Ever Get A Warning Rather than a Traffic Ticket?

[finesse_r]

How often do you get a warning rather than a ticket from the local policeman. I just got a warning for making a California stop at a residential stop sign. Fortunately I was driving very slow through the area, and there was no other traffic around. Still I was guilty as sin as I did not stop but slowed and just eased on through the stop sign. I was lucky and in 54 years of driving and over 3 million miles logged that is just the 3rd time I have received a warning rather than a ticket.

 

[DWalt]

I'd think that would depend upon the jurisdiction. Some have established speed and stop light/stop sign traps as a significant profit center and give no warning tickets ever. Others may be more lenient, depending upon the driver. Last warning my wife got a couple of years ago, she didn't come to a complete stop at a stop sign, but she had her 102-YO mother with her. Cop let her go with just a verbal warning.

 

[Ranger514]

Last time was a warning for speeding on I-90 a few miles inside the MN border. I was traveling 75 mph, which was the posted speed for SD. I was respectful and had my DL in my hand by the time the Trooper was at my driver's side window. When he asked if I knew how fast I was traveling, I advised him that I was 10 mph over the posted limit, and had no excuse. He went to his patrol rig and came back with a warning ticket. Sometimes respect and honesty win the day.

 

[steelslaver]

I got a warning for going 85 on a 2 lane road where the speed limit is 70. Another for riding the fog line. Told him it was Friday night and most of the people in the other lane were drunk and I was giving them all the room I could. Got stopped without my seat belt on while talking on the phone. Turned out my plated were 10 months expired. Did say squat about anything but the plates. Judges secretary cut the fine in half because I stopped by the treasures office and got the plates updated. I forgot because both my other rigs are over 10 years old and have forever plates. Next year the Escape qualifies. Montana is pretty slack and in our small town its pretty casual.

 

[Gamecock]

Last ticket I got was a warning. 1971. Speed trap. I was doing 50 in a trick 35. I was a state employee driving a state vehicle. The trooper was more concerned about my not having the registration than my speed. Took me a while to convince him that the registration was in HQ in Columbia.

I have a son who gets all my tickets now.

 

[BearBio]

I was sent to another office for some training. My boss asked me to transport a dead bald eagle to our law enforcement office (Only those with Federal permits may even transport a bald eagle==I am listed on my office's permit).

I had to get it there before they closed at 5 PM, so it could get into the freezer (it was already frozen). Well, traffic tied me up and I was running late. I was, admittedly, speeding. A State Trooper pulled me over. He asked the usual questions: "Do you know why I pulled you over? (Uh, speeding, Officer?), How fast was I going? (About 75, Officer.) What was the hurry? (You're not gonna believe it?)

Officer: Try me. If you come up with an excuse I've NEVER heard before, I'll let you off with a warning.

Me: I have a dead bald eagle in the cooler in the back seat and I have to get it to Federal LE before it thaws.

Officer: I bet!

Me: Take a look.

Officer: Have a nice day, Sir, and keep the speed down!

 

[Absalom]

Never gotten a ticket, only about a half dozen warnings so far. But I do drive fairly conservatively, and my violations were marginal, like rolling through a stop sign with no other traffic in sight, or expired plates, with the new tags in the glove box because I'd been too lazy to put them on right away and then forgot.

The one time I really should have gotten a ticket I was stuck behind an old lady who wanted to turn left (no center turn lane) but just couldn't get the jump-off despite large gaps in opposing traffic. I finally pulled onto the very low curb and passed her on the adjacent bike path on her right, and saw the patrol car waiting in the side street the moment I rolled past. I didn't even wait for the lights and just pulled over at the next driveway. When she pulled in behind me, she was very understanding because it turned out she'd been just as frustrated about being stuck there waiting for that lady to get a move on and actually joked that she wasn't too unhappy that I'd given her an excuse to turn on her lights and pull past everybody. And I just got a warning.

 

[snubbyfan]

Do that in our town and you're gonna get a ticket. Catching speeders and other scofflaws is our town's main source of revenue.

 

[snubbyfan]

Back in the day, when I was young and stupid. I had built up a '75 Toyota Corolla SR5 Hardtop for running around on country roads. No muffler, smog pump removed, 4.30 rear diff., full ground effects, aftermarket carb, etc.
I came through a 4 way intersection, sideways. The light had just turned red and I was traveling at way more than the posted speed limit.
I saw the lights flashing behind me and pulled over. How many laws did I just break? My car's not street legal.
He blew right past me.
Whew!

 

[steelslaver]

Do that in our town and you're gonna get a ticket. Catching speeders and other scofflaws is our town's main source of revenue.

