Justice! Finally!
I have slightly renewed my faith in our state's legal system. Yep, I know pretty much all of you are shocked. Nobody really thought I would actually get out of it. I totally won though, and it wasn't because the cop just didn't show up because he definitely showed up. It was a close one though. The prosecuter put the cop on the stand and asked him all of his questions, and then I asked him one question, we both did our schpeels (is that a word? & how do you spell it?) and then the judge gave his decision. He said that at first he was convinced he couldn't go through with the conviction because of Utah Code 41-6a-1002 (this code is my new best friend) Section 1 a (i) but couldn't ignore part (ii) right below it that states that a vehicle must slow or stop........when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. Meaning basically I should have stopped because she was approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. Because of this little part he would have to go through with the conviction. I asked if I could say something and he obliged. Among other things I restated that I was the 2nd car going through the intersection, and the 2nd car that passed the pedestrian. Then the judge said that he had to rethink his judgement because that little fact changed something. What you ask? Well, as the officer had so kindly stated earlier, the pedestrian had to stop to let the cars go by. So, since I was the 2nd car she had already been stopped (because of the first car) and was no longer approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. Luckily, because of this little tidbit of information that I hadn't even realized, I was not convicted! I was so happy I could have peed my pants. The cop and the prosecuter got up and walked out immediately. I loved it, finally after 4 months of bullshit, justice was served.
8 years ago
