Legal Question in Traffic Law in Iowa

i was just pulled over for a traffic stop. i gave the officer what i thought was my valid license and a copy of my personal auto insurance but wasn't told why i had been pulled over. the officer informed me that my license was suspended due to child support and that they were cutting me a break by not taking me to jail. i then asked why we were pulled over in the first place and the officer stated that i exited out of a one way alley the wrong way. funny thing is, a van exited the alley before me in the same direction in front of us, wasn't stopped or pulled over and even drove past us as we were stopped a block and a half away from the alley in which the violation took place. on my ticket it states that my only violation was a suspended license and not for exiting out of a one way alley like they stated. the officer had no way of knowing i was driving the car being it was the first time i had ever been in the car, and it was for less than 3 minutes. they towed my friends car in the end. how legal was this stop and vehicle seizure?


Asked on 1/03/12, 11:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

You have no vested right to commit a traffic offense because you see someone else doing it who wasn't caught or stopped. Because you only got a ticket for being suspended means maybe you caught a break-a small one but a break.

Whether you can beat the ticket by you and your friend pointing at each other and saying "Driver! Driver!" is another story that may have some traction.

If you think you can beat the ticket by all means do so but as far as getting your license back that won't happen until you get straight with the CSRU. That horse has left the barn.

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Answered on 1/04/12, 5:45 am


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