I Fought The Law…
Thursday, August 16, 2007
So a while back I got a ticket. Nope, not on the bike and not for speeding or anything particularly exciting. I crossed a line. Literally. What I did was find myself in a turn lane onto a highway that I didn’t want to get on.
Now, let’s be frank…we’ve all violated traffic laws. Maybe by not quite coming to a complete stop at a sign. By going a little faster than the posted limit. Cutting that yellow light really close. Doesn’t make it right, of course – but we do it. Sometimes because we’re in a hurry, other times because we simply are not as focused on driving as on other things.
But in this case I was simply befuddled. I was heading back to the office from a meeting and after turning onto Steven’s Creek road (the perpendicular one in the photo) I was in the on-ramp lane to get on Highway 85. Brain fart? Whatever…I signaled and yielded to traffic and merged – right in front of a cop. Hmm. Technically I did not turn left in the left turn only lane which = failure to obey traffic signals. D’oh.
I pleaded my case via a written declaration – and lost. Only option left was to have a trial in person. My position the while time was that I never intended to get on the highway and merged back as safely as possible. Here’s the thing – I was back in that same intersection and realized something. Two options are listed on the signs. Highway 85 North or South. That’s it. If you happen to be in the center lane and follow the turn as indicated, you end up in the turn lane…with no signage to indicate “highway only”. That’s actually not to code and while my case was dismissed due to the officer’s request for a continuance being denied (yes!) I did confer with another officer and he agreed.
Santa Clara county’s mistake means I’m not out $164. I fought the law…and won.
But then Nicky peed on me yesterday, lest I become cocky. Ups and downs, I guess.
Movies!
Penn & Teller’s Bullsh*t!
We’re two discs into the first season of their Showtime series. So far, debunkings of bottled water, psychics and TV talk-to-dead-people charlatans (yes you John Edwards), end of the world doomsday types, secondhand smoke and other stuff. Freaking great – even if you don’t agree with them.
Yeah that’s it. Dreamgirls and lord help me The Devil Wears Prada awaits.