Following too closely ticket for accident? Traffic Court? Cop lied?

[victorio83]

I was involved in a traffic accident where I was driving in the right lane and a woman cut me off(without a signal) while coming off the highway. After she cut me off I had no choice but to be close to her car. She suddenly stopped and I ran into the back of her. When we pulled over I found out that she had hit the woman in front of her. The woman in front of me and the woman in front of her got out and were talking and laughing. er the officer took their statements and filed the reports she came over and told me that she found me guilty because my stories didn't match between the first and second officer. The first officer claimed that I said "I wasn't paying attention", which I never said. Also the women I didn't hit said that she saw the woman behind her stop and me running in to her. How could she see all of this while she was supposedly driving herself. I believe they got out and set me up because I'm only 16. Should I fight the ticket and how could I win?

[smid]

The last person in a pileup always gets the ticket

[anson34]

Sadly you are probably right. You were probably set up by your age, and the Courts agreed because your age. I mean set-up is because you were the last person more then just your age. The cops agreed to the story because your age though. I'm not going to say you shouldn't fight the ticket, it's more I doubt you could win. My REAL question though is just how long did this take? You said you couldn't help but follow too close. That may be true at first, but you put on the breaks gently as soon as you are cut off(unless no one is behind you then hit them harder) and rebuild the gap you should have.

[menw]

Following closely doesn't get you there any faster.

[starling]

IANAL... Call the prosecutor's office and ask for discovery (basically a disclosure of the evidence that is being used aganst you). I'm betting there isn't much there. Show up on your court date and plead your case. Its about all you can do.