Question for Officer: Ticket for Following too closely?

[Pugdog007]

Had to go to a seminar in Atlanta today. In trying to maneuver Atl traffic at lunchtime, I rear-ended a guy in what was essentially a fender bender. My car has no damage, he needs a new bumper.

Just as I was thinking "great... my insurance is going to go up" the officer says, "sign this... I had to cite you for following too closely." The guy STOPPED at a yield sign and I was looking over my left shoulder for clearance and rolled into him! By definition... if I rear-ended him I was too close at the time, right? But a ticket???

Anyone know if it is typical to receive a ticket like this? And to top if off the ticket says I have to appear in court! I can't even mail it in! I hate ATLANTA!!!

 

[mum4jenn]

YEP!!!!

 

[Bob O]

I am a police officer, and it is quite commonm to issue a citation for following too close if you hit a car in front of you because you werent able to stop. By law you are supposed to leave enough distance between your car and the one in front of you so if that car stops you have enough space to also stop and not hit the rear of a car. I investigated a similiar type of accident two days ago and the ofending driver was issued a citation.
Every officer/dept will have their own policies in regarding to issuing citations/warnings though i personally find accidents to be a pain in the a** so will almost always issue a citation to a driver who has cause the accident.

 

[Cindy B]

Yep.. I was hit by someone who followed me too closely..

and they got a ticket.. it happens in the Philly suburbs..

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by Bob O
i personally find accidents to be a pain in the a** so will almost always issue a citation to a driver who has cause the accident.

Don't you realize it's a pain for those involved too? I don't think anyone intentionally causes an accident.

I'm not surprised at all that the accident happened, I fully admit that I was a nervous wreck trying to maneuver through ungodly traffic in an unfamiliar place.

I really just felt the ticket was unwarranted and now I'm going to have to take a vacation day to drive back into that madhouse just to hand over a check. The officer never did even ask me what happened, he just wrote out the ticket. IMHO... not very compassionate. Sorry I wasted his time... not my idea of a pleasant day either.

 

[Bob O]

No one is saying that anyone enjoy's accidents and if done on purpose it wouldnt be a accident but would instead be a crime.
As for asking what happened, he should have talked to you but in some cases it can easily be evident what took place.
Most cities have a option where a uncontested citation can be paid without a court appearance but im not at all familiar with Atlanta's policies.
Its quite common for people to be issued citations to claim the officer has no compassion but they(officer) may feel this citation will have a educational aspect so one hopefully doesnt drive in the same manner that casued this accident.

 

[shep]

In Ky they can't give you a ticket unless they witness the accident...
My buddy at work was hit by someone who ran a red light and my DW had someone pull out in front of her and t-boned them...

 

[preshi]

you are also supposed to keep your eyes on the road and the cars IN FRONT OF you when you are coming to a slow or a stop...not worry about what people over your left shoulder are doing until you are sure that you arent going to smack the person in front of you.

It might be a pain for you but you are the one who caused it... you cant really fault the officer for doing his job.

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by preshi
you are also supposed to keep your eyes on the road and the cars IN FRONT OF you when you are coming to a slow or a stop...not worry about what people over your left shoulder are doing until you are sure that you arent going to smack the person in front of you.

It might be a pain for you but you are the one who caused it... you cant really fault the officer for doing his job.

Thanks for the advice, Preshi. I'll keep that in mind next time I consider ramming into someone.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Bob O, you aren't the first I have heard say if I have to do a crash report (there are no "accidents" in Florida) then someone is getting a ticket.

And yes most places do have a "following-too-close" statute. Of course every time I leave enough space between me and the car in front of me, someone thinks that is room for them to move over.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Around here, a rear ender is an automatic ticket of following too close.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I'm sorry you got a ticket, but you caused the accident so.....
I remember my driver's education instruction telling me "If you can read the license plate on the car ahead of you, you're too close!!"

 

[dianeschlicht]

BTW, I have been in two rear end accidents over the past 10 years. Both times I was the one rear ended, and both times it totaled my car. Once I was signaling to turn into my driveway, and slowed for a car coming toward me. A delivery truck came over the hill had rear ended me going about 50 MPH. He must have been looking at his clip board.

THe second time was worse. I was in the center lane on the freeway, and a semi in front of me jackknifed. I applied my brake to avoid hitting him, and the 18 wheeler follow me too close and too fast hit me and knocked me into the next county!

 

[Disney Doll]

Hey pugdog, been there, done that, got a ticket. Bottom line...if you hit the guy in front of you, you were too close !!

You can't just mail the payment in??? Most places allow you to do that, unless you are planning to contest the ticket.

 

[Kallison]

When you rear end someone you are always in the wrong. Even if the person slams on their brakes. You are supposed to have enough room to control your car at all times. Once when I was 19 I slammed on my brakes to avoid a log that had fallen off a truck. It caused a huge pile up of trucks, cars everywhere. The policeman ticketed everyone except me (I left untouched). It was in the paper, it was a mess. That is what the officer told me.

 

[Tigger1]

I would try to pay the ticket before court to avoid going to court.

When I was rearended the other person did not get a ticket. The officer said he did not see the accident. He also blamed it on the wet pavement.

My car was totaled (it was old but a great car). The other person just drove way to close. I think he should have gotten a ticket.

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by Tigger1
I would try to pay the ticket before court to avoid going to court.

When I was rearended the other person did not get a ticket. The officer said he did not see the accident. He also blamed it on the wet pavement.

My car was totaled (it was old but a great car). The other person just drove way to close. I think he should have gotten a ticket.

The ticket says that because an accident was involved (albiet a fender bender I suppose) I have to appear in court and cannot just mail in the fine .

 

[mum4jenn]

Atlanta does not allow mail-in payments. (unless that has changed) I was in an accident in 93 and I had to make a 4 hour drive one way to go to court and then of course a return trip of 4 hours. It was a major pain.

 

[Dodie]

Just reiterating that, around here, if you rear end someone it is an automatic ticket for following too close, i.e., why else would you hit them(?)

I think that's pretty typical. The thing about not being able to mail in payment DOESN'T sound typical though and seems like a real pain.

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
The guy STOPPED at a yield sign and I was looking over my left shoulder for clearance and rolled into him!

Actually, this is one of my driving pet peeves -- people who DON'T stop at a yield sign, IF they need to. They need to be yielding to traffic, and if that means stopping, then they need to stop.

People are always confusing Yield with Merge (which means to keep going and normally includes a merging lane).