LAPD tickets man who honked at Trayvon Martin protesters

When Nick Silverman honked in support of protesters who were upset over the George Zimmerman verdict, they weren’t the only ones to take note Sunday night.

Unaware of the larger protests, Silverman thought he might show some support when he saw a group of teenagers wearing hoodies and holding signs near La Cienega and Pico boulevards about 7 p.m. Sunday.

Silverman honked, stuck his arm out the window and waved — then he noticed red and blue lights in his rear-view mirror.

A Los Angeles Police Department officer approached the car and asked Silverman if he knew why he had been pulled over.

Silverman had no idea. He hadn’t been talking on his phone. He hadn’t run a red light. He said he was was simply driving his normal route down La Cienega to the gym and had honked a short “beep.”

Instead, the 27-year-old screenwriter was cited for “honking horn excessively,” according to his ticket.

LAPD spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said one other person received such a honking citation. A third ticket was also given to a separate individual for jaywalking, and a fourth for disobeying instructions on a sign, she said.

Silverman said he was incredulous.

“People are protesting, marching, and I get a ticket for honking,” Silverman said. “It’s absurd. I honestly thought it was a joke, I swear.”

Later that night, Silverman took to Twitter, addressing his 2,000 followers with a message that ended: “WHAT PLANET AM I ON”.

“No wonder people hate the LAPD. This is ABSURD!” he tweeted.

Next, he directly addressed the mayor: “@ericgarcetti I just received a TICKET for honking (once) to support protesters. Please tell me this is an elaborate joke.”

Silverman said he wanted to inform Garcetti what had happened.

“I just see it as a misuse of energy and money and time, “ said Silverman, who is expected in court Aug. 28.

To Silverman’s surprise, the mayor responded via Twitter, instructing him to send a direct message that included “a good phone/email” so his office could help “get it resolved.”

Silverman said he sent his contact information, but has not heard anything yet.

Garcetti’s spokesman Yusef Robb said staff is checking into the matter and would advise Silverman how to contest the ticket.

Whether constituents contact the mayor’s office by email, Twitter, or Facebook, staff in the mayor’s office tries to help address their concerns and point them in the right direction, Robb said.

Robb likened the “#LAMayor” hashtag to calling the office directly.

“Plenty of people choose to communicate through Facebook and Twitter, and we want to make sure that’s a door that’s open to our constituents,” he said. “We endeavor to turn these things around as soon as possible.”

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Twitter: @emfoxhall

emily.foxhall@latimes.com