Sorry, but being a retired LE from another city in the same metro complex as Chandler I call BS on this whole story. Too many issues in this story that do not match the way LE handles these types of situations in this area and many other parts of the country for that matter. To list them here would take much more space than is available but following the police to the station is the first clue. Booking is the second. Cite and release at the scene and if they were not sure of the charge or if they could charge they would have called a field supervisor to the scene. That is just for starters. LE does not "book" for a civil violation. We don't "arrest" for a civil violation. Oh, and desk sergeants are found in NYC, not Chandler, Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, and on and on.
The OP is a good story teller and that is about it.