| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
/rant on I have to vent a little after reading the Speedtrap thread and related talk of Big Brother. Not that my run in with the LEO today was camera related or anything, but god damn how hard up are they to take our money? We all know that traffic enforcement is a revenue generator for local/state government. What could be better?-- 1) Low risk for the officer 2) Convictions almost always upheld (cause we are guilty per the letter of the law in most cases) 3) Most people who are driving can afford to pay 4) Anyone that falls in the other category (can't afford to pay) will FIND a way to pay as driving is not an option for most. 5) The financial penalties are LARGE and certainly not in line with the crime. A-holes, i mean officials, in charge of setting these fines have no problem jacking them up as violators=criminals after all. Today, I was making a normal right hand turn during rush hour traffic and the turn/bike lane was open to scoot by backed up traffic going thru the intersection. Well, there is an obscure law here in CA that you cannot enter a bike lane more than 200 feet in advance of the intersection. There was our local moto cop on the corner who proceeded to pull over 2 of us at the same time. He informed us of the "violation" and I thought that a warning was forthcoming since I really had no idea that what I did was illegal. Nope. The guy continued to write up a ticket. Now a speeding ticket is one thing and it may even make the street a safer place--plus it is a well known violation to drivers. But a frigging bike lane violation? I have yet to ever run over or come close to running over a biker in a bike lane. Shit, who rides bike these days anyway--especially when it is 40 degrees out!! IMO, this is a bullshit ticket and the cops are using an obscure law to HARASS normally law abiding citizens. What? They aren't writing enough speeding tickets? Now they have to dupe drivers into violations? And they wonder why everyone hates them....always there harass law abiding people with traffic tickets and never there when you really need them. City needs money. Don't look where efficiency can improve--that might take some real work. Just raise taxes. Can't get those new taxes passed? Just hire some more moto cops and raise the fines in the name of public safety. Makes my stomach turn. Honestly, I know I sound like a pissed off middle class white guy right now--but in my truck, I am rather conservative driver and I STILL get nailed for something. Now on the Buell, it's a different story and I expect possible run ins with traffic enforcement. I really, really don't like where our great state of California is headed. It's take take take from the middle class and give give give to the government so they can piss piss piss it away. Hey, we have a house, car & motorcycle so we MUST be able to afford it, right! Don't even get me started on the impending Social Security disaster. Our country's best days are behind us, fellas. /rant off | ||
| Hammer71 |
traffic stop is one of the most dangerous activities for a Leo. Sorry about your luck but in one aspect the 200 ft rule may be protecting you from the cager that makes the turn without looking for you. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
traffic stop is one of the most dangerous activities for a Leo. Most regular traffic enforcement is done during the day and I find it hard to believe that traffic LEO are worried about the vast majority of those they stop and cite under those circumstances. the 200 ft rule may be protecting you from the cager that makes the turn without looking for you. In 18 years of driving, I have never once affected a biker in the bike/turn lane while driving a vehicle or vice versa. One or both make adjustments and we all go on our way safely. And I have ALWAYS gone up the side from well beyond 200 feet (if necessary) as I never knew this was a violation. Truth be told, I will continue to do this. Funny thing is, local gov't complains about horrible air quality and traffic congestion, but yet by following the letter of the law, it just ADDS to the problem! Yea! | ||
| Irideabuell |
It always cracks me up when I hear a story such as this one. Last night on my way home from work (on my Buell) a bicyclist approached the intersection and slowed next to me at a red light (I was first in line at the light). The operative word here is slowed and then proceeded through the red light in front of a deputy sheriff. This is a busy intersection with schools on two corners that contained voting precincts yesterday (FL). I was shocked that the sheriff did nothing. Sorry Rich! It's just a coincidence. | ||
| Mikej |
This was posted in the MilwaukeeJournal a week or two ago:  Around here drivers use the bicycle lanes and passing lanes when left turning traffic is going to slow them down, and I've seen lots of near hits because the driver doesn't see anyone in the bicycle lane until they've already hit the gas to go around. I could suggest you go back to the intersection and measure off 200' from whereever it is supposed to be measured from and see how close you really were. I wish it was 40° here today. Sorry about your ticket. | ||
| Hammer71 |
Most regular traffic enforcement is done during the day and I find it hard to believe that traffic LEO are worried about the vast majority of those they stop and cite under those circumstances. daytime is any less dangerous? maybe in your area but No more than an hour ago myself and another officer took two guns out of a vehicle (daytime here). Any circumstance can lead to a whole hell of a shit storm. and there are no routine or regular traffic stops. Oh and by the way I dont write motorcycle. I figure I do worse stuff than them. I hate bicyclists though the crap they do here is outright dangerous and have caused many crashes. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
