I fought the law, and I won.............
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:33 pm
I received a citation two months ago for running a red light. I had no doubt in my mind that the light was still yellow when I entered the intersection. I submitted a request to get the dashboard camera video from the police car that stopped me. Lo and behold when I received the video it clearly showed that I was in the intersection as the light was still yellow. I plead Not Guilty and requested a trial before a judge.
I went to court today and represented myself, boy was I nervous. You know the saying; A man the represents themselves in court has a fool for a client. The prosecutor started his case by calling the police officer that gave me the citation. He asked the officer all kinds of legal question about how, what, when and where. He asked this one question about did he see me run the red light. The officer said that he was sitting in the left turn lane waiting for a green light to go. As he waited he noticed my vehicle enter the intersection after he got the green light to go.
Then it was my turn to ask him some questions. I asked if he was 100 % sure that he had the green light when I entered the intersection. He said yes, 100 % sure. I said I had no more questions.
Then it was my turn to testify and I said to the judge that I had evidence that proves I was in the intersection when the officers' light was still red. He looked kind of surprised and asked if I could show this evidence. He let me use the court computer and I played the video.
When it showed that the officer was not being truthful, he looked at the prosecutor and then the officer and then at me. I said it clearly shows that I was in the intersection while the officers' light was still red.
The prosecutor then called the officer back up. They tried to make the case that there is a delay in the light and that I did run the light. I asked the officer are you sure about the delay as much as you were sure that I entered the intersection after your light turned green?
All he could say was that it was his contention that I ran the red light.
I also asked what constitutes running a red light in the state of Texas? He said that entering an intersection and not stopping at a red light. I asked him if there was a crosswalk at the intersection, he said yes. I asked him if there was a stop line or stop bar at the intersection, he said yes. I asked him if he could see the front of my vehicle cross the stop line, he said yes. I asked him if he could see my light turn red, he said yes. Then I asked if he could see the front of my vehicle and the light at the same time, he kinda stammered and said well, and I immediately said answer yes or no, please. He he had to say no, but it was his contention that I ran the red light.
I rested my case.
The judge asked the prosecutor what he contends and the prosecutor said he contends that I ran a red light.
The judge asked me what I contend and I said I contend that I was in the intersection while the light was still yellow.
He then spoke these words, " In light of the evidence presented here today. I find that I have to dismiss this case."
I looked at the judge and asked if I'm free to go and he said," Yes, you are free to go."
So, if you have a problem, don't take the law into your own hands.
Take 'em to court. Traffic court.
I went to court today and represented myself, boy was I nervous. You know the saying; A man the represents themselves in court has a fool for a client. The prosecutor started his case by calling the police officer that gave me the citation. He asked the officer all kinds of legal question about how, what, when and where. He asked this one question about did he see me run the red light. The officer said that he was sitting in the left turn lane waiting for a green light to go. As he waited he noticed my vehicle enter the intersection after he got the green light to go.
Then it was my turn to ask him some questions. I asked if he was 100 % sure that he had the green light when I entered the intersection. He said yes, 100 % sure. I said I had no more questions.
Then it was my turn to testify and I said to the judge that I had evidence that proves I was in the intersection when the officers' light was still red. He looked kind of surprised and asked if I could show this evidence. He let me use the court computer and I played the video.
When it showed that the officer was not being truthful, he looked at the prosecutor and then the officer and then at me. I said it clearly shows that I was in the intersection while the officers' light was still red.
The prosecutor then called the officer back up. They tried to make the case that there is a delay in the light and that I did run the light. I asked the officer are you sure about the delay as much as you were sure that I entered the intersection after your light turned green?
All he could say was that it was his contention that I ran the red light.
I also asked what constitutes running a red light in the state of Texas? He said that entering an intersection and not stopping at a red light. I asked him if there was a crosswalk at the intersection, he said yes. I asked him if there was a stop line or stop bar at the intersection, he said yes. I asked him if he could see the front of my vehicle cross the stop line, he said yes. I asked him if he could see my light turn red, he said yes. Then I asked if he could see the front of my vehicle and the light at the same time, he kinda stammered and said well, and I immediately said answer yes or no, please. He he had to say no, but it was his contention that I ran the red light.
I rested my case.
The judge asked the prosecutor what he contends and the prosecutor said he contends that I ran a red light.
The judge asked me what I contend and I said I contend that I was in the intersection while the light was still yellow.
He then spoke these words, " In light of the evidence presented here today. I find that I have to dismiss this case."
I looked at the judge and asked if I'm free to go and he said," Yes, you are free to go."
So, if you have a problem, don't take the law into your own hands.
Take 'em to court. Traffic court.
