Got a ticket for a 21658a in CA. I was told that what I did wasn't illegal, it's just she ALMOST hit me. Help?

I believe what the officer was telling you is that it was not illegal to move out of the left turn lane, but that you did not do so safely. If you want to get in an argument about whether your move was safe you can do so, but the odds are not with you. Traffic school is a surer method to keep this off your record.