6000 people here and not that many voters, the sheriff and the judge both want to keep their jobs. In small population Montana counties the voters kind of have a say on what kind of law enforcement we want. We don't want much. For the most part traffic controls itself. If your a jerk you will hear about it from more than just the deputies. Be polite, don't steal, don't sell drugs to the kids, don't fight with anyone who doesn't want to fight, and you pretty much won't have any problems.

 

[bricker]

I got a ticket once , in July of '76.

 

[snubbyfan]

Another time I was out in my SR5. For some reason, people seemed to want to race me. I was challenged by a Trans Am and it was on.
I designed my car for the twisties and this road fit the bill. I went around an ogee at a bit over 85 and lost him.
Later that day, I was gassing up and a cruiser pulls up. I was informed that the driver of the Trans Am was an off duty police officer and he clocked me at 80 mph going around the ogee. I was about to say that he was doing 80, I was going over 85 and pulled away from him but thought better of it.
The officer said, "We've been watching you," and left.

 

[SC_Mike]

Last time I was stopped it ended up being a warning ticket. Was doing around 60 in a 45, country road trying to hustle it up back to the interstate. My buddy was with me and he had a delivery truck that was broken down out of state and I was trying to get him back to good cell coverage.

The HP Officer asked where we had been, after he had glanced in the back seat at about eight black rifle cases and two black lumpy bags. I told him the rifle range, about six miles behind us.

South Carolina Law states one must present your permit when stopped along with you license and other info which I did. Not sure if it was that or my wit and charm that ended up with the warning over a ticket, but I'll take that any day.

 

[PatriotX]

While I collected more than my share of speeding tickets as an idiotic youth, age has blessed me with a more rational decision-making process.

I was therefore extremely surprised to see the local constabulary behind me recently, requesting a roadside chat.

"Good evening sir," he stated politely, "do you know why I pulled you over?"

For likely the first time in my life, I did not. Cruise had been on, set for the speed limit.

"Well, to be perfectly honest, I clocked you going one mile over the limit, and that allowed me to pull you over."

At this point I was sure he was after some drunks, since it was close to midnight in a Friday. While the wife and I were coming back from our anniversary dinner, I don't drink.

He then shone his Maglite in the back seat and trunk area, and returned my ID.

"Here's the deal. We've got some diaper dumpers around here, and this road has been hit several times this week. The locals are not thrilled with finding and cleaning up these little gifts, and we're looking for the culprits."

I turned to my wife to see if this was some elaborate setup, and I'd just been had, but the shocked look on her face told me otherwise.

"You two don't look like my Diaper Dumpers, so drive safe and have a good night."

I proceeded home without incident, but did see one of the offending diapers adorning a wire fence the next day, about a mile from the location of the stop.

 

[snubbyfan]

6000 people here and not that many voters, the sheriff and the judge both want to keep their jobs. In small population Montana counties the voters kind of have a say on what kind of law enforcement we want. We don't want much. For the most part traffic controls itself. If your a jerk you will hear about it from more than just the deputies. Be polite, don't steal, don't sell drugs to the kids, don't fight with anyone who doesn't want to fight, and you pretty much won't have any problems.

The locals know the rules. It's the tourists that come speeding through town and blowing through stop signs that do the most to help the town financially.
We had a crime wave in our little town of 549 a coupla years ago. Some kids were taking change out of peoples cars.

 

[1morethan8]

Last ticket I got was in Pearl Harbor in 1970.. made a u-turn at the intersection. The cop had me before I got out of first gear in my 1959 VW... he was driving a new red 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner! Cops could buy their own car and the state would pay part... my ticket was $25.

 

[snubbyfan]

Another time, drivin' through town at around 2am many years ago. I was pulled over and asked to step out of the car (my SR5). The officer asked me what was in the trunk. I honestly told him, "a gun." He asked me to open the trunk and show him. It was an old Henry Survival .22, broken down and stored in the butt stock. He let me go on about my way.
I was much relieved, I had ingested large amounts of adult beverages that evening on into the early morning.

 

[wyccad915]

I've only been pulled over once, and I got a ticket.

 

[dmar]

I got a ticket once , in July of '76.

That's the spirit!

 

[Fred_G]

The locals know the rules. It's the tourists that come speeding through town and blowing through stop signs that do the most to help the town financially.
We had a crime wave in our little town of 549 a coupla years ago. Some kids were taking change out of peoples cars.

Oh Lord, next comes the rock music, and dancing... (cue theme song from Footloose.)

Never gotten a warning ticket. And the two tickets I have gotten, I deserved.

A friend of mine in Texas says he has gotten a pretty good amount of warning tickets when he shows his carry permit. Don't know if that is luck or what.