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rsxsaintx · Jan 29, 2011, 08:33 AM

I was getting my mail, when my dog bolted out the front door, I grabbed my keys to my 50 cc scooter and went after him up the street.. A duo of traffic officers pulled me over and said I ran the stop sign. I explained that I was after my dog and I did not want it to get run over. The officer said to stop arguing or he was going to give me additional tickets. He gave me a ticket for not wearing safety goggles. I went home with my dog in hand then 3 days later I received in the mail 3 additional citations. For no Drivers license, ran stop sign, and careless driving w/ dog between legs. So that's 4 citations on a scooter total $.566. Is that legal and what should I do? Feel victimized and harassed by these policemen.

J_9 · Jan 29, 2011, 08:44 AM

When posting in the legal forums it is best that you provide your location so that you can get the most accurate advice.

Where are you from?

JudyKayTee · Jan 29, 2011, 08:44 AM

Let's see - you were riding your scooter without goggles, you ran a stop sign, you drove the cycle with the dog on the cycle, you have no driver license.

Yes, those are all violations which carry fines.

I'd say the Police were within their rights. I'm surprised you didn't get ticketed for a dog running loose.

I understand your argument but I've known people who were ticketed driving their wives to the hospital.

I don't feel you were victimized IF the tickets were for legitimate violations and I don't see anything indicating you were harassed.

Did you not have your license with you or don't you have a license?

rsxsaintx · Jan 29, 2011, 08:56 AM

Yes, I explained that my license was at home 2 houses down and could retrieve it. I had just recently moved to the area. I had my dog on the scooter after the stop not before. My dog bolted and did not have ant control of that.

JudyKayTee · Jan 29, 2011, 08:59 AM

If the law requires you carry your license and you did not, that's a violation. In my area that violation is dropped when you show up in Court with your license. No guarantees, of course.

I assumed your dog was on the scooter after the first round of tickets and that's why that ticket came in the mail.

In my area if your dog runs loose, you get ticketed. The circumstances do not matter.

The Police are going to argue that you endangered the public for no good reason; you are going to argue that it was an emergency.

Please come back and let us know how it works out.

Agree with J9 - where was this (although I'm not sure it matters)?

rsxsaintx · Jan 29, 2011, 09:06 AM

What can I do to get them dismissed in court. I had just woke up and hastily went after my dog without knowing the stop sign was there and I did stop way before the sign and had my dog after the citations were given.

rsxsaintx · Jan 29, 2011, 09:07 AM

Im in Orlando Florida

AK lawyer · Jan 29, 2011, 09:09 AM

No excuse for running the stop sign (if they can prove you did), but you might consider going to court and fighting the other tickets. Just because you had the dog between your legs doesn't necessarily make it careless - then again they might point out that you could have parked the scooter and walked back home. You might make the argument that this statue covers the situation, and you didn't violate the terms of it.

excon · Jan 29, 2011, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by rsxsaintx

What can I do to get them dismissed in court.

Hello r:

I don't know if a lawyer can get the charges dismissed, but he can surely help your cause...

I understand you don't think you're guilty of these things, or you have a very good excuse for doing it... But, you DID these things, and your excuses don't matter. That's not ME saying that. I HATE cops. It's the law that says that.

excon

JudyKayTee · Jan 29, 2011, 11:49 AM

I ride a motorcycle (in both NY and Florida) and am well aware of the laws in both States. You CANNOT have your dog between your legs on your scooter or bike or anything in between. Why didn't you park the scooter and walk the dog home OR walk both the scooter AND the dog home?

A very bad argument is "I didn't see the stop sign." It's your obligation to be observant.

Either hire an Attorney and fight the tickets OR throw yourself on the mercy of the Court and hope you get a Judge who owns a dog.

(Being half asleep is also a very bad argument - that will turn into "So you so half asleep that you didn't see a stop sign and forgot your license but were still on a motorized scooter?" I don't think that will go over well.)

rsxsaintx · Jan 30, 2011, 07:05 AM

I was retrieving my mail in the morning and my dog bolted out of my house. So I grabbed my keys to my scooter and proceeded to look for my dog. I recently moved into the area so I was unaware of stop signs. I stopped way before the sign, looking, when I spotted my dog.I took a left at the sign then a unmarked police vehicle with 2 officers gave chase and pulled me over as I was getting my dog 2 houses down where I live. They asked me for my license and registration. I explained that my license was at my house very close by, so he asked me for my registration. I gave him my registration and I asked him why was he stopping me and replied that I ran the stop sign. Keep in mind this is in Orlando, Florida. I was explaining that I did not want my dog to get killed so I hastily gave chase out of my house. He said don't argue wtth me or I will give you more citations. So he gave a citation with wrong intersection of not wearing protective glasses. 3 days later I received 3 more citations of not carrying drivers license with a wrong intersection written,ran stop sign with correct intersection,driving scooter w/ dog between legs limiting vehicle control, again correct intersection,but I had my dog after the first citation and went home with my dog after the whole incident with the 1st ticket of not wearing glasses. Is this legal? Can I take this to court? Do I need a lawyer? I feel victimized and harassed. $566 dollars total in citations just to save my dog from getting ran over by a car. I need help to know what to do.

excon · Jan 30, 2011, 07:17 AM

Hello again, r:

Please keep all your posts about the same subject on the same thread.. Plus, asking your question again, is NOT going to garner different answers.

I suggested you hire an attorney on the other thread, and I haven't changed my mind.

excon

Fr_Chuck · Jan 30, 2011, 07:23 AM

Sounds like you talked yourself into those tickets, that happened all the time when I was a police officer. One simple ticket or a warning ends up with a dozen tickets.

1. if you were suppose to be wearing glasses to drive ( marked on your license) than is a valid ticket if you did not have them on.

2. if you did not have your drivers license on you, that again is a valid ticket.

3. if you put a dog on a scooter with you, beyond being dangerous and stupid, it is illegal also

4. if you did not properly stop, or stopped to early and drove a little toward and then did not stop, that is a ticket also. You have to stop "at the sign" not 4 or 5 feet before and not 2 feet after.

The wrong intercession will not make the ticket invalid, often minor information is wrong and can merely be corrected with proper info in court.

The ticket is merely a summons to appear in court where if you wish, they present evidence and you present evidence as to how you are not guilty of the crimes.

You can hire an attorney and he may be able to plea bargain it down to just not carry license and no glasses. *** those normally don't have points associated with them against your record.

You want to try to get rid of the other two.

And you were being given a lesson, not harassed, that you don't argue when being given a ticket.

Fr_Chuck · Jan 30, 2011, 07:27 AM

I have merged your threads, you waste everyone's time if you don't keep it in one thread,

Next stop using the comment feature, and "answer" your own question to give you more space to give more info.

Next why did you "jump on a scooter" if the dog was only two houses away, why did you just not walk.

JudyKayTee · Jan 30, 2011, 07:55 AM

This version is different from the first version you posted. You have wasted my time.

The Court will see right through you.

Fr_Chuck · Jan 30, 2011, 08:14 AM

I can remember one case, ( actually somewhat simular) here in GA. The person went in and started to argue with the judge also and they ended up with the max punishment and a contempt of court.

First accept the guilt and responsibility, Only then will you be able to accept some plea or work out a deal