I plan to contest the charge of running a stop sign in Venice, CA. Here is a statement with reasons I've written up. Please let me know if I have a shot, if anything should be re-worded, or if anything else should be altered. I believe in my innocence, and so will be contesting the charge.
"Your Honor,
I enter a plea of Not Guilty.
I am a delivery driver working for (edited out for this web post). On (date edited out) at 11:50 pm I was driving Westbound on Rose Avenue where I came to a stop at 6th Avenue. I then proceeded to pass Dimmick Avenue, then Rennie Avenue, and then made a left hand turn onto 5th Avenue.
As I made the left turn, I noticed a police vehicle located at the stop sign to the right (North). I then noticed via my rear view and side mirrors the vehicle began to follow me. Officer (edited) pulled me over around the 600 block of 5th Avenue and gave me a citation for running the stop sign located at 6th Avenue and Rose.
I am contesting the charge of "FAIL TO STOP AT CLEARLY POSTED STOP SIGN" (22450(A)VC) for the following reasons:
1. Officer (edited), upon approaching my stopped vehicle, told me the reason for pulling me over was that I ran a stop sign on Rose and 6th avenue traveling Eastbound. I was confused so he repeated himself that he pulled me over for running the stop sign on Rose and 6th avenue traveling Eastbound. However, I was traveling Westbound, as is clearly evidenced by the fact that I was pulled over on 5th avenue, which is directly West of 6th avenue. If Officer (edited) was under the impression when he pulled me over that I was travelling Eastbound, then how certain can he be that I ran this stop sign? Please listen to the recorded audio of the stop for proof of this conversation.
2. There is no stop sign on 5th avenue. When I made my left hand turn onto 5th avenue, I observed a police vehicle on the North side of 5th avenue at a stop sign , and as I turned left onto 5th avenue, I observed via my rear view and side mirrors the police vehicle following me until it pulled me over. If this vehicle was Officer (edited)'s, located at 5th avenue, then how was it possible for him to observe me running the stop sign located at Rose and 6th avenue? There are two streets between 5th and 6th avenue, Rennie Avenue and Dimmick Avenue.
3. When handing me the citation, I asked Officer (edited) if he and his partner shared a vehicle. He confirmed this. I looked behind me to confirm that there was only one police vehicle which had pulled me over. Upon questioning my observance as recounted in reason 2 (two), Officer (edited) stated that the police vehicle I spotted before the traffic stop was a different Officer's vehicle, and not his.
This stop was made in a poorly lit, heavily gang-occupied area, where there is constantly crime and gunfire. In addition, as a delivery driver, I have witnessed more than my fair share of traffic stops in this area, and in almost every instance, day or night, there have been multiple police vehicles making the stop. This is to ensure the Officer's safety in case the driver is dangerous, carrying a weapon, or a multitude of other reasons.
If there was another police vehicle directly near Officer (edited) when he initiated the stop, why didn't the other Officer stop and provide backup?
We were on a poorly lit street, in gang-affiliated territory, at Midnight. This seems to me a case for erring on the side of caution in the event of a traffic stop. Instead, there was only a single police vehicle which pulled me over.
I now provide the following photographs to illustrate the street:
The first photograph is a view of Rose Avenue heading Westbound at the crossing of 6th Avenue, and there is a stop sign. This is the sign which Officer (edited) states that I ran through. I maintain that I stopped my vehicle here. Please note that the vehicle in the photograph is not mine; This photograph is only provided to show you a view of the street.
The second photograph is a view of Rose Avenue heading Westbound at the crossing of 5th avenue, and there is no stop sign. This is where I initiated my left hand turn onto 5th Avenue, and observed that there was a police vehicle at the stop sign to the right (North). I have illustrated its position with a red X.
Thank you for considering my case. As a delivery driver, my license is my livelihood, and I always take the time and measure to be a careful driver, for the safety of others in addition to the protection of my employment.
I, (edited), stand by my plea of Not Guilty.
Sincerely,
(edited)"
Alright, so now that I posted that, do I need to file a motion of some kind to get the audio from the stop entered as evidence or can I simply list that reason and the judge will have access to it? It's kind of important the judge hears the officer claiming I was travelling an incorrect direction, wouldn't you think?
