The Tank-Up of Aggressive Responses to Traffic Tickets

Have you ever taken a stance that seemed bold, only to find yourself backfiring? I did once, and it was no ordinary police officer—it was a campus policeman. On one fateful evening, while casually running at a local community college, I received a parking citation for parking in faculty spaces. This was a situation that seemed trivial enough, yet the cultural of the institutional authority demanded a strict adherence. With a burst of adrenaline, I tore the ticket in half and challenged the campus police officer, saying, "What are you going to do, flag my grades?"

Adrenaline and Rebellion

My history with law enforcement was not without its quirks. In Maryland, we dealt with traditional citation books. If a violator refused to sign, or if they seemed evasive, we could arrest them and take them before a commissioner for a bond hearing. It astounded me how often individuals would refuse to sign their citations, believing they wouldn't face arrest. This belief was often shattered, as I found out when I encountered a series of such encounters.

Aggressive Ticketing Behavior

My standard procedure involved noting down “Refused to Sign” and then providing another citation. In court, this aggressive behavior would play in my favor, often prompting harsher sentences for the violators. However, if someone tore up the citation, I usually let it slide, as long as they couldn't claim they didn't know their options. Ignoring the citation meant automatic issuance of a trial date, which rarely bode well for the violators who found themselves in court, often with their licenses suspended or a warrant issued.

The Limits of Adherence

When dealing with uncooperative individuals, my approach was often to hand them the citation without explanation, simply to establish proof of receipt. It is important to note that the citation's signature line carries a bold statement: 'By signing, you are not admitting guilt but acknowledging receipt of the citation.' Despite this, I still witnessed individuals taking rash actions that only led to more trouble.

The Transition to Digital Citations

Years before my retirement, the landscape of ticketing shifted from paper to digital systems. This made the citation process more convenient for both officers and violators. I would print out a copy for violators and provide clear instructions on either paying the citation or disputing it online. This modernization helped streamline the system and reduce the instances of aggressive behavior and non-compliance.

Back in those days, my interactions with law enforcement were a mix of vigilance and understanding. While many individuals chose to take aggressive stances, it taught me that such actions often lead to more complications than expected. Today, electronic systems have made the process more transparent and user-friendly, ultimately aiming for a harmonious resolution.