I got a ticket last night in the HEB parking lot at the intersection of 18th, TC Jester and Ella. Long story short I pulled in off 18th and parked on the side of HEB, ran in to the store, and exited on to Ella using the shopping center entrance next to the liquor store. I drove right by the cop twice and was actually thrilled to see them policing the area - until he pulled me over.
Ticket cites TC 525.423 which appears to be:
Sec. 545.423. CROSSING PROPERTY. (a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle.
(b) An operator may not cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance at an intersection to turn right or left from one highway to another highway.Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
At the bottom of the ticket he wrote "did not use closest egress from private lot." so essentially his argument was that one has to use an exit that is on the side of the parking lot on which you initially parked. Had I wanted to exit Ella I would need to park at the liquor store. I don't see that in the law.
He also wrote me a seat belt ticket. I was hurrying I'll admit and I generally start the car the second I get it in. He said he saw me depress the brake pedal (which is required to start a push button starter) about 10 seconds before I put my seat belt on. I fully admit that but I wasn't moving. He said you have to put your seatbelt on before "operating" any part of the car. He acknowledged that I had a seat belt on before I was moving.
I haven't had a ticket in 15 years almost to the day. Given how much of a jerk the cop was and the fact that it took a little over an hour for him to write two tickets I'm inclined to fight these. Anybody have a referral or perspective on the ROI in doing so?
Ticket cites TC 525.423 which appears to be:
Sec. 545.423. CROSSING PROPERTY. (a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle.
(b) An operator may not cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance at an intersection to turn right or left from one highway to another highway.Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
At the bottom of the ticket he wrote "did not use closest egress from private lot." so essentially his argument was that one has to use an exit that is on the side of the parking lot on which you initially parked. Had I wanted to exit Ella I would need to park at the liquor store. I don't see that in the law.
He also wrote me a seat belt ticket. I was hurrying I'll admit and I generally start the car the second I get it in. He said he saw me depress the brake pedal (which is required to start a push button starter) about 10 seconds before I put my seat belt on. I fully admit that but I wasn't moving. He said you have to put your seatbelt on before "operating" any part of the car. He acknowledged that I had a seat belt on before I was moving.
I haven't had a ticket in 15 years almost to the day. Given how much of a jerk the cop was and the fact that it took a little over an hour for him to write two tickets I'm inclined to fight these. Anybody have a referral or perspective on the ROI in doing so?