How should my son plead for a failure to yield ticket?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How should my son plead for a failure to yield ticket?
My son got into an accident while turning left at a red light and received a ticket for failure to yield while turning left. It is not clear if the oncoming car blew the red light. It is clear that the oncoming car did speed up (which in itself is “failure to yield”). According to the police officer, this is a cut and dry case and the person turning left gets the ticket and the other car does not. I’m not so sure that this is a cut and dry case. Suppose the other car did run the red light? Who is a fault then? Should my son plead guilty (without court supervision) or innocent?
Asked on November 2, 2010 under Accident Law, Illinois
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
This question is best asked to an attorney in your state who knows the vehicle and traffic law in and out. I agree with you 100%: it may not be as cut and dry as the police officer made it out to be. In certain states the law about making a left turn in front of on coming traffic is not illegal in and of itself. The only reason it is her is because the other car may have blown the light. In some states you can make the turn but you have to have good judgement in doing so. If yo can prove that the light really did change for the other guy and that he blew the light while your son was turning - or sped up and blew the light - your son may not be guilty. Check it out. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.