ARE YOU KIDDING ME!??! (Page 2)

What's weird about it?  Not to pile on, but if we want to be treated as vehicles on the road, we should obey the same laws cars do.

Normal and expected have nothing to do with it.  You wouldn't complain (much) if you got a similar ticket in your car.

The law also says that if you exeed the speed limit by 1 mph you are breaking the law.  That's why we have the human element....to judge the spirit of the law and the letter of the law.  How long does one have to 'stop' at a stop sign in a car?  Do you have to rebound on your shocks?  Is a momentary pause sufficent?  Does that meet the letter of the law?  Sure it does.  Is that the spirit of the law?  No.

A question to the OP is, did you slow down and 'almost stop' or did you just blow right through the intersection? 

I was driving behind/beside a teenager recently who was text messaging on his cell phone.  He was weaving as he was driving.  I followed him for a few miles and he just kept typing away on his cell phone.  I pulled up beside him a traffic light and since he had his window down I told him "You're a road hazard.  Hang up the damn phone!?"  He flipped me off.

We don't have no-phone use laws here but we do have reckless driving laws and I think cops would do more for traffic safety by writting tickets for cell phone use than for giving tickets to bicyclists.

~Mike

So it's okay to ignore the laws, just so long as we aren't putting others at risk?

Absolutely!  Where do we get the idea that it is the gubment's job to protect the citizenry from themselves? 

Well, when your ancestors accepted citizenship here.  You can work to change the laws if you'd like, but they're still the law until that happens.

Is this an opinion or are you referring to a specific part of the US Constitution that says "the government's role shall include protecting people from their own stupidity".  If there is such a clause, then we need more laws ASAP.  Riding a motorcyle is dangerous.  Eating too much red meat....sednetary lifestyle....smoking cigarettes....drinking alchohol.  Opps, already tried to ban that once.

I'm not defending or condeming the OP becuase we don't know the details.  If he just blew right through the intersection than he was a danger not only to himself but to motorists who might hit him or take evasive action to not hit him.  But it he slowed down to a crawl and can see no traffic coming from either direction then so what if he did not unclip and put a foot down?!  My point is that there needs to be some judgement exercised....by the cyclist and the cops.  The 'serves your right attitude' amazes and apalls me.

BTW, while we're stoning this guy....Do have a mirror on your bike to be able to see cars behind them?  Do have a flashing taillight to increase visability?  Do you wear high-vis phlorescent yellow when you ride?  These might not be "laws" but they ought to be.  How many of us took the reflectors off our wheels when we bought out bikes becuase that wasn't cool?

~Mike

Nobody's saying anything of the sort.  Most are saying to quit complaining that you got caught breaking a law.  You can disagree with the law all you want.

None of the rest of your rant is remotely relevant, even though I probably agree with most of it.

You are right.  Point taken.  I guess I'm assuming he is complaining becuase he did not feel the ticket was justified.

If you got a speeding ticket for going 2 miles over the speed limint, would you not complain?

Even though you don't have a driver's license you can still have a driving record and you still must pay the fine. People who are cited for driving without a license have a driving record that shows the offense of driving without a license - points and all.

The real issue here is safety. If the OP goes to court and explains that what he did was safer for himself and the public ,the judge may very well find him to be not guilty. Good Luck! 

I would complain.  I just wouldn't expect anybody to listen.  

In this case absolutely!   I see plenty of stupidness on the road where I would love to see our traffic police enforcing the law.  But really, if the guy slowed down and there was no traffic...he didn't interfere with anyone...what's the deal?  If it really  bothered him...give the cyclist a warning.  Really, who hasn't done this at some point when riding a bike.

Yeah, it sucks.  I would assume that the cop: was bored, doesn't like cyclists, has issues, thinks you look like someone that done him wrong, etc.  If you slowed down, tapped a foot, you would be good to go with most law enforcement officers, except for in the above instances.

I once got a ticket after a run for crossing in an intersection moments before my light turned green, because the turn arrow, for which no cars had been in line, was directing imaginary vehicles into my path.  I had jogged across and was 'pulled over' by a motorcycle cop while i was on a sidewalk.  I chalked it up to the pony tail I sported at the time and various and sundry issues a fat motorcycle cop might have had with someone who looked like me.

 I'd see about showing up in court, reducing the charge, as others have posted.

First off, if you blew the stop sign, ticket is warranted.  

BUT, you DO NOT have to put a foot down to come to a complete stop.  I've come to a stop and stayed clipped in.  Now you could go to court with your bike and show the court that you can be stopped and clipped in.

Calm down.  What everybody else has or hasn't done doesn't change anything about your situation.  I've sped before, and I'd have no sympathy if you got a speeding ticket either.

 I've heard that those tickets around the lake are very expensive.  Like $200 or more.  But, I saw two bicycle cops at the 7-11 so I asked them about it.  They said as long as I slow way down and look both ways, I don't have to unclip or put a foot down.

To the OP.  That really sucks.  Call the court and see if you can get deferred adjudication without having to go to court and actually talk to the judge.  

You can also get a DUI on a bike and from what I've heard the consequences are the same as if you are driving a car..... not completely sure though and I'm guessing it varies by state or county.