To be nervous of driving

[Ritascornershop]

I got a ticket last year that amounts to 2 day’s wages. I can barely get by on my wages as it is. It finally came to court and the judge believed the cop (not in the UK, no dashcam, he said she said about a traffic infraction in which no-one was hurt and no property damaged). I’m really shocked (naive I know) that proving “beyond a reasonable doubt” means nothing and all the cop has to do is say “I’m a cop therefore more honest than her.”

So the aibu is - I am now massively nervous of driving and worried I’ll be ticketed again when I haven’t done anything wrong. I used to enjoy driving and it’ll make getting groceries a nightmare as I’ve got shoulder pain from work and carrying bags home will not help. Will this get better in time? Should I give up the car? That might sound drastic, but I’ve got ptsd from an abusive exh who used to accuse me of doing stuff I hadn’t done all the time. It just massively makes me feel very vulnerable and scared.

Totally forgot to be clear that as far as I’m concerned I did not commit the offence I was ticketed for. Another cop told me the cop who ticketed me writes more tickets than “anyone two of us put together” & that he views it as a business transaction.

YANBU, it's shitty that cops lie about these things, but it's not the first time I've heard of it happening. I've had a Police officer try to accuse me of running a red light in heavy traffic not long after passing my test, when I know I didn't. I recommend getting a cheap dashcam for your car to cover yourself in the future.

It sounds like you were really unlucky to get the notorious cop for giving you a ticket.
He would be known as a "jobsworth" in the UK.
This has knocked your confidence, and having PTSD from an abusive ex, you are getting triggered by events.

Be kind to yourself, you have had a few knocks in life. Then get back in your car and go for a little easy drive to get your confidence back.
Do what you feel comfortable with. Drive different, manageable routes.

Good luck!

Thanks!! I was thinking of saving for a cheap dashcam, I’ll check out the prices.

Thanks Lexie, I was a mess driving home but had to get the car out of the city centre or I’d have parking tickets! Other cop also said my cop is “very cold, he views it all as a business transaction”. I was fairly shocked other cop was talking like this but it really helped as I don’t want to feel they’re all arrogant twats who go mad with power.

Just keep doing manageable things in your life until you start to feel more confident. Don’t overwhelm yourself and be clear on where you can park without getting a ticket.
Maybe you could ask someone to get you a cheap dash cam for Christmas?
Good luck!

Thanks, I’ve driven a little since traffic court but am looking around all the time for cops, I’ve totally lost the feeling of freedom it gave me. I was naive in thinking that “proving beyond a reasonable doubt” meant anything. I only get pressures from my young adult kids and they can’t afford a dashcam, I’ll have to try to save for one (but that’s going to take at least 6 months).

Autocorrect!! Only get pressies, not pressures!!

Get dashcams for the front and back of the vehicle. In your position I would be trying to catch the same cop (They often have the same routes) and get him to lie again so I can prove fraud in court and ruin his career!!

Definitely get dash cams. What did he say you’d done?