Location: Madison heights(48071)
Hi, looking for advice about a traffic ticket in Madison Heights, Michigan.
I was in a minor crash at John R & Woodside. I was going straight across John R from Woodside to Woodside.
A northbound driver on John R stopped and waved me through. I checked southbound traffic (clear) and proceeded. The northbound driver then also moved forward at the same time, and we collided in the intersection.
Police arrived after the crash. The ticket I got says:
“IMPROPER TURN – PD ACCIDENT”
“TURNING NB ON JOHN R FROM WOODSIDE.”
The crash report also says I turned northboun but I didn’t. I went straight across.
I think they charged me under MCL 257.649(8), which is about turning movements. I didn’t turn.
Court date is July 16.
Questions:
How do I fight this?
Has anyone beaten a ticket in Michigan when the officer wrote the wrong movement?
Worth getting a lawyer for this?
Comments
Did the northbound driver you collided with have the right of way?
Ignore the waving through.
Even in the same state, counties can handle tickets differently so its hard to say anything for sure. But usually in most places its worth getting a traffic attorney for a ticket that would carry points and insurance consequences. (Not a criminal attorney, they charge 3x as much or more.)