an improper turn in DC, but believe me, they "yessir, nosir" the officer just as much as anyone (at least they did the time I was riding with them and we missed that "no left turn sign" and turned right into the waiting arms of a motorcycle cop....

You don't know whether you did it or not; officer says she saw you not do it (signal). That's a no brainer guilty verdict in most courts. If your record is clean it may mitigate the fine, at least it does in some courts.

First of all, to all the morons below who say "it was your fault, you deserve it, blah, blah, blah", that ticket is about on par with getting a ticket for speeding 2 mph over the limit. So, how many times per day do you all exceed the speed limit? If you never exceed the speed limit you wouldn't have all bought A4s.

Secondly, knowing what is going on around me while driving is second nature. It's one of the most important defensive driving strategies one can possess. When I KNOW others are around I signal. When I KNOW otherwise what's the point. I don't think the squirrel or whatever over in the bushes is really going to care.

Lastly, that kind of ticket is like many others - it was merely issued to generate revenue and has nothing to do with public safety.

Ok please give me reasons why I would wait for a 2000 over a 99.5

But before any of you respond, please note the following:

-I'm leasing and giving the car back after 36 months so residual value not important
-I don't care about in-dash vs. extra cost CD changer (dealer will throw in changer)

Comments? Thanks in advance