Ticket - Failure to yield to Adult crossing guard?

[chozai65]

Hello everyone. I received a ticket in the mail for failing to yield to an adult crossing guard in a school zone. Here is how it happened. I was driving the posted speed limit for the school zone (20mph), approaching a crosswalk with no one in the near vicinity to crossing. About 10-15 feet away from the crosswalk, the crossing guard jumped out in the street toward my vehicle with the stop sign expecting me to stop. I immediately slammed on my brakes to stop a little ways after the crosswalk. After looking in the rear view mirror, I could see him writing down my plates. I have to appear in court and would like to dispute this because it was impossible for me to stop in time. Either he needed to give me more of a chance to stop, or let me pass entirely. Is there any chance of getting this ticket dropped? Thanks in advance for any help you are willing to give.

[oded]

NO - there's no chance of getting the ticket dropped.

Frankly, if you were going as slow as you say you were you should have easily been able to stop in time - even sticking your foot out the door and dragging it until your car stopped. By suggesting you didn't have time to stop, suggests you were going MUCH faster than the posted speed limit.

SO, end of the day, either pay the fine for the ticket you were sent (and get over it) -- or expect to get hammered in court, since they tend to not take kindly to people that speed in school zones, and get an addition charge of "Speeding in a School Zone' added to your previous ticket.

[hardin]

Dear Doug,

It seems that you have answered your own question. What you wrote above is what you have to testify to in the traffic court. Be respectful, be courteous and don't berate the underpaid crossing guard and you just might find the favor of the court.

RF Lorenzo
DOE/SRT/HRT

[jolie]

There is always a chance. But, without a video, judge will believe the C./G, Unless you get videos of others doing the same ands Not getting flagged. Technically he can't flag unless kids actually crossing. Push this point in court,

Some flagman tried to hold up his lollipop when I was walking thru a crosswalk, Not a school C/W, a regular steet crossing with "Walk" sign. I resented it on the very grounds you say, I did not want him to ticket someone on my account, and I was 54 years old at the time! I ordered him to Drop It. He Did.

EDIT: No, Lollipop men aren't paid. They are all retired. Ever see one? It is a volunteer job. How can you live on 3 hours of work a day? You Can't.

[brenn15]

It sounds like he is taking his job way to seriously and should get hit by a car

[hawiovi]

Step 1: any time you go to court, read the law for yourself. I am amazed at how many people are destroyed in court because they don't even know what the law says?

You failed to mention your city and state, as you can imagine they are all different. However, you should still be able to read your local municipal code online. When you go to court the crossing guard will tell his side of the story. You can tell your side of the story. The judge will decide who is telling the truth.

Good luck.