Ticket on my bike

edgemar · 12:29 PM

I rolled a through a stop sign today with a motor officer right behind me. He cited me for:

CVC 22450a stop sign violation

CVC 22450a states:

The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop at a limit line, if marked, otherwise before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection.

My question is a bicycle a vehicle? Also there is nothing on my ticket that says I was on a bike. The area on the ticket where they put vehicle info is blank.

I found this info:

Bicycle is specifically eliminated from definition of vehicle. Tomson v. Kischassey (1956, 4th Dist) 144 Cal App 2d 363, 301 P2d 55, 1956 Cal App LEXIS 1727.

What do guys think?

Thx!

mossguy · 09-26-2009, 12:25 PM

Stop at Stop signs.

Best,
Tom

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Let me guess - a Santa Monica prick?

One more reason I don't go there and I ESPECIALLY don't ride my bike there.

Stay on the bike paths and/or find routes without lights/stop signs.

Jeff Higgins · 09-26-2009, 12:34 PM

I just love how bicyclists demand the best of both worlds. If it suits them, they are a vehicle with all rights of a vehicle. Conversely, if it suits them, they are not a vehicle, and exempt from laws governing such.

If you are on wheels, you need to stop at stop signs.

widgeon13 · 09-26-2009, 12:39 PM

What are they going to do if you just disregard it? Take your pedals away?

That's pretty silly and California is really f'ed up!

K9Torro · 09-26-2009, 12:40 PM

Here we go again,,,lol

Todd

slodave · slodave's Garage

You gotta follow the same rules as vehicles....

California Bicycling Information from Bike Link

I think you are out of luck.

slodave · slodave's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

That's pretty silly and California is really f'ed up!

Hello, this doesn't just apply to California.

edgemar · 09-26-2009, 12:46 PM

thx for the link... just seeing if I can avoid the ticket on a technicality...

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Cyclists have to obey all traffic laws including stop signs and lights. Besides obvious law and safety benefits the cage drivers appreciate it thus making it safer for all the other cyclists on the road.

I hated the Saturday coast ride cause it would attract the weekend/triathlon folks who loved to blow through red lights and stop signs at 30 mph

edgemar · 09-26-2009, 01:21 PM

I agree I will most likely play the ticket. I'm just wondering if there is no mention of being on a bicycle on the ticket that might be grounds for dismissal based on a technicality. It just has my name and license # and the violation. No vehicle info at all...

fingpilot · 01:27 PM

If you'd been KO'd off your bike as you 'rolled thru' a stop sign, the tone would be different.

Sorry, but am tired of passing thru a green lighted intersection, or a 4 way stop and after stopping, being yelled at by a bicyclist who didn't stop, about 'not granting right of way A-hole'...

I know this is the other side of the fence, but living in a society means we are all supposed to obey the laws for our mutual safety. It's what living in a society is all about.

Talk to a paramedic in any beach town about the mangled bikers he has hauled to the hospital after they ran a stop sign.

Best of luck escaping consequences that are meant to teach a lesson rather than having to call an ambulance.

And I guarantee the officers report mentions the bike. In court your first appearance will be "GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?" The only chance you'll get for an 'explanantion' will be after a 'not guilty' and a later appearance at trial, with the officer attending. Try the technicality thang, and the judge will teach you about the word 'frivolous'....

edgemar · 09-26-2009, 01:29 PM

OK I give up... I'll pay the ticket and learn my lesson

look 171 · 09-26-2009, 01:35 PM

Goes on your driving record if he had your lic. # on there. I have had them before for speeding. I was flying down a hill (which I have done the same thing for the past 10 years 2 times a week, the same time to my training ride) this bastard got me for doing 35 on a 25 zone. this is in Griffith park $:00 in the afternoon without any body around. I mean no one. This was 20 years ago.

Pay the ticket or traffic school. You loose. Really nothing you can do. I think you must stop and take you foot off the pedal and put it on the ground for more then 3 sec. I think that how it was explained to me at traffic school a long time ago. I just do a track stand and wait it out and have some fun.

masraum · 09-26-2009, 01:53 PM

I've never been a cyclist (in the expensive bike and spandex sense of the word), but I've always known that a bicycle has to follow the same rules as cars. What cave have you been living in?

Just pay the ticket, or better yet, take defensive driving and pay attention in class. I suspect they'll cover that sort of info. You could use the education.

Looking_for_911 · 09-26-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Goes on your driving record if he had your lic. # on there. I have had them before for speeding. I was flying down a hill (which I have done the same thing for the past 10 years 2 times a week, the same time to my training ride) this bastard got me for doing 35 on a 25 zone. this is in Griffith park $:00 in the afternoon without any body around. I mean no one. This was 20 years ago.

Pay the ticket or traffic school. You loose. Really nothing you can do. I think you must stop and take you foot off the pedal and put it on the ground for more then 3 sec. I think that how it was explained to me at traffic school a long time ago. I just do a track stand and wait it out and have some fun.

If he does traffic school, should he take his bike?

look 171 · 09-26-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looking_for_911

If he does traffic school, should he take his bike?

Dude, you are rough.

Of course the bike.

BeyGon · 09-26-2009, 02:34 PM

California needs the money, there are a lot of illegals out there that need health care, I know I have paid my share in the last six months. But in a Porsche, not a bike.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I almost got a speeding ticket in Salem OR once on my bicycle. Was going downhill in a 25 mph zone and went by a radar speed trap. He woke up, hit the lights, saw it was a bicycle shut it down and went back to sleep. I presume that was what was going on anyway.

You pay the man on this one.

dd74 · 09-26-2009, 10:58 PM

Ante up. A bicycle is a vehicle in Cali. That's why there are bike lanes, and now 3-foot rules.

As far as L.A. goes, we are a green-worshipping city now, hell-bent on becoming the most green major metropolis in the world -- just look at all the LEED certified buildings, hybrid city cars, and the possibility of turbo diesel police cars that L.A. may have in store for itself.

Bicycles are a huge part of that mix. And financially viable for any ticket deemed possible.

Only today, I could have easily out-gunned a CHP unit whose officer was sucking on a 7-11 slurpee while checking out his onboard computer; and I knew not to.

I don't know what lane-splitting while pedaling is as far as a fine goes, and I'm not willing to find out.

So, just take your lumps, and learn from experience.