Does anyone know if an officer can write you a citation/court summons because of something someone said you did?

Because heres my predicament: Yesterday i was on my way down to my GFs house after work and i got behind this guy in an accord and just before the turn into my GFs neighborhood this guy slams on his brakes coming almost to a complete stop because there are deer on the other side of the road about 50-70 feet away. I know i cant stop in time so i have no choice but to go around him to prevent slamming into the back of him. so then we make the turn into my GFs neighborhood and the guy speeds up and starts tailing me and i look in my rearview mirror and see him on the phone calling the cops. so i start driving a little faster (i was doing about 30-35 in a 25) and he follows me so i dunno what this guy is gonna do cuz he might get out and try to beat me up or something. I get to my GFs house and about 2 hours later a cop shows up and wants to talk to me. The cop said the guy was all shaken up saying i was speeding through the neighborhood and that i scared some little girl walking her dogs. I told the cop that i went around the guy to prevent slamming into him and that the guy followed me and i didnt know what he was going to do. The cop said that he could write me a citation which would take this whole matter to court and it would basically be the guys word against mine. The cop even said that if that happened that the judge would probably pick the other guy just because he is an older guy and im a teenager (im 19) and that it would probably end up in like $500-$700 fines. Fortunately the cop didnt write me a citation he just told me to be careful. The sad thing is is that the cop was stereotyping me the whole time. you know teenager with sporty looking car will definately drive fast and do stupid s***.
My GF lives in a neighborhood where a lot of cops live so I know the only reason the cop came is because:
1) the guy probably knew him and called him up.
2) and i believe the guy is on the homeowners association so he had some pull

Cliffnotes: went around a guy to prevent an accident. guy called cop friend. cop came to GFs house (where i was at) and said he could write a citation to take me to court. now i have to watch my a** everytime i go to see my GF.

1. Can a cop write me a citation based on word of mouth (a guy said i did something but has absolutely no evidence)?
2. Can this really be taken to court and a real judgement be made with no substantial evidence except the guy saying i did it?

 

Unfortunatly, I believe so. The best thing to do in a situation like that is get a lawyer. It sucks because you'll still end up paying a few hundred dollars, but it wont go on your driving record, and it can save you THOUSANDS in insurance costs.

 

Ahhh I don't think that this is true...The officer has to base a citation on reasonable doubt. Just like an accident. If he did not see the accident he would have to make a judgement call on to what really happened. Being he wasn't thereand it was your word against his, just like he said he decided that there wasn't enough evidence to ccite you for your actions. Even if he would have cited you it would be an easy argument that you were avoiding an accident and that you were in the right from fleeing a crazed driver tailing you to your girlfriend shouse. I would sweat it.

 

Dont worry about it, he could possibly write you a citation based on some one else's word, but the guy would need solid evidence against you to prove it... and that would be very hard for him, and it would be very easy for you to explain your situation get out of it.

 

haha, love the cliff notes...

 

As a matter of fact, yes. The cop has all the rights to give you citation and claim the other guy called in for a citizen arrest.

Situation like this is best keep your mouth shut and politely explain your situation. And it seems you did. Case closed.

 

^^ sorry eddie but thats crap. Its because of that kinda thinking why people get away with so much $hit. If something is wrong we have to fight against it. If I was in your situation I would have gotten the policeman's badge number and asked for his business card. Made a formal complaint on this bastard. He has no right to say oh because you are 19 the judge will definitely get your a$$ blah blah blah. Although it may true but thats just f'ed up. I would have filed a complaint. Then filed a complaint on the guy that was following you because of "road rage."

First it's hard enough trying to be "equal" in a society that caters to the "lighter" skinned peeps. Then being judged by your age when you didn't do anything wrong. Its the same thing when I got pulled over by a female cop and she right away assumed I was young. Then asked me how old I was and it turns out I am 25... She probably expected me to say 21? 18? Thats a bunch of crap. If I was a cop I'd pull them over.

 

You might as well asked him to say "yes master" after every sentence.

 

oh, so now you are calling me a slave huh? thats it lek, you and I are gonnoa fight to the death.

 

What has the cop's gender got to do with anything. I guess everyone has their biases.

 

Im not bias, I cut off drivers of all races and gender

jokes... well sometimes anyways, but still. Some profile, some dont. I dont have statistics, but BS happens daily.

 

I dont think he is emphasizing on the cop's gender, he is just telling us a DETAILED story, which includes the cop being a woman. everyone interprets what people say differently as well.

 

Don't know about Maryland, but in California an infraction (ie speeding) has to be committed in the presence of the officer for him to write a ticket. If it's a misdemeanor (ie road rage) the officer must see still see the incident, but a citizen's arrest can be made if the officer did not see it. I would think the law would be similar in Maryland or the court would be tied up with citizen arrest speeding tickets.

 

actually if there is a witness to the road rage the cop can come to your house. But he has to have a complaint filed to take you to court. This is from first hand experience.

 

I guess thats basically what the guy was gonna do was file a complaint against me and take this whole thing to court. So if thats what he was gonna do then now im a marked man...the guy could call in himself or have his homeowners association buddies watch out for my car and then call in a complaint whenever they feel like it even if i didnt do anything.
I guess since the guy is part of the homeonwers association he feels he has some sort of power that he really doesnt...I hate egotistical power hungry people like that.