So there I was sitting at a light, stuck because I hadn't gotten to the turning lane yet, when I see in my mirror some guy coming down the bike lane. I guess he has somebody dieing in the passenger seat, or maybe his time is more important than mine, right? Right after he makes his turn I see some blue lights come on and I grin.... ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) Sorry you got a ticket, I agree a warning would have been sufficient, did you try to justify it to him? Try to look at it from the other side. How does the LEO know that you have never cut off a cyclist? How does that make it ok to be in the bicycle lane? You could write a similar but scarier tale from a bicyclists point of view. I strongly dislike bicyclist in the roadway, but I bet they hate cars in the bicycle lane even more...... | ||
| Ducxl |
I'm a bicyclist.Get the 'F out of my lane. And i go through red lights with utter abandon on my bicycle.Never been stopped while under my own power. Sounds like the person who parks in a handicapped spot when no others are occupied. Ever hear of the "Broken windows theory" from criminology? A good read by George Kelling. Or..."On Liberty" by Stuart Mill? | ||
| Kyrocket |
I'm not a LEO but I work very closely with them and do the city's property maintenance codes. Where do you want to draw the line? Some infractions are worse than others, write them only in the daytime/nighttime, give them to only men/women? There's hundreds of excuses people use but a law is a law is a law and ignorance of the law is not on the list of excuses. Last I checked driving is still a privilege not a right. I jumped some jackass kid not three weeks ago for cutting me off while my kids were in the car (I'd just honked if it were only me) and found out a week later he rolled the vehicle. Must've been haulin' ass to roll a new Dodge quad cab dually. It really gets under my skin when people speed (again a law not to) mostly everyday, albeit maybe only five mph over but still speed then get a ticket maybe every three years at most. No way would I be a Trooper, they don't get paid near enough for walking up to that car with tinted windows not knowing who or what's on the other side. Hats off to all our law enforcement people. Just try driving/riding if we didn't have them. | ||
| Mikej |
"No more than an hour ago myself and another officer took two guns out of a vehicle " Just curious, were these taken from criminals or were they being transported illegally? Again, just curious. | ||
| Sparky |
Look at those bike lane markings again. The only place where vehicles other than bicycles are allowed is where the solid line becomes a broken line and, in most cases, it looks to be a lot less than 200 ft. There is another obscure law in Calif. that says one cannot cross a solid line to change lanes. I got nailed for that once by the CHP. Lesson learned. | ||
| Hammer71 |
No more than an hour ago myself and another officer took two guns out of a vehicle Transported illegally would be criminal but I get the question. both were placed under the seats as we walked up to vehicle occupants removed guns removed bad men in lockup for arraignment. Now seeing that Traffic stops for minor violations are "low Risk" to some, this stop was for failing to signal. A tad trivial but the results most likely saved somebodys life. at least in the area I work. | ||
| Ted |
i'm not sure if Ducx is serious or not, but thats my take. but as a cyclist i also have the schitzo problem of being a vehicle or a pedestrian, which ever is convenient at the time! | ||
| Ducxl |
I'm serious alright. Ever hear of the "Broken windows theory" from criminology? A good read by George Kelling. Nobody violates the bicycle lane.But the one time someone gets away with it and somebody else notices it then tries it themself.Well, "Broken windows" and everybody does it and greatly threatens the BICYCLISTS safety IN HIS OWN designated lane.SERIOUS | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I agree with DucXl, but on the other hand, if bicyclists are in the lane of traffic on roads that have bicycle lanes or if they are 2 or more riding abreast on roads without bike lanes I should legally be allowed to mow them down!  Ok, I'm kidding but their arrogance and righteousness really pisses me off! | ||
| Bebop |
My last ticket was for not having a tag on my newly bought car. There were hold ups getting the title and I was just outside of the time allowed to get a tag. The cop gave me a ticket but told me that if I got a tag quickly the judge would most likely wave the fine, which was only $15 anyway. I found out later that the catch was whether I paid the ticket in advance or showed up to court to dispute it, I still had to pay an additional $115 for court costs! | ||
| Mikej |
Thanks for the further input Hammer. Scott, I pedal as well as power along on two wheels. Sometimes the bicycle lanes are full of glass and debris blown and pushed over into the bicycle lane by the motorized traffic, sometimes it is safer to move over into the regular traffic lane than it is to ride in a bicycle lane. Plus, as indirectly noted by the intersection incident above, sometimes it is in the cyclist's best interest to take a traffic lane and abandon the bicycle lane when approaching intersections due to drivers and impatient drivers who's intent is to either make a right turn or to use the bicycle lane as a thru-lane to get around a left-turning motorist up ahead. Over on a firearm discussion site there is currently a discussion about the best way to carry a gun on a bicycle, and that discussion quickly paralleled this one. Drive/ride/pedal safe, be aware, be safe, be curteous, have patience, and use your better judgement as if the roles were reversed. