spare_wheel

I promise to stop breaking silly motorist-centric traffic statutes when motorists stop habitually violating "the rules" with their far more lethal vehicles.

FBinNY 

it's a non-sequitor. Motorists get cited all the time. I'll bet a round of beer that in any given city, a motorist is far more likely to be cited for a traffic offense than a cyclist for the same violation.

NYC cops give cyclists plenty of slack as it is, so Mr. B. take the ticket and move on.

Nikon Rep

I think you missed my previous post. I believe he TRIED to take the ticket and was arrested unlawfully. There are witnesses coming forward to claim Baldwin had in fact identified himself to police. The disorderly conduct charge is simply BS "contempt of cop".
The greatest sin to a police officer is to "disrespect" them or challenge them or question them.
Proof of that is all of the posters here who say "if he had just stayed quit and taken his ticket he would have been on his way".
If you raise your voice at police you get arrested.
If you question police you get arrested.
If you challenge police you get arrested.
If you refuse unlawful commands from police you get arrested.
If you bend over and lick their boots and ask for more they let you off with just a simple ransom note.

Prediction : Charges for disorderly will be dropped.

Essex

A fair % of NYC cops I have encountered are as Nikon Rep. described. I like the firemen here far better. Way more professional.

As per Alec Baldwin - he needs to go somewhere where his hair trigger isn't pulled so often. But then again, maybe he looks for these encounters to stay relevant, or his quasi-violent encounters are prompted on a subconscious level.

spare_wheel

My comment had nothing to do with "citations", but referred to the OP's premise that rule following will make them hate us less.

I don't really care since, IMO, the vast majority of pedestrian/cyclist citations are frivolous from a public safety point of view.

kickstart

One could argue all citations are frivolous if the act didn't cause injury or property loss, but if there were no penalties for breaking the rules and laws, few would follow them.

Jungle law would make riding a bicycle far more dangerous and impractical.

FBinNY 

Sorry, I missed the reference. Yes, getting tickets doesn't earn respect. I said the same early in this thread.

rydabent

Who really cares what some egotistical Hollyweird twit has done**********?

CB HI

I take it that you have not heard how he talks to his daughter on the phone then.

spare_wheel

i would not argue that. i'd argue that some citations are frivolous because the likelihood of causing injury or property loss is very low. i think the police have better things to do than catching bike salmon. (and they annoy me too.)

kickstart

Don't forget the rules of the road are to establish basic parameters for everyone using the road, and the traffic laws are to give guidance to those who lack the character or judgment to apply those rules safely.

Salmoning is contrary to both the rules and laws. Safety isn't the only legitimate reason for traffic enforcement.

JoeyBike

I break every law in the book riding my bike. If a cop nabbed me i would politely take my ticket, pay it, and move on with my life. I am not a fan of unnecessary drama.

yugyug

I'm just surprised he was riding a bike.

And what kind of bike was it?

mconlonx

Color me not symathetic.

Dudelsack 

KonAaron Snake 

+1. If my going through reds nabs me a ticket, I'll fight it in court. I won't scream at an officer. I think it's stupid to give a ticket for that, but it is a rule and I am running the risk by breaking it, stupid or not. I don't agree with the rule, I have no intention of following the rule, but I run that risk. I'm not Clive bundy.

JoeyBike

In my city there is a 9 in 10 chance that the cop will never show up in court. The judge will just throw out the case. It's a pain but generally worth the effort. I look at it this way - my punishment is having to take time off from work to shlep down to the courthouse in a suit and hang around half a day. Although, it can be quite entertaining:

Judge: "You were cited for driving without a license, inspection sticker, or plate, speeding, failure to yield, reckless operation, turning without a signal, and not wearing your seat belt. How do you plead?"

Defendant (wearing a Metallica t-shirt): "Not Guilty"

Me (thinking): OK...here it comes..."

Judge: "Really?" "Your record shows you have six unpaid parking tickets, three speeding and red light running tickets from a traffic camera, and two other seat belt tickets not paid." *sigh* "Bailiff....get him out of my sight."

Me (thinking): "Oh God, please don't make me laugh, please don't make me laugh...."

italktocats

yeah, how do tickets help with anything except giving a bad name "see its always the cyclist breaking the rules"

italktocats

except you not being into metallica... (who is) what?

bmontgomery87

lol @ the Bike Snob article about this.

bmontgomery87

you don't want an army of cyclists to take up for you and say that the law doesn't apply to you?

you could argue that your ancestors were cycling in this city before the stoplight was installed.

achoo

This just in: Alec Baldwin is a jackass.

Count me among the not-surprised.

Nikon Rep

The AUDACITY of an American enjoying some freedom. We need to criminalize this !!!! Arrest this man !!! Think about the children !!!

spare_wheel

he nailed it.

JoeyBike

The guy's doctor probably told him to get moving or get a heart attack. A bicycle is fast enough where everyone on the street can't say "Hey, are you Alec Baldwin?" I doubt he knows what he is doing on a bike. Just following doctor's orders.

Funny that the people (cops) he wanted to recognize him had no clue, or played dumb.