Q: Can an officer still write a citation after they let you leave a traffic stop?
I was driving along at night when a car pulled out behind me and rode my bumper. This was an aggressive driver I tried to put a little distance between me and them, but they stayed within about 2 feet of my bumper. They followed me through s topsign without stopping or signaling. I decided to go slow so they would just go around, after about 100 yards it was an officer, I didn't know it was until then, I just thought it was an aggressive driver. He told me i was going 40 over (I did get up to 30 over while he was on my bumper). I was freaked out and told him I was on my way to see someone at the hospital (which was not the case). He asked some questions, and said I could go, but if he called and couldn't find them he would write the citation. My drivers license still has my old address on front and new on back (vehicle registration has correct address). It has been over a month and haven't received anything and can't find anything to pay online with El Paso county courts.
A: Yes, citations can--and are--posted after the incident. For most traffic violations, the applicable police agency has up to 1 year to report the incident. If the citation occurs after the police stop, you should receive a registered letter to the address listed on your driver's license. Note, having a different address than that listed on the license does NOT excuse the ticket, but updating your driver's license should forward the ticket to the correct address. That said, it is also possible that the officer decided to pursue the ticket. You are checking the correct places to see if the ticket is posted. At this point, all you really can do is wait and see...
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