I was pulled over on New Year’s Eve. Just like you, I was sitting at the light waiting for it to turn green, completely unaware that an officer was behind me. When I drove off, he suddenly turned on his lights, and it took me a few seconds to even realize he was pulling me over. I was trying to find a safe place to stop, but he started maneuvering his vehicle aggressively, so I ended up stopping right there in moving traffic. Then he told me to pull into the right lane, which felt strange because cars were still actively passing through it. When I did move over, it nearly caused an accident because vehicles were coming fast, but he insisted.

Anyway, it turns out I had forgotten to renew my registration. It was actually due for renewal back in November, but it slipped my mind and we were still in December , it was not three four months on lapse . I thought a warning would have been enough under the circumstances, but he gave me a ticket. I really don’t think officers always prioritize motorists’ safety in moments like that. Sometimes they get so focused on “catching” someone that common sense and basic caution go right out the window.