armedferret
Ready to race!
- Location
- MD
Wasn't speeding actually (which was a relief). What he did claim, however, was that I made an "illegal right-hand turn". Which I didn't.
For those familiar with the intersection of Fort Smallwood Road and Fort Armistead road, I was headed south on Smallwood and took the turn-off for Armistead. Realized I needed to go home first, so I turned right on smallwood when the light turned green. Instantly got pulled over by the "Maryland Transit Authority Police" (a.k.a. Toll Cops) who claimed I'd made an illegal right-hand turn.
The traffic on Smallwood has a sign at that intersection stating "One Way" pointing to their left, meaning you can't turn right INTO the road I turned from; this is backed up by a DO NOT ENTER sign directly underneath the one-way sign. The officer's claim is that the one-way sign also means traffic on that road can't turn right; they can ONLY go straight down Fort Armistead. Which is complete bullshit. According to the MD Transit Authority's own web page, regulatory road signs (which carry the weight of law) must be in the driver's natural cone of vision. A sign at my 3 o'clock when sitting at the light, completely out of even my PERIPHERAL vision, does not meet that criteria--especially when it's not even intended for my lane of traffic, but rather the perpendicular traffic.
Then due to all the gravel on the shoulder, and the fact I've had the car less than a week (and am used to driving a manual), the tires spun for about a quarter of a second as I was attempting to get off quickly and join traffic without risking a rear-end collision. So he pulled me over AGAIN for gratuitous display of speed--spinning tires intentionally.
Needless to say this one's going to court.
Disclaimer--I don't hate police, and if I'm genuinely breaking the law (i.e. I'm speeding or there's a no-right-turn sign and i do it anyway) I don't complain if i get caught and assessed a fine. This, however, was PURELY the Toll Police on the last day of the month attempting to jack up their stats. Pure and simple. As evidenced by the fact we had passed him not 30 seconds before he pulled ME over, with someone ELSE pulled over. The guy was just FARMING tickets.
For those familiar with the intersection of Fort Smallwood Road and Fort Armistead road, I was headed south on Smallwood and took the turn-off for Armistead. Realized I needed to go home first, so I turned right on smallwood when the light turned green. Instantly got pulled over by the "Maryland Transit Authority Police" (a.k.a. Toll Cops) who claimed I'd made an illegal right-hand turn.
The traffic on Smallwood has a sign at that intersection stating "One Way" pointing to their left, meaning you can't turn right INTO the road I turned from; this is backed up by a DO NOT ENTER sign directly underneath the one-way sign. The officer's claim is that the one-way sign also means traffic on that road can't turn right; they can ONLY go straight down Fort Armistead. Which is complete bullshit. According to the MD Transit Authority's own web page, regulatory road signs (which carry the weight of law) must be in the driver's natural cone of vision. A sign at my 3 o'clock when sitting at the light, completely out of even my PERIPHERAL vision, does not meet that criteria--especially when it's not even intended for my lane of traffic, but rather the perpendicular traffic.
Then due to all the gravel on the shoulder, and the fact I've had the car less than a week (and am used to driving a manual), the tires spun for about a quarter of a second as I was attempting to get off quickly and join traffic without risking a rear-end collision. So he pulled me over AGAIN for gratuitous display of speed--spinning tires intentionally.
Needless to say this one's going to court.
Disclaimer--I don't hate police, and if I'm genuinely breaking the law (i.e. I'm speeding or there's a no-right-turn sign and i do it anyway) I don't complain if i get caught and assessed a fine. This, however, was PURELY the Toll Police on the last day of the month attempting to jack up their stats. Pure and simple. As evidenced by the fact we had passed him not 30 seconds before he pulled ME over, with someone ELSE pulled over. The guy was just FARMING tickets.