CHP, some officers need serious talk

[pyle]

South bound on Interstate 5, Sat around 4AM. Just crested grapevine going into LA County. Traffic to the base of the Grapevine was very light (none), coming into Santa Clarita traffic bunching up, clustered at times so I moved into center lane and dropped into line with the other vehicles matching speed. Trucks and other wannabe's in the right lane and heavy feet in the left lane. This gets real busy to deal with.
Several miles of dodgeball and bingo a bright red light in my rear. I pull over to the shoulder and from his loud speaker the officer directs me to the next exit, from there left turn at the stop sign and park under the freeway.
Didn't realize just how much bright light these guys have at their disposal but there it is, all shinning in my eyes.
Officer comes up to my driver side window and states "Did you realize you were driving very eradic." I stated no, that I wasn't, I was normal.
Officer wants to know if I'm in a hurry to get somewhere and I told him no, I'm in no hurry. Said he clocked me at 75 with a jump to 82 for a short time back there.
I told the officer that I was matching speed with the cars in my lane, not up on anyone and not being an annoyance. No weaving in and out, no tailgating, just trying to get to my destination without bending up my car.
The officer asked if I had been drinking, told him no, he asked "you sure", I responded with zero alcohol, none. By this time he had my license, insurance and registration. The officer stated are you sure, I see your from Napa.
WTF
It took a little time to convince this guy there was NO alcohol, he went back to his car for several minutes.
Returned to my window with " I'm giving you a citation for 75+, the plus doesn't mean anything but you did go to 82 at 1 point. I'm only giving you a warning for wandering on the road."

Now, this is absolute BS, minding my own business, not creating any problem whatsoever for anyone, going with the flow of traffic and this bozo wants to nail me for alcohol without any reason and when that didn't pan out for his citation statistics he's going to write me for 75 in a 65, when I'm going with the flow of traffic.
What this guy needs is a little adjustment to his infatuation of his own importance.

[Mrnemo]

that sucks, but least it's just warning , right? making sure I didn't misread it. plus doesn't he have to show you his radar readout?

[bruno]

No one likes to receive citations, especially me, considering 3 out of my 4 have come from the CHP. In my case, I deserved them and never questioned or pleaded for anything less.

I have a feeling most of us who drive the Grapevine portion of I-5 go at least 75 mph when it's posted 65. Unfortunately, I know I'm taking that risk but one cannot use the excuse that they were keeping up with the flow of traffic. This time, it was you who was singled out instead of someone else.

I'm not sure what the drinking point was all about. He could have done a roadside sobriety test if he was all that suspicious. Sorry you had to go through that.

In my case, I paid the CHP fines (for 10 over) and completed an online Traffic School course because I didn't want any points to show up at the DMV.

Good luck and let us know how you are going to handle your citation.
bruno
(all this happened at 4:00 a.m.???)

[DaChamp]

Pyle, let me first apologize for the unwarranted hard time my fellow officer gave you. I'm not too familar with the laws in Cali, but I did notice an error in the officer's charge on the citation. The citation or charge should show the exact offense (if he used a radar) and not 75 plus. 75 plus is an opinion and the radar (again if he used one) is used only to confirm "his opinion". If this made it to court you would probably be able to have it dismissed or reduced if the the officer is not able to explain what 75 plus is (other than in excess of the posted speed limit). Again, I apologize and I encourage you to charge it to his inexperience and not to him being a bad officer. As far as an officer having to show you the speed on his radar, in North Carolina we do not have to show you the speed, but we do have to show in court that we are certified on the radar unit and that that unit was working properly.

[srt8danno]

Sorry you got busted by the CHP. At that time of the morning they’re usually out looking for drunks. If he were that suspicious he should have given you a field test and not BS’d with you about it. I’ve never heard tell of them asking repeatedly. That’s ridiculous. Then he gives you a warning for weaving in and out of traffic. Sounds like more BS and the "plus" part of your ticket just doesn't sound right either…I think I would be going to court and fighting it on some technicalities. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

[pyle]

Thanks guys for all the points of views. Helps to clear the mind and provides a step back for me to think it out.
To clarify a few points that I wasn't clear on.
There was no radar, the CHP car was clocking me. I was singled out for a perceived reason that only the officer is aware of as he could not come up with anything beyond the 10 MPH.
All said and done, I believe the CHP was looking for a DUI when I was stopped. When that was not the case comes the problem as the officer made the decision to cite me for SOMETHING no matter what and 10 MPH was convenient for him.
After the citation I resumed my travel, set the speed control at 65 and proceded to become the target for all the other vehicles, I was not comfortable to be run up on from behind and for the other vehicle to swerve hard around me to then cut me off sharply to make his point. This was all in the center lane. I quickly decided this is not the best action and resumed to blend with the traffic.
Cal traffic law as I understand it, states "reasonable and prudent" unless the speed limit is posted as Federal limit. Reasonable and Prudent works at both ends of the spectrum. Not wise to be a target, especially in LA County.
Need to sleep on all of this as to course to take.
Believe at this moment to be quite unfair.

[pyle]

And your right Danno, in Calif between the hours of midnight and 5:00 AM thats about all there is on the roads and dodging those guys is a real art form.
I just happens that those hours are my best and most favorite times to enjoy my car. I can certainly appreciate the need for law enforcement to curtail those folks and I'm not the least bit aggrevated that the officer wanted to check me out. That said, when it was determined that alcohol was not an issue, there was no reason to make something from nothing.

[Spittin Game]

Im sorry but this is why I hate and have zero respect for pigs!

I have a similar kind of story...I got a ticket about 4 weeks ago for going a supposed 56 in a 40. Complete BS. I was following my dad to his new fix n flip house from my house. I am following him b/c I have no clue where its at, I get off of Santa fe and merge onto Belleview following him the whole time, right behind us is a light that just turned green, well Im following, up ahead is a cop, we pass and I thought he was just pulling out of the parking lot, then I see him pull out and turn his lights on, I thought nothing of it. But what happens, the pig pulls me over stating I was going 56 in a 40, my dad calls me on my cell phone and asks if i just got pulled over, I said ya, he says how is that possible, I was going 44 and you were right behind me. He even thought the cop was gonna be a ***** about it and pull him for going 4 mph over. No, the pig doesnt pull over my middle aged father in his Lexus, he pulls over the young guy in the flashy car. Then the pig doesnt even have the balls to look me in the eye, he stared at my steering wheel the whole time. He tells me "The chaser is always faster", WTF!!!

I went to find out what I need to do as far as going to court and they just said I can pay $104 and take 0 points on my license, so Im doing that. But its still BS and then the fact that I am now out $104 for not doing anything wrong.

I mean if I was actually speeding I would take the ticket without a problem. But I honestly wasnt speeding this time.