I fought the law and I won

[cyrano]

Sooooooo.


A quick review for those of you just joining us: late last week, after work, I said to myself, self, you haven't seen the ocean in a considerable long time and after the craptastic day you've just had don't you think that it would do your soul good to watch the waves come in? And I agreed with myself, complimenting me on having such an excellent idea. I'm quite a clever fellow, and I admire me.
So. Down at the foot of Sunset and below the Cliff House is a beach. I don't remember what it's called, but there it is. And the ocean rolls in, and the kids stand around bonfires being cool and doing what kids do, and if you move far enough away from them you can share the beach with them and pretend they're not there. And in the years since I first went to this beach, it's been closed at ten pm but I had never heard of anybody getting rousted just for being there. For drinking underage, for vandalism, for being there *and* doing something, yes.
This night was different. There was a gigantic sting operation, with six squad cars and three Park Ranger trucks, and spotlights and bullhorns and announcements that this beach was quite closed and if we did not leave we would be cited.
Well, that sounded like a not fun thing, so I left. Only to find that I'd already been cited, with a $75 parking ticket. Which is, by the way 150% of what it would cost if I'd actually done something bad like blocking a fire hydrant.

And for those of you familiar with finer points of traffic law, I ask this question; can I use something like a Culture of NonEnforcement as justification for protesting the ticket?

Hrm. The officer didn't sign where it says 'Officer Signature CVC' but se did sign where it says 'executed at the place on the date shown above'.

Comments

[cerulean-me.livejournal.com]

Ocean Beach off of the Great Highway ;-)

I hope that you don't have to pay it.

[elo-sf.livejournal.com]

You can try fighting it on a technicality, but the citation they were probably talking about was to you personally vs. your car.

Unclear if not signing makes the ticket void.

[lilithsaintcrow.livejournal.com]

I'd say go in and talk to the magistrate about it. Bring pictures of where you were parked and explain the deal, including your confusion over whether it's an actual ticket or a citing and why didn't the officer sign it anyway? If you can't get the ticket thrown out you may be able to get a reduction of the fine.

and even if the cop doesn't sign it, don't assume it's void. After all, they make the rules, and even if it is void it's better to be safe than sorry.