Q: I was ticketed for a failure to signal or intent to as I was merging into a turn right lane. Should I fight the ticket?
I was in the back of a group of about 30 motorcycles, the cop kicked us out of a parking lot, then proceeded to follow us about 2 miles down the road, I stopped at both stop signs when most rolled through them, and signaled at the left turn we made, but was stopped just as I began to enter a merge for a right hand turn. I also made a lane change with everyone that I believe I signaled at as well before the merge. He never clarified when the failure to use signal was, he also said in a threading manor that it was a 100% enforcement night, and I needed to warn my friends, and that there were cops all over the highway. I only knew about 5 of the other motorcyclist in the group. I wasn't sure who he was stopping at first, but I stopped to get out of his way when no one else stopped, and he pulled in behind me. Is it likely I can get the ticket dropped if I go to court?
A: You have several options; you can pay the ticket and depending on your record it may not effect it much, but your insurance rates will increase. If you fight the ticket it will be set for a bench trial and the state has to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that you committed the violation. That means who does the judge believe more, you or the officer. The prosecutors office likely has an infraction deferral program that would keep it off your record. You can also see if the prosecutor will discuss the case with you and come to a resolution that you both would be happy with to resolve the matter. You should also consider hiring an attorney.
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