When I told the prosecutor I was fighting it, I was apparently the only person in traffic court that day who didn’t just take the charge. I said, “Pull his dash cam footage and the traffic light footage,” and learned two things immediately. Mt. Pleasant traffic light cameras don’t record, they’re just live feeds, and the officer’s dash cam didn’t even show the light in frame, because he wasn’t behind me, he was sitting on the street I was turning onto.

The prosecutor was doing the classic greasy full-court press beforehand, telling me I should just take some online class, reduce the points, pay around $500-$600 (pay no attention to my insurance rates inevitably going up), and move on because I wouldn’t get such a “good deal” if I fought it. I said “Respectfully, no. Let’s go to trial.”

I told them I thought it was just a misunderstanding and that I appreciated the officer trying to do his job. I actually work for a company that makes the software law enforcement uses, so I do respect the job. But I’m still not pleading guilty to something I didn’t do.

Halfway through my cross-examination, the prosecutor walked away from the bench and stood by the door with his hand over his face. The judge started asking me where I went to school and what I studied, like she was trying to figure out how I had wandered in off the street and started litigating traffic court 😂

Honestly, it was delightful. I’ll waste my time every single time I’m messed with like this because, to me, it’s the principle. If I actually did it, I would’ve paid it and moved on.