OK, I'm just blogging about this now, but this happen back in August.
I was driving on route 34 westbound in the right lane (2 lane highway) going 70 in a 65 mph zone. Now, everybody who drives knows that it is safe to drive +5mph over the speed limit and not get hassled for speeding.
I started approaching a set of cars, which one of them was a cop. I was in the right still going 70 and then slowed down to 65. After getting impatient of the vehicle ahead of me going slower then 65. I then went into the right lane to pass the car, by going 68 (a very slow passing). I then moved into the right lane and notice everybody pulling over. I knew I was in trouble now, and started pulling over.
Here is where the fun begins, the Mad Police Officer portion of the story.
He first states, with infuriated anger, that I was going 75, and I was failing to yield to a police vehicle.[1]
I give him my New York driver licence, but couldn't find an updated car insurance policy. I remember putting an updated policy slip in the car, since July was my renewed month. He then gets really angry and starts threatening to impound my vehicle, because the lack of proof of insurance. This is a little strange to me, since in New York, the state police are nice enough to take the old insurance form and do a request to see if there still exist insurance on the vehicle, but here in Colorado forget that .
He was really pissed off at the idea that I had a California licence on the vehicle and a New York driver licence. [2] So, he goes back to his flashing lights cop car and does a background check on me.
After a few minutes, he then comes back, with more anger, stating that there is a California warrant out for my arrest. This of course is shocking to me, since I'm a very law abiding person. Only illegal thing I do, is go 5-10 over the speed limit. I don't smoke pot, and hardly ever drink alcohol -- that is how much of a stiff I am.
Then he ask for my Social Security card, which is just a very weird request in my opinion. I had no problem giving, if it will help clear things up and prevent me from going to jail.
He then goes back to clarify things and to do a background check on me in New York.
I'm stuck in the car getting nervous, especially since there aren't that many "Andrus" in California.
He comes back and gives New York State a back-handed compliment stating that "they aren't usually that quick over there in New York", and that I came up clean there. The officer is now showing signs of cooling down, goes back to his vehicle and waits to here from California for another 5 minutes.
He comes back and states that the warrant was not for me, but then he ask if I had any other family in California with the same name, I of course said "No". Currently, I have no family left there, but doubt I would give them up if I did.
I then notice that on the background check he was doing on me, according to the paper, was with the wrong name. He had "James William Andrus", instead of "William James Andrus". So, I had to sit through that agony because he didn't see a coma! (James, William Andrus).
After all that, he takes my New York driver license and gives me a temporary license for 10 days, while still stating that he could impound my car still. This guy really likes threatening people, but I will play it cool as long as he doesn't.
So my ticket ended up being
- 80 (not 75 as previously stated) in a 65 ---- bullshit, since I was going under 70
- Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle ---- bullshit, since I pulled over as soon as possible
- Failing to transfer my vehicle information and licence over to Colorado within 30 days ---- a bullshit law, just like getting ticketed for jay-walking.
- No insurance -- If only they would be nice enough to do a check.
My whole day is now going to be ruined, it will be spent in the DMV, which we know is never quick.
So begins my DMV portion of the story:
So, from experience I know to bring my birth certificate and social security card since this is what was needed in New York when I was 16. Oh! how times have changed since then.
I get there with the temporary 10 day licence and my other paper work and wait for my number to be called. Fortunately it was still early, and not a lot of people were there yet. (About 30 minute wait)
I then get stuck with someone who has never done anything with the temporary licence before. After some discussion from her supervisor on how to enter the information, then she finally states that I will also need to get my NYS DMV record. Not them, but I would have to. So, they give me the number to call and their fax number. I'm also told that I will also have to go to a car dealer or police station to get a VIN Verification done on my vehicle and take that to the other DMV office. [3]
I go home, very stressed, and try calling NYS DMV which is very busy. I wait on the phone for 5 minutes before human contact. After a quick discussion, everything was set. That portion was quick and easy.
I then go to a BMW dealer, and request for the VIN Verification. She comes out with a piece of paper and writes down the VIN number from my vehicle. Voila![4]
I then go back to the original DMV and try to get a Colorado Driver licence before registering my car. This time, the place was packed -- on a Wednesday!!! Damn, don't people have something better to do.
After an hour of waiting, finally I get to talk to someone. He then states that he can't give me a licence because of a new law in Colorado. I must have 3 proof of ID, not 2 but 3, he states that it could be an old licence (don't have one, plus the officer took that) or something like a passport (which I don't have).
After some more explanation, that the officer took my licence and all he gave me was this temporary one the dmv guy went to check if that would be acceptable as a third identification. The thing is, his supervisor didn't know if it was and would have to check with her supervisor. The supervisor's supervisor was out in some out-of-state conference in all-day meetings. I then sat around for another 1-2 hours waiting before finally getting approval. Finally after all that I got my Colorado licence.
I then went to register my vehicle, which was quick and painless.
3 months later
I finally got to go to court to defend myself. She, the very young and attractive district attorney, basically just laughed away the 'failure to yield' and dismissed the 30 day failure to transfer to Colorado without hesitation. After some more discussion, she then lowered the ticket to be just 3-5 over the speed limit. So after all that, I finally get a ticket I was guilty of, (3-5 over the speed limit).
Total points: 1
Fine: $35
Court Cost: $48
Total Cost: $83 + what ever increase to my insurance might bring for the next 3 years + a couple hundred dollars to register in Colorado.
1 A little side note: it is no surprise to people here, Colorado natives hate Californians. Heck, they even have bumper stickers here stating stupid things like: "Colorado Native" and "Born in Colorado". Even the bank commercials here state things like: "A bank you can trust to stay around", like a bank from other states just leave for no reason or something.
2 Maybe New York State is the number two on the hate list?
3 Yeah there are two(2) DMV offices, about 5 miles apart. I guess it was too convenient for people to get things done in one location.
4 What a waste of people's time and money!
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