Before i even read anything i was like holy s*** this guy lives around me and knows about car audio haha
AppleBonker wrote:Well, I'll apologize right away for the length of this, but the whole thing is BS. I'm not sure how I am going to proceed with this, but Illinois law sucks balls.
I was heading to work from the gym Friday morning (I do cardio in the morning, so I was wearing a wife beater and no work shirt yet so I don't sweat in it). I was merging from I-55 inbound (to Chicago) onto I-294 south (just for those around the Chi-town area that would be familiar). There were some semis in front of me and an SUV between the semis and myself. Since I love driving this car, I lagged back a bit and kept it in third gear (going about 35-40). Once the merge lane got to the highway, I punched it and merged over (into lane four if the far left lane is designated lane one). I was up to about 60 when I saw a car in my driver's side mirror. I recognized the yellow stripe on a white car (state trooper), so I began to coast. I didn't really merge that aggressively (and I certainly didn't cut anyone off or blow by people).
At this point, I rolled down my passenger window and opened the sun roof to let more light in so my front driver's window didn't look so dark. The cop then got behind me, so I thought I was screwed. Once behind me, I rolled down the driver's window and continued on at just under the speed limit (about 53 mph). I figured he was running my plates or something since he sat behind me for a while. I had to change lanes to get over to the IPass lanes (no stop tolling for those outside of Illinois). The cop continued to follow me. After the toll, he got over into the right line and pulled up beside me. He then dropped back a bit before pulling beside me and passing me again. I figured I was clear at this point, since he was now in front of me.
About this time, we are beginning to enter a construction zone, so I slowed down to the construction speed limit of 45 and moved into the right lane (since I was now being passed fairly consistently). I was being passed by numerous cars, semis and another three state troopers (not sure why they seemed to be out in force). A few cars even managed to get in between me and the trooper that was paying attention to me. I continued at this pace for a while longer (had I been smart about it, I would have gotten off the highway and taken side streets the rest of the way because I was in no rush, but I figured I was safe since the cop drove past me and seemed to leave me alone).
A bit further up the road, the cop got over as though he was going to get off the highway (I think at the 95th street exit). Once on the shoulder (and myself and a few other cars passed him), he jumped back into traffic behind me with about three cars separating us. I was still going the speed limit (and being passed mind you) and I remained in the far right lane. Eventually he moved to the middle lane and got back in behind me. At this point I knew I was in trouble, so I just waited to be pulled over. He finally flipped the lights on near the 127th street on ramp (where there is a shoulder - the construction zone has very limited spaces for stopping). So I pulled over and waited. Keep in mind that when he originally saw me and when he pulled me over were 10 miles apart (I double checked this distance on google maps).
When he approached the car, he asked like most cops, "Do you know why I pulled you over?". My response was completely honest, "Sir, to be honest I have no idea." He proceeded to tell me that my front windows were tinted, and I knew it was illegal and that is why I rolled them down when I saw him. I corrected him by saying that I rolled them down because I was coming from the gym and was still warm (not completely untrue). He then told me I also violated the proper lane usage law. He took my license and insurance and said he was going to issue me two citations. Side note: I've only had one other moving violation in my life (last June) but it was removed from my record once I completed the driver's safety course (though I'm sure removed from my record doesn't mean the police can't see it).
I waited 20 minutes for him to finally return to my car (yes, it took him that long to write the tickets). He gave me both and explained to me that the tickets would require a mandatory court appearance (WHAT?!?!?). He claimed that two tickets was a court appearance (I have never heard of this before), so I asked him to clarify that two tickets in the same traffic stop meant that I would have to go to court and he said yes. I then asked him to explain "improper lane usage" since I was unfamiliar with that violation. He told me that I needed to signal and check next to me before proceeding (which I obviously did). He then told me that I changed lanes in a "jerky" not "smooth" fashion, and that this is unsafe and can cause an accident. Completely baffled, I left it alone and let him continue talking. He then told me that had I seen him I would not have done this (remember he told me that I rolled my windows down because I saw him - two seemingly contradictory statements). Finally, he complimented me on my car and said it has a lot of "get up and go", but I needed to slow down (WTF is this guy talking about? I was going the speed limit and he didn't even issue me a warning for speeding, let alone a citation. What does speed have to do with any of this). Finally, he cautioned me about pulling back into traffic.
When I got to work, I asked a volunteer cop I work with to explain, and he couldn't. I then began looking up the laws I supposedly violated, and learned that improper lane usage is completely ambiguous. It states something about changing lanes safely, so it's a he-said-she-said deal. I can claim I changed lanes safely and he can claim I didn't. A judge will clearly side with him (cause let's face it, they're all going to look down on a "punk kid" like myself).
I figured I'd try to get out of the tint ticket by removing the tint on the front windows (the only part of my car that is illegal) and taking pictures to show the judge. Then I'd put them right back on since the law is completely bunk to begin with. I then found the vehicle code and looked up the window portion. Apparently, two tickets for window tints can get you charged with a Class C Misdemeanor. My jaw dropped. Apparently, in Illinois, window tints are considered comparable with assault and possession of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis (both also Class C Misdemeanors). I could actually end up with a criminal record over this? I am assuming this is what the cop meant by two tickets requiring a court appearance, though he was clearly a moron and couldn't explain the law that he was trying so very hard to uphold.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what I should do? I really don't want to have to keep my car with the front windows untinted and the back limo to appease the law (not only does it look like crap, it defeats all of the reasons I tinted the windows in the first place). Can I get out of the moving violation since it took him 10 MILES to pull me over? This law is completely bogus, and I am so very pissed off right now. I can't even begin to explain how disillusioned I am with the whole legal process right now. I have now lost any and all respect that I have for cops and the law any more. In fact, I keep hearing stories about cops getting injured and killed during drug raids and I am now completely indifferent to it. I would be more upset at this point to see a dog down by a car than a cop. I know it sounds terrible, but that is exactly how I feel. I am appalled that I've had roughly 6 run-ins with police in the last 15 months, when hardened criminals don't even get that much attention. And all I can ever be busted with is speeding (like every other driver on the road) or tinted windows. What am I doing so wrong that the cops like to pick on me?
I think my windows will still be tinted for Carlisle, but it seems the tints will be coming off indefinitely right after that. It's not that I mind the criminal record so much (especially if it is over something so flippin' lame), but I doubt I'd be able to explain that well to potential employers if it comes up. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I'll gladly take them. Thanks.
