Originally Posted by
acesflyerSFO
Yes, one should check if you are driving, but the OP was a rear seat passenger, obviously visiting. Courtesy would say let him off with a warning / unless they hate tourist.
At this point, pay the fine. I agree that it would have been courteous for the officer to let you off with a warning had you demonstrated you were an ignorant tourist (and I mean ignorant of the laws, not ignorant of the safety issues). But he didn't, and there's not much basis for appeal, nor is it worth the time.
Ideally the rental car company or the vehicle operator would remind you of (a) the law and (b) that they enforce it seriously.