Q: I'm in Illinois and the officer who cited my ticket basically refused to explain my ticket to me.
I was pulled over for running a red light, and the officer who pulled me over wouldn't let me speak, he spoke first and said that everything was recorded then wouldn't let me say anything. I tried to ask for leniency and got about half-way through before he cut me off to explain my "options". Then he told me that I could either plead guilty and pay the fine, plead guilty and sign up for Traffic Safety School, or appear in court. I'm realistically mostly offended that he refused to speak with me at all regarding how I go about doing those things. He barely explained them to me and when I opened my car door and turned around to ask him if he could please explain the citation to me and have a discussion, he dismissed me by saying he had another call to go to.
What can I do about this? He also said he highly recommends I take TSS, I have no major violations or tickets. This is my first ticket. So why would he recommend it?
A: Nothing. The officer is not required to chat you up,explain or defend his position. That’s what judges are for.
Juan Ooink agrees with this answer
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
