I got stopped by the police over the weekend

[matt819]

New Jersey Turnpike (I think - or some other state road). Turns out I didn't move to the left when I saw two emergency vehicles poised to catch people not moving to the left when seeing emergency vehicles.

I was also going 74 in a 65 zone.

Flow of traffic argument didn't work because - repeat after me - I failed to move left upon seeing vehicles with their emergency lights on.

Judgment argument didn't work, well, because. There was no one outside either of the vehicles, and neither vehicle was moving. Tough. But. . . you guessed it. I failed to move left.

We had a nice chat, the state trooper and I. Nice guy. Just doing his job. Also, I'm white, and I wasn't angry. (Don't get me wrong - I wasn't at all happy, but he was, as they say, just doing his job.) So he didn't threaten me or shoot me. So I got to the wedding I was going to in one piece.

If anyone here is from NJ and knows of any defenses to this ticket, please feel free to enlighten me.

And, again, on the plus side, he didn't shoot me.

And I still don't like New Jersey.

[True Dough]

1. I don't know any ticket defenses

But reading your post brought this song by "the Boss" to mind...

[dem4decades]

2. You didn't move left from the right hand lane when the police were in the break down lane?

I'm trying to imagine what happened.

[matt819]

9. Yep. That's it. (Nt)

[PJMcK]

3. Nope, you're busted

Emergency vehicles require a “bubble” by shifting traffic to th left lanes.

Sorry.

[zipplewrath]

5. In Florida

You're merely "required" to slow down by 25 mph, although they prefer you "move over".
Not sure about NJ.

[Major Nikon]

12. I think that's how most states work

You either have to slow way down or move over

[empedocles]

4. Nice officer gave you a 9mph over speed limit break. Feel better at least, 10 over is a big jump $.

[cloudbase]

6. All I can offer is

to go to court and hope the officer doesn't show up for trial. If he doesn't, move for dismissal. Otherwise, plead nolo.
(That's fancy for "I didn't do it, and I won't do it again.&quot

It's worth a roll of the dice.

[CharleyDog]

7. Pay your fine, learn your lesson, don't speed, and watch out for

emergency vehicles. Admit your guilt and accept your punishment with grace as we wish our President would. Thinking of ways to get around taking responsibility is making us all ill. "What can I learn from this experience" is a healthy way to view the situation.

[TwilightZone]

8. If it's like TX, circumstances are irrelevant.

Everyone is required to move over (or slow down to 20mph under the speed limit), regardless of the circumstances.

As I recall, they passed the law here because officers and construction workers, etc., were getting mowed down by drivers.

Speeding likely didn't help. Had you not been speeding, they might not have dinged you for not pulling over.

[Cold War Spook]

10. Pay the $2.

If you don't know what that means, Google it and also watch some of the greatest comedy acts of the 30s and 40s. If you have not watched "Who's on First" watch it. It is by far the greatest you will ever see.

[Xolodno]

11. My dad decided to fight a ticket once...

....crossed over a double yellow on both sides.

Told the Judge he obviously broke the law and didn't expect to win, plus he never does when he fights the ticket....but wanted to bring up a few issues...

1. You couldn't see that it was double yellow from his vantage point when you crossed it.
2. The entire rest of the rode had a curbed medium clearly defining you couldn't cross there....except for this 20 foot area.
3. Photographed another car doing the same thing he did.

The Judge said, "The ticket will still go on your record, but I'm not going to fine you. It's clearly a messed up situation".

My Dad always got a bit confrontational with police when he didn't think he was wrong....long story short, he didn't get it, its his word vs. them.

I on the other hand have gotten out of a few. I blew through a stop sign in a small town...the Ambulance who had the right of way (no emergency), called it in to the local police....plus they weren't used to seeing someone driving so late in the town..and given I had out of state plates.... Got pulled over close to leaving town, they told me about the stop sign...told them I never even saw it, he then said, yeah, I don't think anyone see's it that's new here and when they put it up, he blew through it, planned on the next town meeting to point out the issue. I responded I was just visiting a friend of ours...long story short, think he knew exactly who I was visiting. Told me, well now you know its there and have a good night.

[Major Nikon]

13. Deferred adjudication

Works in Texas, not sure about where you are. The way it works is you basically pay the amount of the fine and as long as you keep your nose clean for a probationary period (1 year), the charge is dismissed.