Replying to Dumb ticket. (yeah.. another one of those)

So today I just got the most annoying and bizzare ticket I have ever recieved.

"impeding the progress of an emergency vehicle"

NOW, i do know that this is a legitimate law, but I believe I did not break such a law today.

Situation: Driving down a 2 lane, very busy street in Berkeley, California, where people are coming in and out, and running all over the place - aka very chaotic to begin with, however, traffic was running smoothly.

all of a sudden I see a fire truck, far in the distance behind me. it creeps closer and closer and finally is within about 30 feet of me. This whole time I was kinda wondering whether it was going to turn off, or where I should pull over, or what I should do, since the chaotic nature of the road was far from safe to pull over (the entire right side was lined with parked cars to begin with.. and every other road was one way and jammed with cars trying to turn anyway)

I came to an intersection that was kiiinda open? I saw a cop on my left, waiting to turn onto the intersection, and kinda hesitated to figure out what to do.

"does the cop want in on this? like an escort? should i stop? should i just blow through and keep going? should i try to turn right with the other 400 cars?"

i slowed down sorta to a crawl, but was well ahead of the fire truck.. I decided to pull as far to the right as possible, even though, there was a billion cars in the right lane anyway. I figured the truck might have enough room to get around me. When It started honking at me loudly (note: it was never within 100 feet of me, and didnt even slow) i decided to say FUCK IT and just went for it, another street and another, and eventually found a halfway legit spot to pull over. It passed, and continued on.

Just then, Mr. po po jets out of nowhere, and gets on my ass and pulls lights out etc etc.

He jumps out of his car quick... obviously not worried that I would have a gun (this is kinda the un-legit part of berkeley, ca.. aka: near gang territory... so ussually you would think a cop would check his computer, and come up once he knew who it was in front of him)

"so do you know what law you broke today?" (no mention of license, reg, or insurance to start... odd)

(I kinda looked him a bit stunned and couldnt really even think, since he was rushing me) -
"ah.. ahh... uh.."

 "You impeded the progress of an emergency vehicle, can i see your licesnse + reg + ins sir"

So I start pulling it all out, feeling kinda shocked and stupid. I gave him my licesnse, and he jetted away before i pulled out reg. and ins.

Guy goes back to his car without anything, writes the ticket, comes back, gives me his shpiel about how i cannot do what I feel i did not do..

"You cant impede the progress of an emergency vehicle "SON", you could have pulled off the road at any of those last few intersections, and allowed the fire truck to pass, you made it a dangerous situation for you and others"

By now I'm pretty pissed, because all the streets were one way, and at ever intersection there was a line of cars already trying to turn (not many stoplights) at every one... I feel like i was just trying to stay ahead/out of the way of the truck, and I get a ticket for obstructing his path? fuck that. He never had to even slow! How is that impeding progress!

I wanted so bad to talk to him about it, but he had already written it so i kept my cool, and just signed it and handed it back. He turned and left.

Just then i noticed he didnt even look at my other stuff - "do you need to see my insurance officer?" guy basically runs back to his car, and drives away. He better not throw in a "no proof of ins" thing... least he didnt write anything and give it to me to sign... so i guess he cant.


Guess i'm going to court in april or may or something... this guy better be one of those no-shows... so weird.

Sorry for the story. Just have to see what you guys think about it...