2 questions

[thea_nonymus1]

Hello... first off I want to say that I have the utmost respect for all LEO, I myself am hoping to become employed by a local agency at sometime in the future (when they start hiring ) I also understand that the few unfortunate run-ins that any civilian has with one particular officer doesn't allow for having a negative attitude with ALL of LE; there are bad apples in every bunch, in every profession.

On to my questions:

#1: In your department in Anytown, USA, are the motorcycle patrols only seasonal, or do they work in inclement weather as well?

#2: I recently had a fix-it citation given to me by CHP, and it was for a few vehicle code violations on my motorcycle, but upon going to pay the fine, I realized that the officer had checked the 'non-correctable' box on all my offenses. I was then told I had to go to court, and upon doing so, the officer had also added that I didn't have my registration and that I was also 'playing word games' with him. All that aside, is it legal to add to the citation after I've signed it and left on my way?

As a side note, and if you want to take my word for it; I was in no way disrespectful to the officer, and I thought the whole event had gone on quite normally. He asked me questions, I answered them all truthfully- I wasn't going to give him any flack over something I was obviously guilty of (no exhaust/blinkers, license plate not clearly visible).

Any feedback is appreciated; I'm just curious, and any ribbing or comments you guys give is only taken as professional opinion. I've been lurking on the forums for a while and see how some people take quick offense to the answers and criticism they come here for.

Thanks,

CDM

[PtlCop]

Hello... first off I want to say that I have the utmost respect for all LEO, I myself am hoping to become employed by a local agency at sometime in the future (when they start hiring ) I also understand that the few unfortunate run-ins that any civilian has with one particular officer doesn't allow for having a negative attitude with ALL of LE; there are bad apples in every bunch, in every profession.

On to my questions:

#1: In your department in Anytown, USA, are the motorcycle patrols only seasonal, or do they work in inclement weather as well?

#2: I recently had a fix-it citation given to me by CHP, and it was for a few vehicle code violations on my motorcycle, but upon going to pay the fine, I realized that the officer had checked the 'non-correctable' box on all my offenses. I was then told I had to go to court, and upon doing so, the officer had also added that I didn't have my registration and that I was also 'playing word games' with him. All that aside, is it legal to add to the citation after I've signed it and left on my way?

As a side note, and if you want to take my word for it; I was in no way disrespectful to the officer, and I thought the whole event had gone on quite normally. He asked me questions, I answered them all truthfully- I wasn't going to give him any flack over something I was obviously guilty of (no exhaust/blinkers, license plate not clearly visible).

Any feedback is appreciated; I'm just curious, and any ribbing or comments you guys give is only taken as professional opinion. I've been lurking on the forums for a while and see how some people take quick offense to the answers and criticism they come here for.

Thanks,

CDM

#1 - ours are seasonal.

#2 - Depends on the area I would guess. Once I've given a violator a citation, our policy states that I am not to change it unless to void out the citation entirely. If I need to amend the citation, then I am to complete a second citation, hand deliver it to the accused's address (if in the city), send it certified mail to the accused, or submit it to the court so that they may enter it into the record and the accused will be notified that way.

[ateamer]

1 - Motors around here are year-round. We have year-round riding weather.

2 - A citation can be amended at any time after issuance right up to the start of trial.

[thea_nonymus1]

Thank you both.

@ateamer, thanks; this explains it, as I am in CA as well.

[SRT936]

#1: In your department in Anytown, USA, are the motorcycle patrols only seasonal, or do they work in inclement weather as well?

Seasonal. Of course its hard to ride a motorcycle when you've got 6 feet of snow and a -50 degree headwind.

#2: I recently had a fix-it citation given to me by CHP, and it was for a few vehicle code violations on my motorcycle, but upon going to pay the fine, I realized that the officer had checked the 'non-correctable' box on all my offenses. I was then told I had to go to court, and upon doing so, the officer had also added that I didn't have my registration and that I was also 'playing word games' with him. All that aside, is it legal to add to the citation after I've signed it and left on my way?

Its not uncommon for an officer to make notes on a citation as a reminder down the road. We have a place for just such a thing on our cites. Remember, we have many contacts a day and a court date might not happen for months. A little note helps refresh the stop.

I remember an officer who used to put a little smiley face in box if the person was cooperative or a little frowny face when the person was less than cooperative.

[Zeitgeist]

#1 our motors are year round.
#2 our citations can be amended in court.........
as an aside, I will write comments made by the violator on the section provided on the citation, especially profanity. Looks really nice in court.

[Nobody]

User Banned

[thea_nonymus1]

regarding your "side note" - some officers are a55hats (not saying this one was or wasnt) so ANYTHING you say other than "yes sir" or "no sir" they consider to be argumentative. Sounds like you realize there are various personalities behind that shield, so learn from it (read: if you one day are wearing that shield, don't forget you are a civilian for most of your life...and the person you are interacting with is still a fellow human being)

Thank you again.

Understood; it's obvious he, as well as you all, come in contact with both rude/confrontational & cooperative subjects in your line of work as well. Perhaps what I thought was a respectful & cooperative attitude didn't come across the same to him.

I remember an officer who used to put a little smiley face in box if the person was cooperative or a little frowny face when the person was less than cooperative.

Guess I didn't get a smiley, lol.

[mikeymedic]

If someone gets an attitude I can add the additional fines to the original citation while on the stop. Most of my stops can carrying multiple fines, however, I usually just remind the driver of the problem, and direct him/her towards the proper correctable action. The only thing I change on a citation after leaving the scene is if I messed up on their court time. At that point I will go to their residence (if in town) and correct their copy for them.

[L-1]

If CHP amends their citations prior to going to court, they must do so on a particular form, a copy of which is sent to you. However, if the officer testifies according to the notes he wrote on the back of his copy of the citation, that is not considered amending the citation. He is merely refreshing his memory as he testifies.

If an officer feels a driver has been uncooperative, he may make a notation of "AH" on the back of his citation to denote Angry and Hostile.

[RoadKingTrooper]

If CHP amends their citations prior to going to court, they must do so on a particular form, a copy of which is sent to you. However, if the officer testifies according to the notes he wrote on the back of his copy of the citation, that is not considered amending the citation. He is merely refreshing his memory as he testifies.

If an officer feels a driver has been uncooperative, he may make a notation of "AH" on the back of his citation to denote Angry and Hostile.

Not Adam Henry?

[L-1]

Not Adam Henry?

Well counselor, it meant angry and hostile to me. Of course, you know your client better than I do.

[RoadKingTrooper]

Well counselor, it meant angry and hostile to me. Of course, you know your client better than I do.

LOL sounds like a line you might use on the witness stand

[andy5746]

#1 : Year-round, however if there is a significant chance of rain, Risk Management dictates that a car will be taken out on patrol vs. a motorcycle.

#2: We can amend a citation after the fact, but must fill out a "Citation Amendment" form - it's in triplicate. One copy is mailed out, certified, to the defendant. The original goes to the Court and the third gets attached to the station copy of the original citation.

Honestly, I think adding violations after the fact makes the officer look petty and vindictive. The only thing I will amend after the fact is if I find out when I get back to the station that there was a license restriction or suspension that I was unaware of when issuing the original cite. Sometimes the radio is busy or something is going on, so I don't have the opportunity to check the license status until I get back to the computer at the station, but this only happens maybe once every few months...

[Muldoon]

Our use of motorcycles is not so much "seasonal" as it is weather-related.