wreckless driving.

ok so i was borrowing my grandmothers blazer. And, im going down the road and all of a sudden i smell like burning rubber. im wondering what that smell is. so as soon as i take a turn into a parking a lot, i see that it is my emergency brake that was still in. so i pull it as i was driving. and when i went down to grab it, my rear tires skidded. not much, just like half a second. didnt really notice it. anyway, im driving around in the parking lot. and i notice a cop behind me. no lights, no horns. i keep driving in the parking lot and all of a sudden i hear a horn, except this horn comes from ahead of me as a cop plows right in front of me. out of no where. i didnt really no what was going on. so he came up to my window acting all tough shit like i was avoiding him from the begining. other cop comes to other side of car. he yells to roll down the window. i say i cant. and i open the door. and he jumps back. i can understand that, i know how that is. anyway, so i give him my license and reg. and proof of insurance. he asks me what i was doing, i explained it to him, and he started laughing at me along with his buddy cop. i told him you could smell how the emergency brakes were stinking up my car. he laughed and said that it was the smell of burnt rubber. which was completly ridiculous because i barely had that much of a skid. he takes like 10-15 minutes in his car. he comes back and hands me all of my information and finally gives me the dreaded ticket. i look at it. and im wondering what he got me for. he said ''i got you for reckless driving, you can either pay the ticket or take it to court'' i looked at the bill and it said $440. i most definatley say court. and he snickers and says ok. i understood how it is considered wreckless driving, because i didnt have control of the car for a second. but 440 dollars is a lot, is it not? And take in mind that i was REALLY courteus. i said yes sir, no sir to everything. but, im wondering what might happen in court? any chance of him dropping it? Or how about any way of me getting it down? i have only had my license for about 10ish months. my court date isnt until october, is there anything i can do to assure the judge that im a safe driver. like take a defensive drivers class or driving safety or something before or during the court date? to make it look good. i know i deserve a ticket but for $440? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

by the way i know i was incorrect with the topic sentence. i meant reckless*.

by the way, im 16 and live in South Carolina. thanks again.

Just goto court and explain what happend. I think you should have just stopped released it. What i dont get is how you skidded while RELEASING the parking brake.

Damn. That really sucks. I guess South Carolina has no drug pushers, gang bangers, murderers, drunk drivers, or theives, so the police turn to teenagers in their grandmother's blazer's...Americas Finest. :uhoh:

I would go to the judge, as suggested. Be dressed very nicely, and have a pre-prepared arguement. Tell the judge your side of the story. Do *not*, in any way, pass off as degrading the officers. Do not say that they were "wrong", "didn't care", "took it the wrong way", "didnt listen to me", etc. The judges often personally know the local PD officers, and will take their word over a 16 year old's any day...Prop their egos up, and tell them how your accidentally leaving the brake on caused some of that smell, to which the officers "adequately" responded. "It was my fault I left the brakes on, I'm really sorry!" This way, you avoid altogether the charge placed on you, so when the judge addresses it, say that you would not do that in grandma's car. Be sweet, judges love that, but be as sinceren as possible. You should be let off the hook.

hmm yeah, thats what i was planning on doing. i mean it was my fault, i wasnt paying attention when i went to release the emergency brake. i just cant believe they laughed and gave me a 440 dollar ticket. i figured, something of that cost is like for drifitng in a parking lot, doing donuts, racing? it was just a very odd stop. but i do have a important question. if i was driving my grandmothers blazer is there a chance of her insurance going up? we dont have the same insurer, but is tehre a chance that their insurance rates will go up? and how much of an increase am i looking in my rates?

Um, rates really depend on alot of things...and I do mean ALOT. Chances are with a ticket like wreckless driving...they will go up. And as far as I know, her rates will be effected, because it is her car. I'd ask your grandmother (or parent[s] to accompany you)...it will look better.

Be polite, dress well, etc, as was mentioned above. Understand, lots of dumb kids do take cars into parking lots at night and rip the e-brake to skid...so that is what they suspect you of doing. Again, I don't get why you would skid while releasing the brake. I'm guessing you pulled it again...which makes no sense, so I hope you have a solid story for court. Not saying you did skid on purpose...but don't get why you did skid...

Just be honest with them. Chances are it will get reduced. One more tip. Next time, don't tell the cop on the scene that you are going to fight it. You don't want them to specifically remember you, or for them to feel challenged. That gives them incentive to remember you/hold a grudge. You want to be as polite as possible, and then thank them and be on your way. Challenge it at court...not on the scene (once you've gotten a written ticket).

Again, I don't get why you would skid while releasing the brake. I'm guessing you pulled it again...which makes no sense, so I hope you have a solid story for court. Not saying you did skid on purpose...but don't get why you did skid...


The way my car is, if the brake is pulled so high you have to pull it up a little to release it, so that's probably what happened to him.


Oh and by the way do what everyone else said and hope for the best. Good luck.

I for one am glad that your driving has been wreckless.

No more home made cookies from good old grandma...:) seriously though, this does not sound like wreckless, ahem, I mean reckless, driving to me. Just as others suggested, your best bet is to play good, respectful and polite young man. Show respect, but also make sure that you strongly disagree with the "reckless" label. Actually you should double-check the violation code and make sure it is reckless indeed. If you prove that this was not reckless, but rather stupid act on your behalf, the case will be dismissed. The key is not to fight the ticket, but the violation code on it, if it's not applicable to you.

ok so i was borrowing my grandmothers blazer.....................From your description you were not being reckless.You were merely "guilty" of improper operation, and a minor one at that."Reckless" is now a common overcharge in a desperate attempt for towns to collect maximum$$$$$$$$.§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§REFU SE . . TO . . LOSE§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

dude i got the answer it works everytime if your young it works say your soory you werent paying attention to the e brake you were being irresponsible on your part and you would appreciate it if she would show some mercy onyou it worked everytime for me

well i had court today for my reckless driving ticket. went to court, talked to him. and he kicked my 440 dollar ticket to a 76 dollar driving to fast for conditions. 2 points instead of 6 officer said that normally, insurers give you the two points but after that, they start hammering you. kinda happy. glad i dont have to pay 440 dollars.

congrats, glad they lowered it.

Well done on getting it lowered....but I have a question: they changed the charge to "Too fast for conditions" I know it's too late to change anything, but...were you speeding at all?