Michigander
Regular Member
imported post
I hope this isn't too off topic, but the forum guidelines mention discussing freedom and liberty, and I'm trying to find out if mine was just infringed on.
I was being tailgated by a soccer mom type, and I mean really tail gated. She was about 2 feet from my bumper in a mini van while I was doing 5 over. I'm working at fixing my Crown Victoria, and I was in my brothers little Escort which he has loaned to me. I decided that enough was enough, so I started swirving around my lane to shake the tail gater. I stayed completely and totally inside of the lane, but I used most of it, going left to right at what I would describe as a medium pace. This cop then pulls me over, and lectures me about how high school kids who were getting out of school were around. Mind you, they were, but between me and them there was a bike lane, a grass hill, and a curb. They were in no danger, and insinuating that they were was ridiculous.
After an incredibly long time, something like 15 minutes, he gives me more lecture, says he should have given me a ticket for wreckless driving, but instead he was giving me a ticket for "Improper lane use". I tried googling that, but I can't find any Michigan legal definitions. (You guys tend to be good at that)
If there was an actual law I broke, that's one thing, and I will pay the ticket. If I deserve it, I deserve it. But I don't see where I did. I slowed to the speed limit, and occupied most of the lane with a compact car to stop someone from tailgating me. Yes, I was being a jerk, but what did I do legally wrong? Anybody have a definition of this "Improper lane use" law?
I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to take this bastard to court. I guess the obvious problems that have to be balanced out are time spent waiting for a hearing, an infraction on my license, and whether or not they have me dead to rights anyway.
Any thoughts?
I hope this isn't too off topic, but the forum guidelines mention discussing freedom and liberty, and I'm trying to find out if mine was just infringed on.
I was being tailgated by a soccer mom type, and I mean really tail gated. She was about 2 feet from my bumper in a mini van while I was doing 5 over. I'm working at fixing my Crown Victoria, and I was in my brothers little Escort which he has loaned to me. I decided that enough was enough, so I started swirving around my lane to shake the tail gater. I stayed completely and totally inside of the lane, but I used most of it, going left to right at what I would describe as a medium pace. This cop then pulls me over, and lectures me about how high school kids who were getting out of school were around. Mind you, they were, but between me and them there was a bike lane, a grass hill, and a curb. They were in no danger, and insinuating that they were was ridiculous.
After an incredibly long time, something like 15 minutes, he gives me more lecture, says he should have given me a ticket for wreckless driving, but instead he was giving me a ticket for "Improper lane use". I tried googling that, but I can't find any Michigan legal definitions. (You guys tend to be good at that)
If there was an actual law I broke, that's one thing, and I will pay the ticket. If I deserve it, I deserve it. But I don't see where I did. I slowed to the speed limit, and occupied most of the lane with a compact car to stop someone from tailgating me. Yes, I was being a jerk, but what did I do legally wrong? Anybody have a definition of this "Improper lane use" law?
I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to take this bastard to court. I guess the obvious problems that have to be balanced out are time spent waiting for a hearing, an infraction on my license, and whether or not they have me dead to rights anyway.
Any thoughts?