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Drive/ride/pedal safe, be aware, be safe, be curteous, have patience, and use your better judgement as if the roles were reversed. completely agree with everything you said- intersections, debris, etc., I'm talking about the riders who take the right-of-way thing way to literally and are not courteous to the drivers and motorcyclists also on the road - you know the type right? When on a bicycle do you have the right to jump into the travel lane without warning, regardless of traffic, if you see debris or a pothole in front of you? Do you have the right to go 2 wide anytime the cyclist in front of you is not going fast enough for you regardless of motor traffic? If you are riding 3 wide and there is traffic coming the other way - exactly how many minutes am I suppose to go 10 mph before you form a single file so I can pass? I could go on, you get the idea... I understand you don't want to lose momentum and I make room for or let bicyclist go all the time. Just don't create an extra hazard for me while doing it! | ||
| Mikej |
Wide paint brushes can be used to paint any group, I prefer to paint houses than people or groups. Don't judge all cyclists based on the actions of a few, even if those few seem to typify all you see. Easy to label, harder to focus. I think I'll go get a cup of water. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
not looking to get into a pissing match Mike, I painted the folks I was talking about - not a group! No good or bad groups here - only what folks should or should not be up to.... I didn't defend this guy using the bike lane - you shouldn't defend bicyclist doing wrong either.... | ||
| Mikej |
Can't do a pissing match, just went to the bathroom, will have to wait a few minutes until I finish drinking my cup of water and refill.  | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Can't do a pissing match, just went to the bathroom (drum roll please....) . . . . . . . . . . . That's a relief! | ||
| Kyrocket |
I prefer to do my pedaling on the side of a mountain. Several good trails within half an hours drive from my house and I don't have to worry about the moron who yells ignorant stuff out the window or throws garbage in the general direction. I live in a fairly small town and can only imagine what can happen in a big city. | ||
| Socoken |
If cyclists want equal rights on the road, that means they need to obey the laws equally. That means full stops at signs and lights, and hand turn signals every time. Otherwise, get your hobby out of the way of my travel to work. Okay, thats road rage Ken talking. Most of the time I admire their effort and drive to be out there battling on the streets. | ||
| Kyrocket |
I agree Ken, a law is a law is a law. You can get a DUI as easily on a bicycle as you can in an auto. I've got a good DUI video if I can post it up here. Anyone seen the one where the guy ends his sobriety test with a dance number and the female cop asks if he is a dancer and he says no I'm just drunk, OOhhh you got me. Man it's funny. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I'm not getting into this. | ||
| Hammer71 |
LOL, was wondering if you'd show up. | ||
| Pwnzor |
 | ||
| Aldaytona |
Otherwise, get your hobby out of the way of my travel to work. That's what buttholes think about YOU when you're riding your motorcycle.  } Amazing when the shoe is on the other foot! I also ride road bikes as well as motorcycles and I believe almost everyone in a car, truck or SUV is a butthole and arm myself accordingly in case I have a run in with those who don't believe I have the same right to use the road as them. In most cases, I pay more in taxes than them, so they should keep their cheesy vehicle off of MY road. The world is full of idiots, and they ride bikes, drive cars and ride motorcycles, but by far, "stunters" make motorcyclists appear to be the biggest group of idiots. Leave bicyclists alone, there are much bigger fish to fry. | ||
| Gschuette |
As someone who occasionally commutes by bicycle I have to say that any motorized vehicle in the bike lane pisses me off. Especially if it were an ugly 1125R  jk. The lane is there for cyclists to be as well shielded from traffic as possible. It seems to me that common sense would dictate not driving a motorized vehicle through that lane. Aside from that I totally agree about the harassment thing. I was pulled over 8 times in 06. Only one time was it for a legitimate speeding infraction. On one stop my truck was checked for explosives because they supposedly had a report that a vehicle similar to mine had an explosive device in it. Two nights ago I was pulled over doing donuts in a big empty parking lot in the snow. The worst of all was in 2006. This is where the actual speeding ticket comes into play. I was doing 9 over guilty as charged. I went to pay the fine and they can't find a record of me being pulled over. So I come back two weeks later on the payment deadline. Still no record. In November I was pulled over for doing 28 in a 25 on the XB. Talk about ridiculous. Anyway he informs me that there is a warrant out for my arrest from an unpaid 2006 speeding ticket. I told him my story and he let me go as long as I paid it the next day. The next day I went to get it sorted out and they tried to charge me an additional $200 warrant fee. I told them I wanted to schedule a court date and that I would have a lawyer present. They then went to check something and came back and said if I paid the ticket in full they would drop the warrant fee. So I did because I was originally guilty. I do feel that they should have dropped the fine due to their inability to properly log infractions. The local PD is a joke. I was a hit and run victim a few years back and it took them 9 weeks to fill out an accident report. 9 weeks! When I finally got my truck in the shop it was about 5 degrees outside with ice all over the road. I love my bicycle but I don't want to ride in those conditions for a week. I had to though. I hate cops too. That dancing DUI is from Reno 911. i don't think it is at all real. |