Thanks for reading this!
"Your Honor,
I enter a plea of Not Guilty.
I am a delivery driver working for (edited out for this web post). On (date edited out) at 11:50 pm I was driving Westbound on Rose Avenue where I came to a stop at 6th Avenue. I then proceeded to pass Dimmick Avenue, then Rennie Avenue, and then made a left hand turn onto 5th Avenue.
As I made the left turn, I noticed a police vehicle located at the stop sign to the right (North). I then noticed via my rear view and side mirrors the vehicle began to follow me. Officer (edited) pulled me over around the 600 block of 5th Avenue and gave me a citation for running the stop sign located at 6th Avenue and Rose.
I am contesting the charge of "FAIL TO STOP AT CLEARLY POSTED STOP SIGN" (22450(A)VC) for the following reasons:
1. Officer (edited), upon approaching my stopped vehicle, told me the reason for pulling me over was that I ran a stop sign on Rose and 6th avenue traveling Eastbound. I was confused so he repeated himself that he pulled me over for running the stop sign on Rose and 6th avenue traveling Eastbound. However, I was traveling Westbound, as is clearly evidenced by the fact that I was pulled over on 5th avenue, which is directly West of 6th avenue. If Officer (edited) was under the impression when he pulled me over that I was travelling Eastbound, then how certain can he be that I ran this stop sign? Please listen to the recorded audio of the stop for proof of this conversation.
2. There is no stop sign on 5th avenue. When I made my left hand turn onto 5th avenue, I observed a police vehicle on the North side of 5th avenue at a stop sign , and as I turned left onto 5th avenue, I observed via my rear view and side mirrors the police vehicle following me until it pulled me over. If this vehicle was Officer (edited)'s, located at 5th avenue, then how was it possible for him to observe me running the stop sign located at Rose and 6th avenue? There are two streets between 5th and 6th avenue, Rennie Avenue and Dimmick Avenue.
3. When handing me the citation, I asked Officer (edited) if he and his partner shared a vehicle. He confirmed this. I looked behind me to confirm that there was only one police vehicle which had pulled me over. Upon questioning my observance as recounted in reason 2 (two), Officer (edited) stated that the police vehicle I spotted before the traffic stop was a different Officer's vehicle, and not his.
This stop was made in a poorly lit, heavily gang-occupied area, where there is constantly crime and gunfire. In addition, as a delivery driver, I have witnessed more than my fair share of traffic stops in this area, and in almost every instance, day or night, there have been multiple police vehicles making the stop. This is to ensure the Officer's safety in case the driver is dangerous, carrying a weapon, or a multitude of other reasons.
If there was another police vehicle directly near Officer (edited) when he initiated the stop, why didn't the other Officer stop and provide backup?
We were on a poorly lit street, in gang-affiliated territory, at Midnight. This seems to me a case for erring on the side of caution in the event of a traffic stop. Instead, there was only a single police vehicle which pulled me over.
I now provide the following photographs to illustrate the street:
The first photograph is a view of Rose Avenue heading Westbound at the crossing of 6th Avenue, and there is a stop sign. This is the sign which Officer (edited) states that I ran through. I maintain that I stopped my vehicle here. Please note that the vehicle in the photograph is not mine; This photograph is only provided to show you a view of the street.
The second photograph is a view of Rose Avenue heading Westbound at the crossing of 5th avenue, and there is no stop sign. This is where I initiated my left hand turn onto 5th Avenue, and observed that there was a police vehicle at the stop sign to the right (North). I have illustrated its position with a red X.
Thank you for considering my case. As a delivery driver, my license is my livelihood, and I always take the time and measure to be a careful driver, for the safety of others in addition to the protection of my employment.
I, (edited), stand by my plea of Not Guilty.
Sincerely,
(edited)"
Alright, so now that I posted that, do I need to file a motion of some kind to get the audio from the stop entered as evidence or can I simply list that reason and the judge will have access to it? It's kind of important the judge hears the officer claiming I was travelling an incorrect direction, wouldn't you think?
Thanks for reading this!
