Can a cop do this....and did I even do anything illegal? - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

2point0T · 03-31-2007, 06:20 PM

I was at a red light behind the first car, I was making a right turn and the person in front of my was not, but I could make the turn on red (which is a legal move bc I was not within the specified hours) if the car moved up a little bit....there was a car parallel parked to my right, so I just need to clear their front bumper on my right and the person in front of me. So I lightly but persistently tapped my horn and motioned with my hands that I want to make the right turn but I didnt want to wait. I was impatient because I was running a few moments late for work. So finally the person moved up and I passed through, it was a little tight but not much I did it slowly.

As soon as I pull over the cop starts yapping about how I cant honk at somoene like that blah blah....he writes me up for a no point $108 ticket. He writes in the memo aggressive driving (which I dont think I was doing)....and he said if I plead not guilty to the failure to yield to a traffic control device hell charge me with the aggressive driving, which does carry points.

So why two questions are 1) was my action(s) actually illegal and 2) can the cop "bribe" me like that with a more severe charge if I plead guilty to "a break" he was giving me.... thanks in advance....I just feel like this time I really didn't do anything illegal.

The Law · 04-01-2007, 06:43 PM

Just like flashing a slow car in front of you on the highway to get out of the way is illegal, you cannot use your horn for any reason other than a warning/safety reasons. There is no "Aggressive Driving" statute in PA, but it 'can' fall under reckless driving. If you really want to fight it, plead not guilty and take your chances in court, but there isn't much of a case.

Here's an old but relevent article on aggressive driving:
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/d...ol-oper-03.htm

And now, PA has invested several million dollars to expand it's Smooth Operator program statewide and target Aggressive Driving tendencies.
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/d...8?OpenDocument
http://www.smoothoperatorprogram.com/

2point0T · 04-01-2007, 08:00 PM

Thanks....so can they charge me with that second more severe charge if I pleat not guilty to the lesser charge?

03-31-2007, 06:20 PM	#1
2point0T Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: PA Member #647 My Ride: 96 Jeep Cherokee 4.0L iTrader: (0)	Can a cop do this....and did I even do anything illegal? I was at a red light behind the first car, I was making a right turn and the person in front of my was not, but I could make the turn on red (which is a legal move bc I was not within the specified hours) if the car moved up a little bit....there was a car parallel parked to my right, so I just need to clear their front bumper on my right and the person in front of me. So I lightly but persistently tapped my horn and motioned with my hands that I want to make the right turn but I didnt want to wait. I was impatient because I was running a few moments late for work. So finally the person moved up and I passed through, it was a little tight but not much I did it slowly. As soon as I pull over the cop starts yapping about how I cant honk at somoene like that blah blah....he writes me up for a no point $108 ticket. He writes in the memo aggressive driving (which I dont think I was doing)....and he said if I plead not guilty to the failure to yield to a traffic control device hell charge me with the aggressive driving, which does carry points. So why two questions are 1) was my action(s) actually illegal and 2) can the cop "bribe" me like that with a more severe charge if I plead guilty to "a break" he was giving me.... thanks in advance....I just feel like this time I really didn't do anything illegal. __________________ You know what really grinds my gears.....

04-01-2007, 08:00 PM	#3
2point0T Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: PA Member #647 My Ride: 96 Jeep Cherokee 4.0L iTrader: (0)	Thanks....so can they charge me with that second more severe charge if I pleat not guilty to the lesser charge? __________________ You know what really grinds my gears.....

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04-01-2007, 06:43 PM	#2
The Law Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Jan 2007 Member #3357 iTrader: (0)	Just like flashing a slow car in front of you on the highway to get out of the way is illegal, you cannot use your horn for any reason other than a warning/safety reasons. There is no "Aggressive Driving" statute in PA, but it 'can' fall under reckless driving. If you really want to fight it, plead not guilty and take your chances in court, but there isn't much of a case. Here's an old but relevent article on aggressive driving: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/d...ol-oper-03.htm And now, PA has invested several million dollars to expand it's Smooth Operator program statewide and target Aggressive Driving tendencies. http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/d...8?OpenDocument http://www.smoothoperatorprogram.com/