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How do I heal after of a "failure to stop at stop sign ticket"?

I stopped at the stop sign but motocycle policeman gave me a ticket. I know he "hangs" out a certain stop waiting to ticket people. I even saw him a couple of weeks later, at the same time, stop another driver at the same block where he stopped me. I asked a neighboring church where he stations himself if he's there everyday. They told me he's there a lot of days in the week but not everyday. Anyway I stopped but he tried to tell me I didn't. I kept my mouth shut so he wouldn't have a lot of notes. I just said I stopped...nothing else. Anyway I'm traumatized because I'm the nerdiest driver on the planet. I follow all the rules and prioritize safety because I've known some people who've died in accidents, another a quadriplegic, another a paraplegic. Anyway I'm so nerdy that if a school zone light is flashing at 2am, I still go 25mph even though the kids are sleeping. So why am I traumatized? Because I got a ticket for obeying traffic laws. I'm going to court to fight this. Nevertheless regardless of the outcome, I"m not driving as safely as I used to. Before the incident I drove safely and obeyed laws because I don't want anyone hurt. Getting a ticket was secondary because human lives are more important but now when I drive I still think about safety but I get freaked out about getting a ticket. It's like 50/50 now. It's wrong for me to drive like that. Safety is firtst period but I can't help it. I picture that motorcylce cop every time on the road. ONe night I was driving in a seedy part of town at night (the seedy part is only 10 minutes from the good area but got lost). I was scared but also freaking out because that's a good time for a policeman to give a ticket. When you're lost and scared you may make wrong turns or such and the policeman will get you. I was so ashamed of myself for thinking about a ticket as much as my life. Another time I was in an area of town I kind of know but not perfectly at night. I was so scared to make turns because there are so many one way roads. I saw signs but scared maybe I wasn't reading them right and a policeman would get me. How do I heal? How can I drive thinking about safety first rather than get paranoid about getting a ticket. I want to drive the way I did before that motorcycle cop gave me a ticket for something I didn't even do. He's made me feel like such a loser. I was on that road he gave me a ticket because I took a Final Cut Pro class. The center said while I took Final Cut Pro I could use their machines as much I needed. I planned going as much as I could every day but when I got the ticket, I only went to the class. I refused to use the machines that the center said I could use for free (because after the course is over, you have to pay an hourly fee to use machines). I allowed this cop to dictate my life. He's made me such a loser. I was so scared to drive to the center to use the machines. How do I heal? i'm female

Public Comments

1. hahahahahah holy crap. lorne you cant be serious can you? HAHAHAHAHA oMG Dude, suck it up. be a man. You want to get over it. HAHAHAHAHAHA ooh wait ok, let me catch my breath. DUDE you REALLY want to get over it? Then dont be a whining failure. Get thru college, get a good job, work your way to the top then become mayor. Then fire the bastard. Ok since you are a woman, then do the same thing I told you above, except the man up part.
2. i dont know what u were talking about in that very last paragraph but you have definitely confronted a wanker of a cop. i feel bad for you because it's your word against theirs. he's full of himself and is on a power trip and probably got a kick out of frightening you but you sound like you get so easily frightened anyway. i hope you arent one of these drivers that drives under the speed limit CONSTANTLY because that makes ppl behind you very angry. while it's a horrid thing to be in an accident or know people scarred for life from car accidents, its another thing to be as nervous and unconfident as you and those two emotions on a road are not the best. "nerdy" is the wrong word for you. Nerds don't mean slow, worried drivers. if you had witnesses, that may help you but it's a shame because m guessing it's too late and you have to make an appearance at court. See what comes of it and take this experience as a chance to grow some balls (nicest way i could put it) and perhaps avoid the intersection or report him if you feel he's deliberately picking on people that haven't actually broken the law. it's all you can do really. Drive safely but don't let it run your life thinking about it and if someone will get hurt or if you are speeding etc etc. It will take over your normal life.
3. You need to discuss this with a psychologist (no offense intended). Your reaction appears to be an unusual fear of authority after being accused of violating a law which you believe you had followed. The policeman may have made an honest mistake (he probably watches the stop sign because he has seen a lot of people run it, and maybe "sees people run it" just because he "expects people to run it). In general, "running a stop sign" is very minor, and usually you can take a "driver's education" seminar (1-day) to avoid most of the fine and points (I took one at a comedy club and everyone had a relatively good time, we were all there because of some minor traffic offense --- and, you may be able to get a deduction on your car insurance for having taken the course).
4. If getting a ticket has traumatized you.....then you have greater issues than anyone here can help you with. Your issues go way beyond just getting a ticket. I suggest you seek the services of a professional counselor. Good Luck.