Modesto Police dont even know the cell phone law!

by Stephanie S
August 22, 2008

So I was having a bad bad baaaaaaad day on July 6th. Now I knew as well as we all did that the new cell phone driving law had begun and I can in fact say that I was guilty of not purchasing a blue tooth yet. So after calling a tow truck 2 seperate times that day I am leaving downtown toward the freeway and my phone rings. Do I think about answering it? Nope..I just grab it and start complaining to my friend about what had occured that day. Then ..IT happens..I am a block away to freedom thinking on the freeway I would see the police but coming in the opposite dircection from me is 1 patrol car..2 police men..and me sitting at the light gabbing on the phone..they look at me.. I look at them..and I know I am busted. The fip around faster than you could blink..DAMM DAMM DAMM..

When the cop walks up to my window I say.."I know" " I know"! And he says then why were you on the phone then? Well my lame excuse I knew was going to get me no where.. he goes back..runs my usual stuff..and he says to me and I quote "I dont want you to be to upset about this" So I ask him why? and these are his words verbatum.. " #1 it does not go on your record as long as you take care of it..#2 its only 20 bucks so pay the fine and dont do it again!" Ok Ok I get it..and im thinking 20 bucks because I was stupid..alright I guess I deserve it.. But THENNNNNNNNNN

I called to just pay the bill on the phone with my credit card 3 weeks later after I get the offical ticket in the mail with my docket number. I wanted to just get it over with and be done with it. So here I am expecting to pay 20 dollars.. You can imagine my suprise when the woman who answered the phone says.. "that will be $102 please" WHAT THE HELL???

She said the first ticket is $72 plus another $30 in whatever no vasaline fees they want to tack on there.. so I tell her that is not what the nice little police officer told me and she says "oh well"..ughhhh so I pay it..

Then a few days ago some friends of mine are walking down the street and see a police man in a marked car gabbing away as he is driving through downtown while his partner is sitting there doing nothing. My friends..well..to put it gently are NOT SHY..lol The police car happened to pull into the next parking lot the were walking towards and was turning around by the time they came up to them at the opening of this parking lot so the husband waves them down.. The passenger window opens and the officer says what can I help you with sir? And my friend said I would like you to give YOUR partner a ticket..we watched him on the phone and he still is! Without blinking an eye the cop says to them..we are exempt from the rule. Ummm..OK if you say so. You know they have radios, CB's and computers...plenty of driving distractions if you ask me..so why is it that they are exempt? And why is it one specifically told me my ticket would be 20 dollars instead of 102?

So anyway..Now im more broke..and MAD AS HELL! Guess I just dont have the same luck Efren does..lol You can TRY to break the law and not do it.. I get busted every time! uggh!!

tags: Modesto | Politics

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Well, you probably should

Well, you probably should have contested the ticket. If you go to court, one of two things will happen.

a.) The officer won't show up, and the ticket will likely be dismissed.

b.) The officer will show up. If he did in this case, he might have corroborated your story, thereby reducing your fine.

Of course, he might also have denied telling you that the ticket was only 20 dollars.

I imagine police get to break the cell phone rule the same way they get to run red lights or drive at 100 mph as they see fit. Not that I like it any more than you do, but it is what it is.

Submitted by jeff edwards on Fri, 2008-08-29 16:47.

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Luck Nothing

Luck nothing sister, I just roll being plane silly.. OH FYI the MPD can also park in a no parking metered zone & have no worries. That’s just it, it is what it is. Me I just fallow the rules don’t make them. Anywho, No big worries here, they can do what they want as long as they keep me & my family safe.
PS their is NO way I would ever consider being a police officer. It’s to high of a stressful job..
Efren
The Quake

Steph
Ya might want to go to court on that, I’m sure you will still have to pay for all those mumbo jumbo fees associated with getting a citation, but the fine might be reduced by the judge if he sees you made an effort disputing your case.

Submitted by Efren on Fri, 2008-08-29 18:47.

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Thanks Efren..but...

Its too late. I took my medicine like a good little girl and paid the fine already so its too late. Trust me though if it was going to be on my record you bet your butt I would have been in that court room in a heart beat! ;)

TGIF my friend!!

Stephanie~Well behaved women rarely make history!

Submitted by Stephanie S on Fri, 2008-08-29 19:23.

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Be careful

We just need to all be careful in regard to this law. I personally hate seeing people obviously distracted when they drive. My biggest pet peeve is watching people send messages while they drive. I wish that people would be more careful and not just when they see an officer. It is all to common to just see people attempt to hide their phones to buck the system.

-Mojo
Editor

Submitted by Motown Mojo on Sun, 2008-08-31 11:01.

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Hey Ruben

Hey Ruben, I ran into Alex/AKA The Merch last Friday at Queen Bean for Alyssa Poppin’s show. He’s doing great and is training with some of the best Baristas in Seattle. Anywho, we talked for awhile and shared some wonderful words together. Anywho, he wanted me to let everyone out there know that he misses Modesto and sends his best wishes out to everyone & you especially Ruben. He is only here for a few days and then he’s off back to continue to fallow his dreams. He’s a good kid..
warmly
Efren J
AKA The Quake

Submitted by Efren on Sun, 2008-08-31 14:18.

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Well, fortunately, I never

Well, fortunately, I never developed the habit of talking on my phone while driving. I figure the call can wait until I get wherever I'm going. I have a bluetooth device, and I've only used it once.

Submitted by jeff edwards on Mon, 2008-09-01 19:11.

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www.angelsheavenlyhogfarm.com

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, go to court. Ask that the video of you being pulled over be played. there is your prof that he taold you the fine was 20 bucks. When the judge asked you why you were on the phone say "I was stopped at the redlight when my sister (always blame a female relative, I dont know why it works but it does) called to ask why I was not responding to her texts, I told her because I was driving and boom there they were"

Side note: the fine was made purposely to be twice the cost of buying a blue tooth.

side note 2: 25 people are now DEAD in LA because some idiot was texting when he should have been driving (a train)

Submitted by Darrell Angel on Mon, 2008-09-15 15:17.

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