Here's the details:
I was already prepared for trial. I was called in for the same (4th? 5th?) pre-trial conference in which no deal is made: Pay the full fine or go to court. I again chose the later. One prosecuter mentioned that the deputy was again a no-show and they would be requesting another continuance. Then an aide chimed in that he was on his way and would arrive in 10min.
Around 50 min later, I'm told the deputy would NOT be appearing and so they WOULD be seeking another continuance. I planned to object. At this point, I stop reviewing my list of Q's to ask the deputy and begin writing out my objection statement.
I'm handed some papers and a form to sign indicating I've received them. When I reply I already have these yet signed no 'receipt', I'm informed I should have been given one to sign. As I review their evidence list I note no car video, no personal video nor audio. Interesting that as I thought this was now SOP.
I'm first at bat. The judge walks in. I'm already standing. I sit when asked. The prosecuter (mid-20's), stands asks for his continuance. I stand and make my objection and a brief point that this case is now over 14 months old, has been in two courts now, and once again the deputy is a no-show. I respectfully ask for it to be dismissed. The judge agrees without hesitation, adding obviously the deputy is too busy to show up for two trials to defend a ticket he wrote.
Case dismissed. I'm done. I'm outta there.
As I was leaving the parking lot, I find myself being followed by a large, completely blacked-out Suburban. I saw the guy get into the vehicle at the same time I was, just out of the corner of my eye. Odd that....
He trails me about 50yrds on the hwy. I'm doing the 50mph speed limit. Last thing I want is a speeding tkt just after going through all of this mess. I decide to turn off and see if he passes. Nope....he follows me. I travel about 2mi down a winding country road going no faster than 30 mph and turn left into a nursery. This time he passes me.
Coincidence? Maybe...maybe not.
So after all the work I've done to prepare my case, he no-shows twice. For whatever reason, he fails to appear to be questioned under oath by the prosecuter, me and the judge. He could have been certainly 'schooled' by the later. Especially after hearing the actual details. She does hold authority over him and he would have to answer her questions.
I'm glad this whole mess is over, I'm not out $300 bucks, my driving record remains clean, my sled insurance won't go up over a bicycle ride and I'm done with dealing with the county legal dept.
I was well-prepared, well-dressed, and well-mannered.
I was looking forward to several points. One, given that the right-turn-only lane width was 11' and the Ford Explorer he was driving measures 7'9" in width (mirror-to-mirror), leaving about 3'. If he perfectly centered his vehicle in the lane, that would leave 1-1/2' on either side. I'm about 2' wide at the shoulders. How is it possible for me to have fully ridden past him on the right-hand-side? It's not. Odds are there would be even less room as most veer right before stopping when making a right-hand turn. So how's it possible with even less room? I even had a photo of the intersection, with cars present in the rt. hand lane, demonstrating this very behavior.
Sooner or later this deputy is going to have to appear in this judge's court. That'll be interesting....