[wicked_lovely]

Okay, I'm eighteen and have had my provisional license for almost four months now. On my way to work yesterday I got pulled over for driving on the shoulder, on the right side, which the cop said was improper passing. However, I had originally pulled on to the exit lane but realized that wasn't my exit after I was on it, because this one is identical to the exit I always take. The exit I was supposed to take was less than 500 feet ahead and traffic was bumper to bumper, so I just stayed on that lane which apparently turned into a shoulder... and that's when the cop started going after me. Problem is, I didn't feel like I had done anything wrong so I wasn't aware that he was really after me until after about two minutes, and my music was loud so I didn't hear any sirens. So I pulled to the side, lowered the music and waited, but the officer did not emerge out of the car or said anything else. By this point I was confused and unsure of what to do so I just drove into the parking lot of my job, where he finally stopped me.

So I was issued three tickets, one for driving on the shoulder [improper passing], one for careless driving, and one for not yielding to an emergency vehicle. I added it up and that would total out to 8 points, I wanted to know how this will affect me if I were to plead guilty to all three charges? I'm confused because I've never been in this situation before and am not sure what to expect when I go to court, I am even considering getting a lawyer.

Basically, I wanted to know how severely this will affect my driving record; any help would be appreciated... thanks in advance

[JudyKayTee]

Okay, I'm eighteen and have had my provisional license for almost four months now. On my way to work yesterday I got pulled over for driving on the shoulder, on the right side, which the cop said was improper passing. However, I had originally pulled on to the exit lane but realized that wasn't my exit after I was on it, because this one is identical to the exit I always take. The exit I was supposed to take was less than 500 feet ahead and traffic was bumper to bumper, so I just stayed on that lane which apparently turned into a shoulder...and thats when the cop started going after me. Problem is, I didnt feel like I had done anything wrong so i wasnt aware that he was really after me until after about two minutes, and my music was loud so I didn't hear any sirens. So I pulled to the side, lowered the music and waited, but the officer did not emerge out of the car or said anything else. By this point I was confused and unsure of what to do so I just drove into the parking lot of my job, where he finally stopped me.

So I was issued three tickets, one for driving on the shoulder [improper passing], one for careless driving, and one for not yielding to an emergency vehicle. I added it up and that would total out to 8 points, I wanted to know how this will affect me if I were to plead guilty to all three charges? I'm confused because I've never been in this situation before and am not sure what to expect when I go to court, I am even considering getting a lawyer.

Basically, I wanted to know how severely this will affect my driving record; any help would be appreciated...thanks in advance

I wouldn't do this without an Attorney - driving on the shoulder and not yielding are serious charges. In my area driving on the shoulder, over the fog line, is also reckless driving.

Yes, I'd get an Attorney.

[twinkiedooter]

Without the help of an attorney your license sounds like it would be very close to being toast. You also should not drive with music blaring as that could also get you another ticket in the future as well as this is an extremely dangerous practice of yours in that you couldn't even hear the cop's car sirens. You should have waited and let the traffic go buy until you could have gotten out of the wrong lane but you kept driving on the shoulder. A lot of people like to do this little trick so they can cut ahead of traffic by using the shoulder. Apparently the cop thought you were doing this little trick and rewarded you accordingly.

[this8384]

Okay, I'm eighteen and have had my provisional license for almost four months now. On my way to work yesterday I got pulled over for driving on the shoulder, on the right side, which the cop said was improper passing. However, I had originally pulled on to the exit lane but realized that wasn't my exit after I was on it, because this one is identical to the exit I always take. The exit I was supposed to take was less than 500 feet ahead and traffic was bumper to bumper, so I just stayed on that lane which apparently turned into a shoulder...and thats when the cop started going after me. Problem is, I didnt feel like I had done anything wrong so i wasnt aware that he was really after me until after about two minutes, and my music was loud so I didn't hear any sirens. So I pulled to the side, lowered the music and waited, but the officer did not emerge out of the car or said anything else. By this point I was confused and unsure of what to do so I just drove into the parking lot of my job, where he finally stopped me.

So I was issued three tickets, one for driving on the shoulder [improper passing], one for careless driving, and one for not yielding to an emergency vehicle. I added it up and that would total out to 8 points, I wanted to know how this will affect me if I were to plead guilty to all three charges? I'm confused because I've never been in this situation before and am not sure what to expect when I go to court, I am even considering getting a lawyer.

Basically, I wanted to know how severely this will affect my driving record; any help would be appreciated...thanks in advance

Quite frankly, I'm having a hard time buying all of this. You didn't "hear" the sirens because of your music; what's your excuse for not seeing the flashing lights? And driving off after he pulled up behind you? That's just not wise.

You definitely need a lawyer, hands down. There is no way you can get this taken care of by yourself. The attorney might be able to plead down one, or maybe even two, of the tickets; hopefully this was your first offense..

[wicked_lovely]

Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question; and yes I definitely agree it was a very dumb move on my part because I reacted out of nerves.

Yes, this was my first offense and I am now looking into getting a lawyer; hopefully everything will go fine :(

[brad platt]

Take the time to go see the officer and mabey he will just be very very nice when talking to officerl drop the points and bump the fine up a little in nj its called a plea down you can do it twice in 5 years no points I have done this without a lawer

[this8384]

take the time to go see the officer and mabey he wil just be very very nice when talkin to officerl drop the points and bump the fine up a little in nj its called a plea down you can do it twice in 5 years no points i have done this without a lawer

Talking to the officer can't change anything. The tickets have already been issued. S/he needs to contact the prosecuting attorney to try and work out some type of deal, but with this many violations, s/he's going to need a lawyer. It's a bit more serious than just a speeding ticket; they actually drove away from the police.

[Fr_Chuck]

And I think, a provisional license ( depending on where) can be suspended for a lot less than this, is not the points for a regular license.

But yes, you will need a lawyer, since these have added up to be a serious charge.

NOW, the driving on the shoulder is against the law, everyone should now that, so I doubt you are out of that.

You did stop but then left, so they may give you that one . Now any of the judges I know but maybe you will get one

[JudyKayTee]

take the time to go see the officer and mabey he wil just be very very nice when talkin to officerl drop the points and bump the fine up a little in nj its called a plea down you can do it twice in 5 years no points i have done this without a lawer

There's a whole other thread on this. In every State that I'm aware of the tickets are numbered. Once it's written and turned in the Police Officer has absolutely no say concerning the outcome.

In NY certainly the DA can agree to a lessor charge, but the Police Officer is out of it.